Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1854-04-07
EhiiOrIal Inhors.

Some very interesting remarks were recently
made at meeting of the .Nergptpcr PHbiiSh-
os and Editors of Boston, by the Veteran Edl-
tor Mr.. NArH,NIEL WILLS, of whom the
Boston Transcript says, sat this time, when the
religious press comprises SO MANY able and in
fnential journals, IN our own and other coun-
tries, it seems hardly credible that the man who
started the. first religious newspaper in he world
should be alive, and "A smart, active man, too
yet such is the fact, Mr. WILLS is Justly en-.
titled to the honor of being the pioneer in that
department Of journalism. Ills lathcr was
printer and three of his children certainly are
widely known IN the world of letters, VIZ y.
I. Willis, Mrs. harrington, Fanny Fern nd
Richard 5. Willis"
The following is portion Of the remarks
referred to -
My father, Nathaniel Willis, began his pub
lcatlon Of the Independent Chronicle, in the
same building where Benjamin Franklin work
ed AS printer, in Court ST., corner Of frankn
avenue. Boston, June, 1916. lie continued to
conduct that paper TIL liSl, embracing the
whole period of the war for Indepcndcncc.-
' L..
and IN l170 commenced the publication of the
Potomac Guardian, (whcn | commenced TYNE
setting and which he continued till the year
loOO, when he removed to Chilicothc, OHIO,
where he published the Scotia Gnzc,tc, the
first paper IN the then North Western Hcrrito-
ry. | worked m my fathers oil 'r in Virginia
until April l196, when returned to Boston, in
my ION year, and entered as an upprt nice in
the office OF the Independent Chronicle.
continued 10 work there until September 1903
when in my 23d year was invited to Portland.
Me, ani commenced the Eastern Arprs. Az
ter publishing that paper several years, | re-
turned TO Boston IN 1912, the trying period of
the second British war. Here | published
books ond pamphlets until January, 1916. when
IN my Both year, commenced the publication
OF the Boston Recorder, which continued up
TO January, lc5l. In June, lc27. in INV l1th
year, commenced the Youh's Companion.
conducting both papers IN the same office II
years. The CumpInlun Is now u wears old
and am 73.
1t Is singular coincidence, that in three
successive generations, three pels ,ns of the
same name, should be engaged in publishing
each OF .hem three newspapers, all within the
time OF American independence. NV father
published the Independent ChrC nicle, the Potu-
mac Guardian, and the Scotia Gazctte-I have
published the Eastern Argus, the Boston Re-
corder, and the Youths Companion .-. and my
son, Nathaniel Parker Willis, has published
the New York Mirror the Corsllr, and the
Home journal.
My long experience as Publisher and Edi-
tor has convinced me that 1t is a position of very
great sponsIbllty-that 1t Is impossible to
please everyOody--that 1t Is best to conduct IN
such u way as to have a conscience void of Of
fence towards God and man-thlt industry,
economy, perseverance, and self-reliance are
the surest he pers-thlt, like woman's work. 1t
is never done, every hour has It's appropriate
work--and that II requires strong mlnd IN "a
strong body, in order to live long such tread
mill work. Editors should be kind aud cour-
teOus towards each other, avoiding personall-
ties and abuse, treating each other Us brethren,
and allowing others the same rights winch they
claim for themselves. Every publication in
tluences thousands of minds, and that intln-
ence should be salutary, for time and eternity.
The Improvements in printing within seventy
years have been great. The screw presses
and the sheep-skn balls are superseded by the
power press ami the roller but type-se is
still done by human hands, and editorials must
still be conceived by human heads. May those
hands and heads now SO usetully and honora-
bly, employed, be amply renunerated by con-
seriousness of doing good, and well filed
purse, before old age incapacitates them for
enjoyment, and the public forget their unwear-
led servltors- and then, may the rest" above
be the reward Of all your toll.