The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1870-05-13
PREACHERS AND REPORTERS.


PREACHERS AND REPORTERS.
From the ~ y. Times
Edward VI encouraged the English farmers
to harvest upon Sunday, and in his proclsma-
ton to that effect he called il "a great offense
to God to be scrupulous aud superstitious in
foregoing such occupations" This pious
king was not above taking practical view of
religion, and, like Timothy, he was not averse
to counselling little wine for the stomach's
sake to either laymen or clergy. Hence.
when Rev. Charles b Smyth was lately ar
raigned by the Presbytery of the church
whereof he is pastor, for drinking stimulant
OF his own invention on Sunday he was not
without biblical and royal precedents to urge
in his defense. The rather vulgar character
OF his liquor, and the ineongruity of It's mix
ture-for gin aud milk was the nectar
chosen by the reverend gentleman on the
occasion in question-has perhaps excited au
unreasonable prejudice against him. Yet,
after all, there is no more harm in taking
such beverage than in taking champagne,
and whoever would insist upon an aristocratc
discrimination is neither rational nor chari-
table. But, waving discussion of this point,
and without presuming to sit in judgment on
the Importance or Nervousness of his offsnse,
we submit that Mr.. Smyths case raises one
point of general character which may
well be subjected to discussion. The reve-
rend gentleman was betrayed into his error
II 1T was an error-by his desire to be hos
pitable to certain reporters who designed TO
publish part of his sermon. Nov, is the
custom of reporting sermons in itself a
Judlclous or profitable one? We conceive
that it is not, or at least that there are many
strong arguments against the abuse of it.
In the first place, not one preacher in ten
is likely to make the sermon which he ex-
poets to be reported precisely what it would
be If he had no such expectation Ii tue
difference were always for the better, Oh jec-
tlon on this score would fall to the ground
But it is almost sure to be for the worse. To
address fifty thousand persons through the
press, instead of few hundreds by word OF
mouth might, with some men, have an exalt-
ing and purifying influence; but with the
majority it is to be feared that the TEN pta-
tion to catch the ear of the crowd to nuke u
sensation" to attract the ready applause
which is the business of the player rather
than OF the preacher, would have nn iuiuri-
GUS influence. Again, may not the iuclca-
tlon to tlatter an influential or widely-circu-
lated journal, with a view to gain its favor.
sometimes be too strong even for a cleric Al
breast? To put the matter more closely, does
not Rev. Charles B. Smyth know of vivid
illustrations of yielding to precisely such an
inclination which have presented themselves
certainly have no difficulty in pointing them
out. The system of reporting sermons in
discriminatory is open 20 this aud 9th 4r
objections. 1t is not well. for instance, to
offer community, too many Of whom are
already prone to avoid church-goine, a
plausible excuse for avoiding that which, if a
duty, ought to be performed People Only too
easily fall into the habit of SAYING they can
read sermon in the newspaper as a plea for
not going to listen to it; and vet it requires
no argument to show that all the objects of
gathering together for public worship on
Sunday are not fulfilled by merely reading
the words of pastors discourse, however
moving or eloquent it may be.
1t may be said that clergymen as a BODY
are not likely to be actuated by Influences
such as those we describe, and we should be
very glad to believe they are not Never
theless, it is wise to shun not only evil itself
but all the roads which lead to it, 1t is within
our knowledge that preachers have sometimes
not only been most anxious to see their SER
mons in print but have sought to pay money
to insure their arriving at that distinction
strong corroboration CT the degrading
tendency to which we have referred. There
has been of late enough, and more than
enough, of sensation preaching, in the bad
sense of the phrase, if not too much in the
good. Rev. MIR. Smyth's late experience, if
deserving of censure, must be thought so not
SO much because of his act, as because of his
example. We hope it will be a warning to
him and to others not to seek q kind of pub
lcity that is clearly outside the functions of
the sacred Office. That office is best reye-
renced, and is most efficacious for good, when
exercised, like humber duty, in its own legi-
innate sphere. a .. = .- l.-....''