The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-03-18
THE METHODIST MINISTER'S.
How 70 Make the Secular Press Tribu-
tary to Evangelical Christianity-A
Tough Job for the Ministers-The Press
the Mirror OF Public OpiniOn.

How to Make the Secular Press Trfbu-
tary to Evangelical Christianity-A
Tough Job for the Ministers-The Press
the Mirror OF Public Opinion.
The topic under discussion among the Methodist
preachers yesterday was one OF much interest to
themselves and to the religious community and
hence drew together large assembage. "How
can the Secular Press be Made Tributary to Evan
gelical Christianity" was the question pro-
pounded Rev. Mr.. Thomas, OF Brooklyn, opened
the debate by reducing the question to the simple
one OF chow Shall the Press be Made to Serve
Cnrist9'' He looked upon the press in It's double
capacity a leader and reflector OF public opinion
and . mirror or human events from day 10 day.
The devil, he contended, now has the public press.
THE DEVIL IN THE PUBLIC PRESS
phiosophic and our poetic literature. and we
can't tell how the press can be made to serve
Christ until we see how 1t serves the devil
Is enormous. In 1885 the united issues Of
the press put l5O OOO OOO but they have grown
can throw or 10000 copies an hour. These papers
represent the evil that turks in the unregenerate
mind Mr. Thomas then Illustrated the insd ls
literature Of the, age, after which he re-
turned again to the press and said that he
unfortunately than he would let his little child 20
into drug store ana help himself at will to tse
mast look, he said, to the daily and weekly issues
of the press which are but the expression Of the
Christ. Let ms look at the time when God gave us
the press. Mr.. Thomas then briefly referred to the
Reformation and the desire for literature which
had sprung up In the public mind about that time.
1t seemed TO him, he said, that
GOD GAVE THE PRESS TO TIE CHURCH,
How can it be made to serve Christ In proper
ton as editors and publishers, reporters and con-
serve Christ and His cause 1t seems absurd to
think that men on whom the devil has q mort
gage, the foreclosure OF which would be certain
ond atp nj faaf mr. wi nso fupi nrpaa les
for God These persons are responsible TO God
for being sinners both In their words and
realize this. The duty, then, OF the Church and
of the ministry, as Mr.. Thomas pointed out, Is to
seek to have the aga ana no eat th &C. 81
influence among Christian families to keep out all
kinds OF immoral literature from their homes-a
chs" Chaplain eHibben. Of the Navy Yard, Brooklyn,
remarked that nhdety lnfests every form OF litera
science tnI and religion, science OF late has been
victorious and ministers have been much to blame
for this result Is sGd as
in his pulpit and elsewhere to get into sympathy
DR.. Devinne and Mr. Butler made few remarks
OF listle or moment or bearing on the question.
A GOOD WORD FOR THE PRESS
Dr. F. o. Haven. being called upon, said that the
press is the tongue OF which the Apostle James
said 10 had not been tanned nor car IL be- IL Is i'm
possible to make the Snsvs
lands The press Is an effect and not q cause, and
we make mistake, said the Doctor, at this point
1t Is often that writer will express his vice in
his writings The press In probably to-day in ad-
vance Of the thought Of the world 1t Is far In ad-
vance OF what It was fifty years ago. True there
Is q literature that Is purely Satanic. The Doctor
here called attention to the disclosures made be-
fore the late Congress In It's discussion ON Com
stocks Obscene Literature bill. Tons upon tons Of
this literature are circulated in this country and
In England among young people, and even our
college catalogues, he said, are consulted, and this
vile stun Is circulated through the mails. We are
assured that we can't suppress these things with
on: interference with the Post once prerogatves.
It is impossible, the Doctor remarked, TO
govern this world In abstract principles,
curtaied only as other liberties are, when IL over
passes the bounds OF morality as found In the
community and oosens social and moral ties Inc
proper way to make the press tributary 10 re-
ligi0n, he thought was so 10 tram up IcugIous
young men in their colleges and academies that
they would be called TO guide and manage the sec
ular press. lie had seen expressions or thougnt
in the pubic press which showed that the writers
knew what religion Is. ..
That II is mirror, and not a leader or guide, OF
the public thought OF the world, and we often see
In it and In other daily papers expressions OF
thought as pure we can nnd In our rcngous
papers. The Doctor did not, however. believe "
possible to make the press what u ought 10 DO
unit the people are what they ought 10 DO. What
Is the effect OF this semi-inndec nteraturef II
does not affect the minds OF the masses, and 1t
can't Lett TO itself 1t will work so much mischief
hearts OF men. II the Church ever gets the mas
terry the press will then be religious. but nor before
The subject was continued. and Dr. Eddy viii
sneak IL next week.