The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-02-17
THE LECTURE SEASON.


The third lecture in course by the Rev. Mr.. II.
Heber Newton. on the subject of Social Forces. was
delivered last evening in the Anthem Memorial
Church. in West Forty -eighth street. The subject
announced was 1.-The Press" and a full house was
attracted by the announcement. Among the
social forces he said, none are more potent
than the press. To say that there are thirteen
daily papers In this city is to give no idea of its in
fuence. The pulpit is far less potential 1t is less
criticised than any other The press is the universal
critic. but who criticises the press? Criticism of
itself by the press not always in the best of spirit
do not expect to affect the press in any way in my
speaking but wish to speak to the young. that
through them public opinion may affect the
press it has the school and the stage 1t
is hard to over-estmate the influence of
the press. Even the boy on the street reads his
paper 1t is the great educator and there is one fea
ture of education which it ministers to more than
any other influence 1t is culture. We get very sick
of the word sometimes but it is the growth Of the
American mind. Nothing has been done for years
which tended to popularize science as a series
Of publications in one of our papers, Then
in politics the press stands first. People
have felt the need of common meeting ground.
The forum of Rome succeeded by the town meet
ing of New England but the newspaper perpetual
town meeting. 1t is not the speeches of Congress-
men-thoueh they may think they read-that
mould pubiicsopinion. 1t is the.daly utterance of
said that there had been no good law
enacted within his memory to which the press
had not called attention. When our city was bound
gagged and helpless in the hands of corruption the
power Of one paper was more than that Of the Com
mittee of Seventy. Our young men have no excuse
for not taking part in public affairs and they will
find better guide than the press. Then. i'll social
matters. the press is magnificent educator.
of living. Is swill milk cursng the community Is
what is called Gods own food for babes, spread
broadcast, corrupted The power Of the press is
tC a1ancpf Al lt11t
pass on to consider the press as moral educator.
Greater than the power of the law or OF the priest
hood is that OF the press
TEACHER OF POLITICAL AND SOCIAL MORALITY
Where we have political corruption the eagles Of
the press swoop down with keen talons and beaks,
and the evil is in affair way to becured. Everywhere
do the reporters spy out the corruption, and
eagle like hasten to attack and expose it. What
a mirror of light is the press! What Won
derful succession Of events do the papers
present! What the pulpit say OF the
of compared with the daily reports
in the papers! The most powerful sermons Ihave
ever those preached by the reporters. 1
want you people to read your papers carefully
not carele ssly and hastily. Mr. Newton then spoke
OF OF defalcation and read long report of the
defaulters interview with the reporter of news
paper. Have you heard sermon more
full Of pathos than this? said he. Yet. this
is as sermon the press breaches constantly Only
this week our papers TOLD the story OF young girl
like those here. pure guileess, teacher in the Sun
day school, going from pure home to die in shame
This story told by the press and you read it. 1t
is our fault if we read these stories in low light.
We may from the pulpit hear what seems
sensational. and we may call the press
sensational. but it is because we do not
listen Alright But the press is not perfect It's evil
think. grows out of its good want to say to the
young do not let the press become q substitute for
something better 1t is well to read your paper. but
it should not take the place of the.more sinewy part
of true culture. Each one should carry on some
genuine hard study. think, on the WHOLE one or
two good papers is enough for man to read.
Politically the press is in danger OF craftsmanship
If were crit,csing the press to an audience Of ed
tors-if had the temerity to do SOL should say
different things from what say But PARTISAN
ship is the curse of our political life and the ten
dency of magnificent press is toward craftsmanship
Therefore man should read more than paper
Every year believe the press is growing out OF this
evil. and if it shall outgrow it entirely the day will
come when the people cannot be blinded and dema-
gogism shall die
And even in social matters there is the danger
People hesitated peril vested interests for needed
reforms To-day know that one of the most fear
attacks of the most terrible evils OF the
time is receiving almost no notice from the press
and why? Because it involves too large an interest
Ibeieve that the great question before us is social
one. When l.. know that there six
hundred thousand men enrolled among the
socialists do not imagine that they are lawless
men, They are impressed with real wrong They
are not to be crushed. Let their claims be fairly
presented by the press and their grievance would be
men p Will have to solve viii be great social questions
Learn what the working classes are and what they
need. And there is one thing more to speak
the press which is becoming almost unbear-
able and which may lead to another bill of rights.
Il.
caculabe i'll its evil effect. The shocking details Of
s.or! or Dill VIZ a III. 'f nd arc y iaa
Huence do IT, while you are trying to lead your chill
dren to righteousness they are to learn all thereis Of
evilI great man has sao' wo"T MN nave YOU
saws another thing. and the Young people of the
day strive to know of all things evil. never allow
mYse 10 reaa s'ory OF norrVr 70 Jay asiae
a rule to read story Of vice and evil in the
papers. Turn from it as you would from generous
until Tho avtrt
disease me sane % Win .nc pIess eS,ts
IT. II Is the business relation. The press has to
consider what will nav Your traaedans your
novelists your schools woud do better work If the
nublic would nav for il: the pulpit itself would do
hotter IL the public would Listen There is no use for
us 10 blame the nress for evil IL evil nays
them TO publish. n YOU support paper that win
not touch evil in an evil way Won are helping the
nress 10 BECOME what IL is irving to make
Of itself When the Spirit of God shall come
on the nress IL sba COM 10 its perfection and TO-
5av saw ~ead yonr peyers wisely. Your DAYS are
permeated With the influence of your morning
pp,ners Ali we ,,sed TO think our bible WINS the
kost r.adino for the ,norning Int there a. dancer