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DR. BROUGHTON’S FIRST ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATED
GREAT OVATION GIVEN THE PULPIT EDITOR OF THE GOLDEN AGE IN FIRST ANNIVERSARY AT CHRIST’S CHURCH,
LONDON HE WRITES A “BROUGHTONIAN” LETTER TO HIS CHURCH AND CONGREGATION CONCERNING HIS FIRST
ANNIVERSARY AS PASTOR.
The first anniversary of Dr. Len G. Brough
ton’s assumption of the pastorate of Christ
Church, London, is commented upon at con
siderable length in the South London Press of
April 25, in an article which gives unusually
high and unstinted praise to Dr. Broughton
and prophesies a successful future for him and
for his yvork.
“In the brief space of twelve months much
has been accomplished”; the article reads in
part. “The church has been thoroughly clean
sed, a process of which it stood in great need,
and the adjacent hall has been remodeled and
practically rebuilt. Christ church can now lay
claim to one of the finest buildings in the king
dom for school and institutional labors. The
church membership has been increased, and, to
sum matters up, Christ church has become the
home of what might be called “aggressive
Christianity.’ ”
In connection with the anniversary of Dr.
Broughton’s arrival, impressive celebrations
were held at the church, in which an immense
congregation took enthusiastic part and at the
close of which Dr. Broughton was presented
with a beautiful silver service from some mem
ber or members of his congregation, who re
fused to let their names be given.
Mrs. Broughton was also presented in same
way with a large and exquisite basket of flow
ers. Dr. Broughton said “he was some detective
and was going to find out who was so good
to him.” The South London Press says “these
expressions of love and appreciation from Dr.
Broughton’s congregation were entirely unex
pected by him or Mrs. Broughton and seemed to
overcome both of them with an almost inex
pressible gratitude for such evidences of love
from those of their adopted kingdom..” Ex
tensive plans were also made to do within the
next year many things for the church, its mem
bers and humanity at large.
We are sure that every man, woman and
child among the thousands in America who
feast on Dr. Len G. Broughton’s sermons every
week in The Golden Age will be glad to have
a “bird’s eye view” of his first year’s work
as seen through the lens of his own pastoral
letter. In The Christ Church Messenger for
April, Dr. Broughton writes as follows:
The Year in Review.
We have come to the first annual mile-post
in our work together at Christ church, and
as it is true in all lines of life, w T e find our
selves taking account of the steps along the
way.
All of us are aware of the circumstances
under which we began the year. To say we
were strangers to each other does not half
tell the story, for we were more than strang
ers. Our lives had been spent in different
parts of the world and under circumstances
as different as can be well imagined. But
though this was true, we found at once a com
mon tie that bound us together—love to Christ,
and a desire to express him to the vast, needy
throng about us, and to the world at large.
A Down-Town Church.
Naturally in undertaking the work we en
countered difficulties. No “down-town church”
is without difficulties; and the man who does
not realize this knows nothing of the respon
sibilities of such a work, especially in a city
like London. Our work has been specially
marked in this respect. First, we had to build
Tne Golden Age for May 22, 1913.
a congregation. It is not surprising that a
church without a pastor for five years, and
so far removed from its old-time constituency,
should lose its congregation and have its mem
bership scattered. This had to be overcome.
The membership had to be brought together,
and the congregation for the regular services
had to be built up. This we have done to an
extent far beyond what our most optimistic
friends expected in one year’s time. Certain
ly we have cause for great thankfulness in
this respect.
We have also had to face the problem of
renovating and reconstructing our church and
school premises. This has not' been to gratify
a whim, but to meet an actual necessity—we
had to do it, or go out of business’> and since
it had to be done, we are glad that we have
been enabled to do it so well We can rightly
lay claim now to having as good school and
institute premises as can be found in all Eng
land; and the crowds of young people that
gather every day and night in the place for
Bible work, social work literary work, games
and gymnasium, shows the wisdom of the ex
penditure. Surely the church has much in
the way of encouragement from this great en
thusiastic body of new, young life, which could
not have been possible under the old order.
Another problem that confronted us was the
running expenses for the enlarged work. Any
casual observer can see that the work, even as
it was, could not depend upon the depleted
membership and congregation; much less
could it depend upon it for the enlarged plans
which we are now operating. We had little
financial strength to begin with. This forced
upon us much consideration of purely business
matters, involving consolidation of institutions
and enterprises, with a view of strengthening
appeals, and improving service. We have been
greatly encouraged in this respect also. By
steady increase in gifts, the congregation has
■shown, its appreciation of the consolidation
of our agencies, with fewer appeals, and bet
ter business methods. We have done our best
to meet this confidence of our friends —not
by seeing how little we can spend—but how
wisely we can spend what they give us. We
believe that efficiency in Christian work is the
thing desired by thinking people. Men do not
mind giving when they see their money is
used in business-like ways and accomplishing
needed Christian results.
A Church of Many Departments.
The problem of re-organization has also
taken no little of our thought and time. The
church has always had many departments of
splendid service; but the complete change in
the population of the district in the last twen
ty-five years has necessitated a thorough re
organization of departments of work to meet
the present needs. The congregations come
almost entirely from other sections; while the
actual work is done in the very needy section
immediately surrounding the church. This has
called for special care in organization, and has
demanded a regular staff of workers to carry
on the work. We do not claim to have reached
perfection in this respect—indeed we have
only begun. But what we have done is bear
ing a rich harvest in constructive service.
Perhaps our greatest advance has been in
the Sunday schools which is: due more than
anything else to the wise and faithful super-
intendency of Rev. Albert Swift. The first
thing in the Home School which engaged our
attention was more modern premises. Follow
ing this was the bringing of the Branch Schools
into closer vital connection with the church,
and under its official control. Then, the mat
ter of organizing, staffing and grading the sys
tem of schools engaged our attention. We are
pleased with what we have been able to du
in this respect. The new premises for the
Home School we claim to be almost ideal for
a work like ours. The organizing, staffing and
grading according to the most improved lines,
has progressed as fast as we could have ex
pected.
We have the Home School well up to date
in organization; and now hope to extend the
■work in our Branch Schools and other insti
tutions, and thus bring about —as far as pos
sible —a uniform system of teaching and work
in all our branches.
We also feel encouraged with our training
school for Sunday school teachers and other
Christian workers. The basis of this system
of training is my Wednesday night Bible lec
ture. Around this are grouped other lectures,
regularly given by Rev. Albert Swift and Sis
ter Olive, on various branches of necessary
training for most efficient Christian work, es
pecially the wor kof Sunday School teaching.
All of these classes have been well attended;
and the opportunity for practical work in our
many branch schools has made our system of
training very practical and helpful.
Great Wednesday Night Bible Class.
It has been a special delight to me to see the
Wednesday night Bible class constantly grow
since its beginning the first of October. It is
now one of the recognized large Bible classes
of London, although it has been in existence
only six months.
Taking a survey of the whole of our year’s
work, I feel that we have much for which to
be thankful. God has greatly blessed us, and
we take courage, and lay ourselves out for
greater things in the year to come. We have
had the largest net increase in membership
that the church has had in any year for many,
many years. There is never a week without
additions.
I cannot close this brief statement without
expressing my gratitude to Mr. Swift, my be
loved colleague, and the other members of our
faithful staff. We have worked lovingly and
loyally together for the success of the whole
work. I may say the same with reference to
our faithful officers—the elders and trustees.
Indeed all have rendered noble service. Surely
we can say, as we look back upon the past year,
“The Lord has been with us.” It has been a
blessed experience, and one for which I shall
ever be thankful.
Praying the blessing of God upon our work
for the year to come, I am,
Fraternally yours,
LEN G. BROUGHTON.
Remember—reading The Golden Age is the
only way to keep up with Dr. Broughton every
week— Send $1.50 to pay for a full year’s vis
its. Golden Age Pub. Co., 13 Moore Bldg.,
Atlanta, Ga.