Check on Dr. Billy's 'converts'

A SURVEY is being carried out by the Church of England Newspaper among Anglican clergy and laity throughout Britain to determine what has happened to the 40,000 "converts" who came forward during Dr. Billy Graham's great crusade in London last June. It is proposed to use the data to prepare for the American evangelist's national campaign next June.
The paper, which reflects evangelical thinking in the Anglican Church, says in a front-page story announcing the survey: "Evangelism today is an urgent matter. It cannot wait while the Church of England pursues its leisurely course towards internal self-improvement. Nor can it be said that any of us had the answer to the many problems involved in evangelising the English people today . . . "Billy Graham, his team and his methods are being de bated in trains, bars and canteens throughout the land. Was it all emotion and crude, highpressure tactics? Did people genuinely become Christians at Earls Court and at the relay centres?
"These are the questions everybody argues about. But in the Church more searching questions take pride of place. Did Billy Graham reach the urban masses? Has he pointed the way to the baffling problem of evangelism in the innercity areas? . .. We are attempting to measure the effects of this crusade as far as the Church of England is concerned. so as to provide accurate information on this method of evangelism."
Two long questionnaires accompanied the announcement. Clergy were asked such questions as whether they supported Mr. Graham's last crusade; whether, and how many, inquirers were referred to them; and what these inquirers are doing now.
Laymen were asked their views on Dr. Graham's crusade. its atmosphere and its intelligibility, their ages and occupations, whether they "went forward", and so on.