The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-11-15
PARK CONGREGATIONAL CHURCH.


BY REV. MATTHEW HALE SMITH.
In the Park Congregational church. South Brooklyn,
last evening, Rev. Matthew Hale Smith delivered the
second of his aggressive discourses," taking for
text jeremiah xiv, 2-"one basket had very good
figs even like the figs that are first ripe. Tho other
basket had very naughty figs which could not be eaten
they very bad Mr. Smith said When the
press good II is very good and when naughty, Is
very naughty. No preacher, said he, ignore the
influence of the press II is the first estate instead OF
the third. Tho masses acknowledge its power in
everything Under its influence men buy and sell, !.
praise and blame. A candidate for public
favor is not accepted until the people have
read the morning press. united press
guarantees any election in this country. Men who roll
up great fortunes do it through the help of printers
ink. Fifty years ago the press or New England
Satanic Religion was lampooned. The tract and
Bible societies. the missionary and revivals
subjects Of ridcue, and evangelical Christians could
not get their daily news without having their religion
maligned. The New York Observer founded by the
of orthodox minister, not as religious paper,
but newspaper in which the religion OF its readers
should not be nsulted complete exorcism has taken
place, and in place in the country has
RELIGION A
than in New England paper Is not necessarily Sa-
because IL is sensational The press is not Satanic
because il gives the news OF the day. whether IT be
good whether be evil. paper Is just what the
people choose TO make itthat is II must satisfy tho
popular demand. People VINO read sunday papers de-
inand certain style OF literature and get IT, relig
ious paper TO its readers. Men want and
take newspaper for the news and il they do not find
Il they stop Time after time efforts have been
made TO up daily religious paper in New York.
Such paper has succeeded because II does not
satisfy the public demand for news. In great trial
family paper announced that its columns would be free
from all auson TO the matter The paper lost patrons
by the hundred while the enterprsng press could not
meet the demand for its issues The London Times
paid
Az ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS TO THE NEW YORK HERALD
when IL acknowledged that II had TO come TO the
HERALD get tho account OF the English batles and
the Same New YORK HERALD has put to shame the
gous explorers Africa and the national Powers
out by governments in its ability to lay bare the
troddcn portions OF the world. Under the samo
HERALD influence flag was hung on Lots vito at
Sodom and will probably yet float the North Pole.
The daily newspaper named is marvel OF knowledge,
enterprise ana skill II sweeps the globe. The trans
actions done in all the world are laid at morning on
every mans table We know what our race is doing
in the great centres of commercial power in the
of tho world the Cabinets OF Europe are laid bare to
us; wo know much ABOUT the parameDts of nations
abroad do about our own Congress. Religion
is willing to take its chances with stocks and bonds
railway enterprises, of discovery the tramp
ing of armed men, the revolutions in government and
the march Of crime The daily press is the great tract
and religious organization OF the day The great
spectacle press OF the country Is loaded down daily
with news Of the Church universal The lightning
flashes daily tho wires the important Church
movements or tho world. Formerly men waited for
religious information entire year until the ami
versares came round.
THEY TAKE 1T Now LIKE AN oMELET,
with their breakfast The enterprise, the brains the
capital the circulation the energy OF the press is put
at the disposal of the religious community Such ia
ctics Tor spreading religious knowledge could not, in
the time of Elizabeth have been purchased with the
Jewels Of the kingdom These agencies for spreading
divine truth offered To the Church, like salvation
ITSELF without money and without price In fact the
exercised press VIII do much toward Fastening the
millennium