Effective Emulation
A simple, psychological trick maximizes church giving:
The ushers, with contribution plates, started on their rounds. The evangelist said she had instructed them to say "Amen" whenever 25 cents was dropped into the plate; when 50 cents the usher was to say "Hallelujah!" and when $1 the usher was to say "Glory hallelujah!" in a loud tone. The collection amounted to $1,100...
the evangelist knew that no person with money to give would be content with an "Amen" when a neighbor, sitting in the next pew, was acclaimed with a "Glory hallelujah!"
the evangelist knew that no person with money to give would be content with an "Amen" when a neighbor, sitting in the next pew, was acclaimed with a "Glory hallelujah!"
New York Times - May 18, 1919
Comments
For me, the most interesting bit about this is the linguistics. I only knew the word 'emulation' as it is usually used, mostly in computing. This article made me look up the original meaning.
Posted by Richard Bos on 08/21/21 at 06:13 AM
Thanks for your comment Richard, it encouraged me to look up the definition. I could not have given one a definitive definition other than I figured it was meant to encourage a higher amount of offering.
Posted by Steve E. on 08/21/21 at 10:57 AM
Not a bad haul. That would be worth about $17,000 in today’s money.
Posted by Brian on 08/24/21 at 09:01 AM
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Category: Money | Religion | Psychology