nineteen hundred and forty-six - Amazon Web Services

60 SOUTHERN BAPTIST CONVENTION
We are well on the way to our goal of making the papers an integral part
of the lives of all our constituency. Latest figures indicate that the combined
circulation of our papers has multiplied about four times since the Southern
Baptist Convention at Baltimore in 1940 launched a concerted program to put
the papers into the homes of the denomination. Our deepest gratitude is
expressed to Dr. Louie D. Newton, chairman, and other members of his Committee
on the Baptist Papers Circulation Campaign.
Your editors are not unmindful that the increased circulation, through
"the budget plan," has changed our reading constituency from that of the
pastors and a few faithful leaders to the mass of laymen in our Convention.
In this recognition we know that our papers must have increased attractiveness
and increased readability so that they may be as appealing to these lay readers
as are the many national magazines that clamor for prior attention. Our papers
are not all we want them to be in this regard, but your editors have made this
one of their constant aims.
Success of the vastly enlarged program Southern Baptists plan for these
post-war years will be largely dependent upon the state Baptist papers. Our
people cannot love a cause they do not know, and they cannot support a cause
they do not both know and love. The challenges and the plans and the
accomplishments of these years immediately ahead must be heralded through
these papers to every hearthside in the Convention territory. Surely the Lord
has led in achieving an increased audience so that we can throw out this
challenge most effectively and most thoroughly to all constituents.
We are extremely grateful for the cooperation shown the papers by every
phase of our denominational work: the laymen in the homes, the pastors, the
state conventions and all our denominational boards. We are all in the same
business, each depending upon the other for the fullest realization of our
ultimate goal of winning the world to Christ.
C. E. BRYANT
President Southern Baptist Press Association
40. The report of the Committee on Circulation of Baptist Papers
was submitted by Louie D. Newton. The several editors present were
called to the platform and each stated his paper's circulation. After
remarks by Mrs. Katherine Norton Betting, Florida, the report was
adopted.
BAPTIST PAPERS CIRCULATION CAMPAIGN
At the Baltimore Convention in 1940. the Editors of the eighteen State
Baptist Papers requested the Convention to appoint a committee to work jointly
with the Editors and committees of the respective State Conventions in promoting
the cumulation of our State Baptist Papers. The total circulation of
the eighteen State Baptist Papers in 1940 amounted to 190,683.
Our committee met in Nashville immediately following the Baltimore Convention
and adopted unanimously plans for securing 500,000 subscribers to our
State Baptist Papers by the Centennial of the Convention, 1945. The goal was
reached m the faU of 1944. On April 1, 1945, we had reached a total of 547 254
subscribers. Restrictions on print paper slowed the effort, but reports just
compiled, as of April 1, 1946. reveal the heartening fact that we now have
633,792 subscribers to our State Baptist Papers, wit! three of trTepanlrs not
reporting withm the period since April 1, 1945,* and two paper* notPrSnortfiS
since April 30, 1944.** It is conservative to estimate that w^now have close t5
700,000 subscribers, despite the restrictions on print paper.
The report of the circulation of the papers, as of April 1, 1^46 follow*-
The Alabama Baptist 31 6„_
Arizona Baptist Beacon o'o-o
The Arkansas Baptist o-'ina
California Southern Baptist ~-'000
District of Columbia Baptist i'000*
Florida Baptist Witness 20000*
The Christian Index 36,500