The morning star and Catholic messenger. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1868-1881, 1877-01-21
4 PROTESTANT OPINION CONCERNING
RELIGIOUS PAPERS
Presbyterian Banner.)

great mistake exists Ia the popular
| mind with regard TO the cost OF pu blisGing a
religious new spsper which ought To be cor
rected. Most people suppose the outlay to
be small, althOUgh when they see how many
| religions newspapers fail for want of AIDE
quate support they ought TO know better.
Every one engaged in the business knows
from exE eriencs the heavy financial respon-
sibltitles involved in addition to the labors
of editors and assistants. The Rev. w. w.
Patton. d. D, formerly editor of the Chic
ago Adrance, was ct the Monday meeting
OF the Congregational ministers of Boston,
a few weeka ago, when an essay on the rel
gious newspaper was read by minister
VITO supposed he knew all about it, but
before be was done showed himself in a
great measure ignorant of the subject he WAS
attempting 10 hscnss. DR.. Patton was
asked 10 give his views, which he didsfrom
actual knowledge.
He epoke of the early religious news
papers as mere religious tract, dealing
little with matters in general and of the
curing the expenditure of $40 600 or s Is, 900
a year for editorial labors alone. 1t stands by
the pulpit and authorship. Its eye is ever
watching all aspects of the religious world,
and it speaks without delay. 1t has vast
influence in moulding opinions If you
enter family and look at its religious paper
yon at once form an opinion of the il fluence
under which it is trained. Hence any de-
cided paper will have friends or foes, accor-
ding to the grounds it takes and it must
take sides, 1t must have character of its
own, able ard fearless, or it will not be
wanted. A model religious paper, therefore,
will need u large capital-fTom SIS, 600 to
500, 0O0-to start with. The Independent
did not pay it's way for many years. 1t was
20 with the Union the Adrnnce the Interior
and other tirst-cass papers. The expenses
of such paper are fearful, and this was
shown by the vast sums sunk in such en-
terprises. Hence, to succeed, such a paper
needs an editor in- chief-a strong man,
with helpers strong and in harmony with
himself. Differences will weaken. If the
paper takes DO side it will have no charsc-
ter, and will not commend itself to the pub
lie. Hence it must have strong, decided
leader, free to think for himself. Thus the
New York Tribune, Herald, and Times be-
came great and strong under able lead ers.
Errors there will be-blunders-but these
will be forgotten in the vigorous progress
of the paper. Such a paper will be often
ahead of the times, but it can affJrd to
watt"
This is the testimony of one who has had
long experience in newspaper life, and to
the truth of which every editor and pub
Usher of religious newspaper can bear
Witness. In no other business have more
signal failures been made. Not single en-
terprise of this kind started within the last
ten years has been a success. We have
| enough religious newspapers now to meet
the demands of this country for many years
in the future. What they need is large
support, that their quality may be made
| better from year to year. Every subscriber
| should make it a matter of conscience to
pay promptly; while all the friends of reli-
gion and education should exert themselves
to extend the circulation of religious news
papers which inculcate and defend sound
doctrine and pure morality, that the infidel
and immoral literature which iB flooding
the land may be cOunteracted. The good
that may be done aud the evil that may be