The Portland daily press., 1866-11-17
Inauenee of .lc Daily Newspaper.

We find in the Pittsburg Commercial the re-
port of a sermon on Popular Amusements,"
recently delivered i'll the Pittsburg Academy of
Music by Rev. Henry D. Moore, formerly pas
tor of the Central Church in this city A por-
ton of this sermon relating to the influence of
the secular press, is SO admirable and so well
expresses a truth not always recognized by the
religious world that we cannot refrain from
quoting it:
And here wish to say few words with re-
gard to the daily press Ia our community. 1t
. is not possible for US to know the extent of the
power of the daily newspaper in moulding the
opinions in fashioning the enterprises and in
determining the daily life Of the people. If the
newspapers should suddenly drop out Of exist
ence what estimate could we attempt of the
loss of moral power the community would sus-
tain?
The newspaper is not merely a reflector,
mirror in which the people may see themselves
from one day to another; it is not merely tell
tale of human events TRANSPORTING near us
and far off; not merely an informer; but it is an
educator, reformer; it is power, moral
power in the community; power creating and
moulding ideas and opinions among men, de-
terInlning the motives and daily life OF the peo-
pie. 1t Is an agency, a power of incalculuble
influence In the families and homes of men, in
counting rooms, in ware houses in workshops
in stores, in factories, in market places, in il
braries and IN studies: The newspaper comes
to all, high anu low, rich and poor, learned and
ignorant, to the men of unceasing toll and to
men of quiet leisure. Very many read littie
else and not few there are who read notl,;nSr
beside the newspaper. 1t comes to all NOT o,'
ly as an informer, but as moral power: exert.
inp-however unconsciously-yet still exert
ING upon them marked and controlling in
fuence; and by its daily teachings on all SUBJ
iects and in all directions, 1t is determining in
a marvellous degree, the thoughts, the pur-
suits. the moralties, the Inspirations the as
pirations of our daily life.
There is scarcely anything which thej COM
munity waits for with such eager longing as
for the morning or evening paper Men cam
not eat their breakfast nor enter upon the du-
ties of life. the tasks Of the day, without first
cleaning the morning paper; they retire at
TT;0bt unsatisfied and impatient if they have
not unfolded the evening paper Some super
Christian people may criticise tins fact as much
as thew nlease. and hint strongly about reading
tbe Rible. or a tract, or some pages of good
book: nevertheless the fact remains, and the
question is. what will you do with it? Men
will read the newspaper constantly ana aD-
sorbingly, and the newspaper Is power WIN
them And real Christian men feel that the
newspaper is a moral power, more than others
do.
The newspaper is the daily preacher out
among the people. 1t is an efficient preacher,
too. Six days in the week it preacher, and
never tires in arraying its facts and in point
ing its morals And the most effective preach
ing from the pulpit on the Sabbath the preah-
ing which most attracts, holds instructs the
people, is that which takes up the minds and
lives of the community just where the newspa
per left them on Saturday night, and applies