Daily Republican., 1879-07-17
ECClEsIAsTICAL CEsSORs.
They Consulate, Themssl vss 1nee .
Tribunal sna Arra1xn the P<ess-
The - MiserabIe Reporters Made
the Bcape.goats Upon Whom They
Heaped Clerical Anathsmas.

The ~ MlsorAbIe BepOStefS MADE
the Bcape.gOats Upon Whom They
Heaped Clerical Anathsmas.
The Methodist brethern, convened in
solemn conclave yesterday, at the Mt.
Salem N. Z. Church. The extremely
indecorus manifestations Of the thsr.
mometer, as the mercury chased the
figures up and down among the ninsties
and one hundreds hadn't the least ef-
feet, bnt on the contrary the clerical
gentlemen seemed to gather new in
spiration from every spasmodic effort.
1t was the last meeting Of the organiza'
tion and this being the fact, the evil
dences of unusual fervor that accom-
panied the flow Of clerical grace and
wisdom can be accounted for. To re-
form something was the idea, and in
order that there be something to reform
there must essentially be an abuse need
ing clerical probity and an unreserved
effort at eradication. To meet the de-
mand Brother John France from
Newark offered the following:
WHERsAs, Many Of the reports published
In the secular papers concerning difficulties
and trials occurring In the church are distorted
and
WHEREAS, Such improper reports are cal.
culated to damage the cause Of Christ and
prejudice the people against the church; there.
re s5
RESOLVED, That the pastors and members OF
the Methodist Episcopal church oft.is district
are hereuy requested 10 refrain from the pub
licatien or allowing to be published any inior-
nation concerning such difficulties or trials.
In supporting the resolution Mr..
France said he had no particular antip-
athy to the press, but ne thought the
license allowed them was often abused.
His object was to stop If he could the
publication Of certain things which be-
cause Of their peculiar nature should
not be given publicity. He referred
particularly to the publication Of church
differences and quarrels. Unfortunate
ly for the church, he said, many Of
its inmates were constantly
Telling the sinners around
What fuses there are to be found
and he wished to institute an advisory
guardianship over the people.
II would have been we'll enough had
the debate been confined TO Mr.. Francs e
proposition. In order In a measure to
remove the censure Of complaint from
where it belonged, the newspaper re-
porters were made the scapa goats.
Rev. James L. Houston, who gravitated
around the pulpit space rather conspic-
ulously, began the illusions to the
reporters by opposing the resolution
from the reason that those whom the
resolution arraigns might he innocent.
The District Conference he thought had
no right to constitute itself into trib'
unal in the matter under consideration.
"When the Preachers Meeting was in
existence and doing much good they
were attended by the press and through
the Misrepresentation of our preachers
and through the misconstruction placed
upon our speeches and because OF the
ridicule hraped upou us it was thought
by our country friends that we were
an organization of incorporates. And
now our scared brothers from the coun'
try wished to remedy the matter"
Rev. A. D. Davis favored Mr.. France s
resolution but did not coincide
with the wholesale condemnation that
was being made against reporters and
iGterviewers. Int-rviewers he thought
will get things in the papers; it is their
business, and in publishing a daily pa
per it is their desire to get things that
are sensational in order to make their
papers sell.
"But brother" said member, "these
resolutions don't arraign the Preachers
meeting"
This interruption some what turned
aside the Reverend gentlemans volume
of oratory and after replying to the
interruptors he turned towards the
table at which sat the press representa-
tives and continued his illusions about
the press and closed with the decided
ly uncerical epithet of "the miserable
reporters" He however retsacted as
he was about taking his seat.
There have been things. printed by
the reporters that should not have been
printed, probably. Family quarrels
should not be made subject OF public
comment, and 50 it is With the church.
We cannot hinder the reporters, and
the best way is 10 remedy the matter
in the churches.
A brother on the front seat, wearing
green glasses, compared the whole
question to mule. When a mule gets
scared his ears shoot out straight. 1t
will not do to cut the mules ears off !;
but ms cad of manning the animal it
would be much easier and more eff,c
tive if the object of his fright should be
removed. So it is with the church
remove the cause of dissensiOn and
thsre would be no complaint. If the
publication of such matters would only
purify the church he would favor max
ing practice of giving them to the
press and paying for their insertion.
Rev. c. NJ. Pegg, alluded to some
thing about Brother France being on
a mission of grace among the preachers
OF wilmington.
Rev. w. l.. s. Murray said it was the
business Of the reporters to publish
such matters he would do it we're he a
reporter. But a. to family differences
if such jars do occur he thought the
family was the better for the publica
ton of them as it would make them
ashamed of themselves and induce
them to do better. Let it all be pub
lish-d; let all the foam and froth come
to the top, there's great deal of the
solid element at the bottom; let the re
porter publish it.
Mr.. France, interrupting, "there is
nothing about reporters in the reso.
lutions; it is only advisory.
Mr.. Murray.-What do you want?
Nj. France.-I don't want the Meth
odist church to b. taken into print. and
misranresented.