The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1877-09-02
Religions Newspapers.

that daily papers ostensibly religious fail Of
| success
| First we Ind the World, which was started
az an evangelical organ, designed to Offset
the wickedncss OF existing journals, and to
| inculcate piOus politics. We all know how
that experiment failed; and the rcmem-
| brance OF the dulness Of the World In those
days dcpresscs the spirits of the few persons
| still living who, in the line Of duty, had
| to read It. That journal however, speedily
| got rid Of its pioty, and has now become a
very fcshly sort Of sheet, and about as un-
| safe n guide in matters Of religion as in
morals. politics, and social etiquette The
| Witness came next, and IL made a long fight
| to win success, but it could not conquer IL,
| and wisely gave up the effort few weeks
| ago after n six years trial. II rcsortcd to
| all sorts OF plans to get circulation, and to
| obtain pccunlary aid, even going TO the ex-
| trCme OF Offering to give away copies Of its
| numbers But IL was all in vain; the people
wouldn't read il; even many Of those who
took II rs "A sort Of penancc neglected to open
the paper. Yet the Witness frequently con-
tanned what was well worth reading, it had
a capable editor, aad it was honorably con-
| Quoted.
Why, then, the failure Tho Boston Con-
0regationahst attributes IT to the Witnesses
lack Of sufficient capital and TO It's neglect
to secure for its service the highest order Of
journalistic ability. The publication Of the
paper must be insured for year at least,
says the CJnOregdtionaiist. whether sustained
| by the public or not But the Witness had
very rich man at its back and it managed
to live not merely one year, but six years
l II 10 had n M ullnJ ala
in journalism which was really empty, the
| Witness would have won fair success in that
time.
No, the trouble was not lack Of capital
nor could any journalistic ability procurablc
have given the paper success, so long MS the
theory of it remained what it was Instead
| of treating religion rs great practical elc-
mont Of life, and us n philosophy which
might be brought to bear upon the treat
mcnt Of all subjects whatsoever without tho
intrusion Of cant, and without assuming the
tone and the language Of drcary sermon
izer, it made it's religion Extensively profess
slonal and kept its mission always in the
| front. People couldn't stand being preached
| to every day, and the religious common
| places dealt out TO them were uncndurablc
| The flag ends Of old sermons printed as lead
ing articles; the dreary tracts which filed
SO many columns; the cheap and frequently
| spurious accounts Of morbid religious cx-
| pcriences in men, women, and children; and
the namby PANTY religious scntimcntalitics
| were not the sort OF stun that an active and
intelligent community could feed on. Tons
| on tons OF good paper are yearly wasted in
the publication in other forms Of just this
| sort Of pious writing, until the sight OF n
| tract has become almost siokcning to thou
sands Of men who honor real religion and
try to regulate their lives in accordance
| with Its prccepts. There was no call there
fore, for still further Cutting the market
with journal devoted To the dissemination
of the same kind OF trash.
The men who star. these religious daily
| papers know only one way Of performing
their task 1t is To repeat the familiar
| phrases Of tracts and sermons, phrases
| which by much repetition have often lost
their force which fail 10 express sincere
convictions, and make no impression on the
| reader, who knows as soon as he has looked
| at the first sentence of the article Just what
he will be bored with If he reads it through
| There is wanting in such writing the ring Of
manly and independent thought and the
freshness Of originality. II is dinner Of
old scraps offered TO men OF robust appc-
tites. These religious editors never have Il
new idea. They keep hammering away at
| the old themes, are as timid as fawns and
are unable to put themselves in sympathy
with existing society, SO eager for infurma-
ton and 90 trained by the so-called secular
papers to appreciate good and honest writ
ing Religion to these professional pictsts
is II body Of phrases, a lot of Oriental figures
OF speech, set of emotional experiences ;
aud Il has few points Of contact with the
actual lives OF the individuals who are here
working for their living, while bcset with
temptations, and cropping about 10 find The
meaning Of things. You can't put people
of with religious platitudcs in paper.
They may stand them when delivered with
rhetorical skill from II pulpit, but they won't
waste their time in reading them every
morning as diluted in journal
Moreover, how can an evangelical news
paper prosper when the evangelical chulch
fails to effectively meet the inideity OF the
age? We see modern science vigorously
assaiing the very foundations OF Oh is
rianty, and laughing at the defence ap-
pointed defenders of the faith are making
We see ministers dodging the missiles sent
against Them instead of going out TO fight
the foe to the bitter end The faith which
has been handed down 10 us IS in danger
from its enemies, skepticism is spreading
rapidly among the young men Of education,
and among the older men the seeds of un-
belief are being sown broadcast. IL the
evangelical church in earnest? Does it
really believe the doctrines it Processes
Does IL still hold that their acceptance by
men Is necessary To salvationY If il Is sin
core in its convictions, then the time has
come to defend them with all its power aud
all its valor against foe who is boasting
Of his prowoss.
II the Church expects 10 win victory
over the columns of inlidclty, SO rapidly
recruiting and bringing 10 bear the strong
est weapons of argument, it will need e.
march against them with something more
effective than the pop-gun of sentiment and
the blank charges of thrcadharo phrases
easily rolled Off the tongue. It's writer's and