Power Of The Printed Page

(Publisher's Note: This clipping from The Baptist Standard, recent issue, shows the emphasis that is being placed on religious papers by that denomination. The program of any church that does not include the circulation of literature among both members and non-members is not complete. Otherwise intelligent brethren are sometimes heard to say that circulating religious literature will not do any good, people will just throw it away. We had just as well say that it will not do any good to eat food for some of it will be wasted. Or just as well not preach either to saint or sinner for some of it will not do any good and will be therefore wasted. Such an attitude is either born of some personal grudge, actual ignorance, or a fear that it will cost something. Every congregation of the Lord's church cannot do its job even in its own community until it is using every opportunity and means available to saturate the community with the gospel of Christ. We need militant Christianity determined that people shall know the truth and have an opportunity of accepting or rejecting it.)

The Catholic Press association has again designated February as Catholic Press month. Romanists throughout the nation have been alerted and ordered what to do and how they are to do it.

James F. Kane, executive secretary of the Catholic Press association, announces that there are now over 500 Catholic publications in the United States, about 100 of which are weekly newspapers. The Romanists publish two daily papers, one in Kansas City, the other in Chicago. They claim a combined circulation of above 15 million for the 500 publications.

As much as it hurts to say it, we must confess that no other church group in America even approaches the Catholics in publishing and circulating papers. We will have to give the Roman hierarchy credit for having sufficient foresight and insight to recognize the merit of the printed page.

The editor of the Alabama Christian Advocate (Methodist) attributes the growth of Southern Baptists to the wide circulation of our state papers. He points out that Baptists have had an increase of 67 percent in membership since 1925, while Methodists have had only 31 percent for the same period; and that Baptists have increased in giving 319 percent, while Methodists increased only 42 percent. He says, "We will not attempt to give all the answers, but we wonder if their church papers have not had a hand in the pie."

Our Baptist papers would not claim all the credit for our growth, but the fact remains that our increase in membership and giving has gone hand in hand with the increase of the circulation of our papers.

It is probable that Southern Baptist publications come next to Catholics in circulation, but they are far short of 15 million. We are growing but not fast enough.

To use one of Dr. Geo. W. Truett's expressions, "Baptists are bereft of reason," if they fail to see the power and importance of the printed page. The Baptist Standard ought to go to 250,000 this week. We are hoping to reach that number by the end of 1951.

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The New Testament was written by eight men—six apostles and two evangelists.

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The "King James" translation of the Bible—the one most frequently used — was made in 1606-1611. The Revised Version was made in 1885.