The New York herald., 1876-11-28
THE PRESS AND THE PULPIT.
THE FORMER ouTpoEs THE LATTER IN ITS IN
FLUENcE.

Yesterday the Methodist ministers considered tho
comparative influence OF the press and the pulpit and
DIR. b. NJ Adams, o, Brooklyn, opened the discussion
He took what he called the unpopular slde-that is the
side which recognizes and gives credit The
lar press for whatever OF good contains II II should
be asserted that the press powerful and innu
tal than the pulpit 1t might be difficult prove the
proposition. Nothing is absolutely small; everything
has some measure OF influence morals and
religion, the crops, railroads, politics, &C.,
are each and all influential In their sphere aud to
extent more or less appreclab!c They indicate as
spiritual barometer the rise and fall OF the moral
temperature Take. for instance said Dr. Adams. the
present muddle in politics. There is scarcely any re-
vival going in any OF our churches because OF
III and. whatever be the tone OF tho secular press II
has It's influence on the popular mind. II has pccu
liar advantages and facilities Tor reaching the popular
mind You can lnd the press at every street corner
every railroad chr or steamboat. and at every
ferry, hotel other public place. IL makes proics
sion too the highest religious culture therc is
certain force and power IL that reaches the public
mind There only thin, that intcrieres with It's in
nuencc, and that is that ths public docs fully be-
eve in professions aud its teachings any great
extent But after ALL the secular press commands tho
best talent OF the community and when 1t is necessary
10 bring news the parts oil the world
instance. When it was known that he expected
here corps OF reporters kept down at Sandy
Hook and Highland lights for a fortnight to
get the earliest OF his arrival Surely tho chill
drcn OF this world wiser III thor generation than
tho children Of gh. The secular press treats all sub
jecls, even religion in the same spirit. Rich men,
matter how rich or religious they are, receive
consideration than the poor. The press cuts TO the
quick every time. The Doctor referred to some OF
our contemporaries and remarked that tho late Dr.
Id M 10
Evangelical Alliance this city three years ago.
constructed out OF material suppcd hy an editorial IN
the Tribune There is certain crispnese, he SAID,
about the way which the secular papers ;reat SUBJ
jects that appeal 10 the average mind and which
counts very largely Tor It's influence on the public
mind. 1t is the commanding and the greatest
force in tins land and perhaps, IN the world to-day
But while the press follows rather than leads public
opinion IL docs the rudder does the ship--it
guides aud controls that opinion. You can 20 through
the community and easily tell what papers are read.
There a certain distnctness In reading that leaves
its impress upon the people, and every subject is
treated OF IN the press.
poLpxEss OF TIrE SECULAR PRESS
One of tho greatest influences winch the secular
press is In the line Of its bodncss IL has
be bold 10 make It's influence felt Tho press must ue
positive also, for neutral papers have very little nlu
IN the community. The press Is working IN the
line OF allirmaons and not of dcnals. The religious
press is lar below the secular Ia influence and power
becacs the former lacks direcness IN its treatment of
questions. We must be religious, and the religious
press must grind out just SO much religious news
every week. but it is necessarily strung very thin
IL is considered good enough reading for Sunday IL Is
very bold condemIing other peoples sins, while II
hides IT'S own. That, SAID Dr. Adams, Is my
mcnt against the religious press Comparing, then,
the pulpit with the secular press The Doctor remarked
that had get up ladder as IL were, to Ind
what OF great preachers say The pulnt lacks
the mighty force which condenses things and enables
us 10 see all sides OF subject There are many who
pecvc that the secular press Is religious than
the religious press, even than the pulpit. One
u short time ago told him that while he took all tho
religious papers the secular paper that he took
religious than any
A NoICE-Was that the Sum
ASornER-No; II was the HERALD
The pulpit lacks the element that makes the secular
press powerlu-bodness. Tho press Is daily max
ing its impression on the people while tho pulpit has
only day Tor It's say. IL has pleased God Uy tho
iooishness OF preaching to save men, and he believed
great deal OF 1t is foolish preaching. BoIdncss
preaching Is an effect the oil which that great
lifting up OF a man until he nothing but God.
All Is small before nm. And what the pulpit Of
to-day needs IS to be lifted M where other things shall
appear nothing in comparison with God. II needs
boldncss that is born OF the things OF the world to
Now the question is as to the comparative inllu
and force Of those two the press and the pulpit
when they go together Is not Gods order that the
pulpit shall be the moulder and leader OF The public
mind? The late rebellion was brought about by tho
MINISTERS rather than by the press or tho pQ,cians
And Abraham Lincoln publicly thanked the Methodist
Episcopal Church for saving the nation. Now, tho
pulpit Is only at its middng power, while the press Is
ut Its maximum. The pulpit needs TO be lifted up
where 1t shall only Jesus. The nrctpped tongue
is an enormous aud unquenchabe power in this world
The secular press ahead OF The thought OF the age
IL grasps everything and makes all subservcnt
own idea Now let the pulpit take hold OF every ad
vantage its possession and then supcradd TO this the
cndow ment OF Gods spirit aud It shall be the moulding
power IN h IS world.
THE WORLDLY, rLEsHLY pEvILIsH PRESS.
Brother Parsons divided he secular press into these
three classes and he took up the feshy the cen-
tious press tor his theme. Unless great men be
sent great city pupils he did know what
to become Of little parishes like his own lying
the borders Three hundred story papers OF
read in his parish, while only eighty roll
eous papers are received. Seven OF the story
papers Of this city send out weekly 3e0.0 900 col
umns reading, while all tho religious papers send
unly 192, 600 IL Is astonishing, and great deal
OF the former is Of the ragamuifn style OF stories,
and young peoples minds are being turned
by II. He has examined books in his
sunday school library and had found
nothing in the papers indicated 10 exceed in vcncss
the matter contained in those books This kind Of
literature is like the Egyptian plague OF frogs The
devil has larger audiences Sunday than tho
have, and moro hours spent In reading this
trash than in hearing the Gospel or reading the Bible
Dr. Adams having referred to the influence which Cal
win exercised in q and Knox Scotland us H.
lusirations Of the power which the pulpit might
The mind OF the community, Brother Dick
HERALD did not exist No man could exercise
the influence to-day as they did unless
the secular press was on their Side The
Rev Alexander McAlister remarked that the tcu-
dency o, every class and order to magnify its
office. He vas disposed TO question whether cthor
carry the influence they clam II the comparison
was TO be made between dcmcntcd pulpit and
intellect ual press, then the press more influential
But IL the comparison was between "A demeEtcd press
and intellectual pulpit then the puipt was the
most powerful. Blu; II II be denied thai have
neither he had BOTH Eighty per cent oil all the
reading OF this city is nction Mr.. McAstcr thought
the press should give more attention to this subject
res oIuop was adopted expressing the pleasure OF
the meeting that Bishop Harris is coming to reside
here. The missionary secretaries asked and
agreed 10 provide missionary sermon next Monday
morning.
THE MAIN MALPRACTICE CASE.