The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1873-06-01
The High Mission or the Prcss-mr'
CoIryer,s sermon ON Newspapers.

attention even of the pulpit, az Will De seen
from the report of a sermon by the Rev.
Robert CoIlyer, Of Chicago which we print
this morning. We say even of the pulpit
in speaking of this tardy recognition of
the secular newspaper as q moral and relig-
ious power, with a full sense of the
meaning of the word. Before newspapers
were printed the pulpit filed the place to
some extent which the press now fills. AT all
times the people were not only warned from
the pulpit to fee from the wrath to come,
but every danger to morals and religion
was pointed out and vice and crime
'n.: e.ill the case, bat the press
now anticipates the pulpit in dsnouncinc
wrong and there are seven OPPORTUNITIES for
sermon IN the HERALD to two in the Church
mus the warning and reproving power of the
newspaper Is more immediate and effective
and the leading article reaches more than a
hundred thousand people, while it is seldom
mat sermon is heard by thousand. Il is NO
wonder then, that Mr.. Collyer says that other
books besides the Bible are divine in their wav.
and the true newspaper in Ito nay is divine
also. There is something in this remark that
shows fine appreciation of the duties which
devolve upon the newspaper and that helps
to make, while pointing out, the high mission
of the press
Mr.. Collyer does not forget to say that
there are papers which are printed simply to
pander to evil passions and debase the youth
of the country. Among journalists such
journals are known simply as disreputable
But even in treating this question he shows
himself to be q broad and comprehensive
thinker, and reveals the incest possible dis
elimination as to what it is proper to print.
He would noccover up that which ought to be
revealed. He would have the press both fear
less and free, graphing with corruption and
Staying vice. He sees that the independent
press is oil the time winning its way to wider
fields Of usefulness and power. He declares
that Journals like the HERALD want no office
or plumber, and, honest themselves they
trust to the honest instincts of the American
citizen. Journals like these" he says, ''are
the true leaders Of the people, and in them
he sees the hope Of the future. AS they go
the journals that do not lead must follow, and
hence he believes that even the ''infernal
element in the press will be destroyed as the
high mission of journalism becomes palmer,
more perfect and more potent
| The distinguished preacher, in the course
of his discourse, touches nearly every topic
confesses that the press is generous as well as
incisive. In politics it is above kings and
presidents. Science, art, literature are all it's
tributaries. The writing and thinking of the
day are done through the press. In all things
the Independent press is the most remarkable
outcome in our modern civilization. In
recognizing this Mr.. Collyer shows great wis
dom, and he would be quite ready, appar-
entity to stand up in his pulpit and read a
leading article from newspaper as the second
lesson in teaching truth and duty to his people
Let us consider for u moment the tribute
which the preacher pays to the press in the
fine literary attributes he allows it to possess.
After quoting Chalmers to the effect that the
best thinking and writing at that time were
done III the newspapers, and adding the
admission that newspaper thinking and
writing to-day are better than in Chalmers
time, he says that the press searches every
corner of the land for men of the finest
ability and fastens them with chains of gold,
each in his own place, as the Roman con-
queror bound captive kings to his triumphal
car. There is in this wonderful deal Of
truth. The products Of the finest minds
are daily brought to the press for its
highest and commonest uses. The telegraph
brings tidings of movement far off and in
quarter remote from cities, it may be, but the
man standing on the watchtower of the daily
newspaper takes up the news and turns it
over. When the daylight comes it is living
thought borne in burning words to million
minds. The germ which was sown with
patient hope has suddenly become great tree
whose branches cover the earth. The thought
of yesterday is to-day the purpose of the
future. trained intellect has taken the seed
that was planted, and, with that nice skill of
the pen which none of the bookmakers ever
could match, has given the life that was IN it
form and beauty and strength; has made it,
what no magician ever yet could make
of anything upon which he exercised
his art--a vital essence for all time
in the affairs of men, Results so noble make
the nobless minds content to give their best
thoughts and the richest fruits of their genius
to the press; and we might add it is the fancy
perhaps more than fancy-of some of the
ablest newspaper writer's that they can feel thu
responsive throb of the world of men, as, in
the morning, while the 'leader' is in the
minds of thousands, they sleep away the
fatigues of the night of work.
But, after all, do men fully appreciate the
high mission of the press The work of the
newspaper is seen in detail and from day to
day, but it is too many-sided to be seen at
once in all its forms. In one aspect the press
is the real pulpit OF the time CRYING ont aoanst