American Legion Back to God Movement, 1950's

 

Page 7 of The Post-Register, February 3, 1952:

Attend Your Church Every Week

The American Legion ‘back to God” movement, calling for a continuing program of regular church attendance, daily prayer for Divine Guidance and religious training of youth, is based on a resolution adopted unanimously by the 33^rd national convention in Miami, Florida, last October 15 to 18. Originating with the Department of Florida, Montana and Virginia, the resolution follows:

“WHEREAS, the members of The American Legion are pledged to serve both ‘For God’ and ‘For Country,’ and our service to our Country can be best rendered under the guidance of Almighty God, and

“WHEREAS, real peace is that which comes from God and is lodged in the individual heart, and

“WHEREAS, the continuous threat of Communism to freedom-loving countries throughout the world includes threats both to Freedom of Worship and to Religion, and there is a vital need for increased emphasis on religion together with daily public prayers for a just, lasting and honorable peace, and

“WHEREAS, each Legionnaire should be urged to regularly attend the services of the church of his choice and to take the responsibility of having adequate religious education for his children, and thereby render the highest type of service to God, to his children, to himself and to his Country, and

“WHEREAS, four chaplains – Catholic, Jewish and Protestant – on February 3, 1943, gave their life jackets to four enlisted men and then, while the torpedoed troop transport, the U.S.S. Dorchester was sinking in the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean, they locked arms, each uttering his own prayer, together went to their watery graves, and to their God,

“NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the American Legion assembled at this 33^rd national convention in Miami, Fla., on October 15 to 18, 1951,

“1 – That all members of The American Legion dedicate and rededicate themselves toward the development of these religious and moral ideals as an integral part of all American Legion programs and assemblies; and

“2 – That all members of The American Legion affirm and reaffirm their faith and belief in the worship of God, and take responsibility of encouraging their families and their neighbors to attend regularly the church of their choice and participate in religious services; and

“3 – That either the Sunday preceding or following the date of February 3^rd, in recognition of the historic, tragic and inspiring event occurring on that date in 1943, be observed each year throughout the nation and in all freedom-loving countries as ‘Go-To-Church’ Sunday, in worship and prayer for everlasting peace.”

This Message Sponsored by “The Americanism Committee of Bonneville Post No. 56 of The American Legion

This page also has a Directory of the Churches in Idaho Falls, including:

SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST, Lake and J Street, R. R. Cronk, Pastor

HOLY ROSARY CATHOLIC, Ninth Street and Lee Avenue, Rev J. A. Jentges, Pastor

THE SALVATION ARMY, 521 North Capital, Major and Mrs. C. Ford, Officers

CALVARY BAPTIST (A Southern Baptist Convention Church), Dr. C. Lee Bullard, Pastor

ST. JOHN’S EPISCOPAL, 270 North Placer Avenue, Rev D. W. Blackaller

NAZARENE, Third and Boulevard, J. LeRoy Johnson, Pastor

GLADSTONE GOSPEL TABERNACLE, 260 Gladstone, D. F. Austin, Pastor

FIRST EV. LUTHERAN, Corner Birch and North Water, Carl E Samuelson, Pastor

FIRST BAPTIST, Eastern Avenue at Ash Street, Dallas E. French, Minister

ASSEMBLY OF GOD, Fifteenth Street and Lee Avenue, William N. Paris, Pastor

MISSION COVENANT, Sixth and South Boulevard, Milton Opsahl, Pastor

TRINITY METHODIST, Water Avenue and Elm Street, Henry L. Haines, Minister

PRESBYTERIAN, Corner Ridge and Elm, Joseph I. Gulick, Minister

            [also listed are LDS wards, Christian Science and Jehovah’s Witnesses]

Additional events and activities as part of the American Legion’s Back to God Movement, with other organizations participating, continued in Idaho Falls through 1960.

The idea of Go-To-Church Sunday was actually a revival of “Church-Going Day” from several decades earlier.

From the Idaho Register, March 3, 1914: CITY TO HAVE “CHURCH DAY”

Sunday, March 29th, has been named and set as Church-Going Day for Idaho Falls, and everyone will be asked and urged to attend at least once on that day…Church Day has proven a success in practically every city in the United States from coast to coast, and on that day hundreds of people who ordinarily do not attend any church service attend, and in hundreds of cases continued the attendance….While Idaho Falls may be a little late in getting in line, it is hoped to make up the difference by an unusual interest….At a meeting of the Women’s Missionary Union of Idaho Falls, composed of the membership of all the churches of the city, it was decided to set the day named….

And here’s the report of what happened on Church Day, according to an article in the Idaho Register, March 31, 1914:

CHURCH DAY A SUCCESS – All Churches of the City Experience Large Attendance

Church-Going Day in Idaho Falls met with the success here with which it has been met the country over where the attempt has been made, and every church in the city experienced the largest attendance outside of some special occasion in the history of the city.

In several instances it was found necessary to make special provision in order to accommodate those who wished to attend, the seating capacity being taxed beyond the limit.  At all churches, a special musical program was made a feature and this part of the service was greatly enjoyed.

Church-Going Day has become a spontaneous national movement the country over, and wherever it has been tried has been successful.  Those in charge of the churches and religious organizations of the city feel particularly gratified at the response.

Another Church-Going Day was held in Idaho Falls on January 3, 1915.  An article describing preparations reported, “The entire community has taken the matter up, with the result that a great deal of interest has been aroused.  It is safe to say that many will attend church on that day who have not been in a place of religious worship during the past year….”  

And increased attendance and overflowing buildings were again reported.  Did the results last?  Apparently so, for I found the following two articles that confirmed growth of churches in Idaho Falls later that year:

From the Idaho Register of December 24, 1915:

The annual roll call and church day of the Baptist Church was held Wednesday evening.  The reports from the different officers and departments were given, which showed that a marked advancement had been made over the previous year.

And in the Idaho Register of October 12, 1915:

Church attendance is increasing in our city, markedly.  This is a very evident fact in the Presbyterian Church which has outgrown its present church edifice.  It will no longer hold the congregations that assemble.  As a consequence, services were held in the American theater last Sunday evening, and the house was practically filled…The Sunday school [also] is too large to be accommodated in the present building and some other arrangement must be made for them.  Some plan will be carried out to accommodate this church and Sunday school through the coming winter, when it is very evident that the church people must get ready to erect a building that will seat at least 600 to 800 people.

This will be a necessity, and must be done for the credit of the city.  It is very encouraging to see this lively interest in church matters manifested by the people of our city.  With proper encouragement the interest will continue to grow until not a church edifice in the city will hold the congregations…