The Dallas weekly herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1885, 1881-05-05
NJ Odern

.
In an address before the Brooklyn
presbytery, Rev. j.. M. Sherwood said:
"It is we'll to bear in mind that the
religious weekly is no longer the sole or
chief paper that is read by ministers and
church members. The daily secular press
has invaded the field, and is already omni-
present, and almost supreme as an educa.
tionsl power, not Cnly in the state but in the.
church, and for the most part, tbs character
lied bN greater enterprise and Independence,
greater breadth of view and freedom
Of criticism in every department of thought
and life, than we find in our church journals.
Hence, the religious weekly of to.day-as
every man of discernment and broad obser-
walton knows-is not the power it once was;
its opinions have little waight; its policy and
principles scarcely affect the religious
thought and life of to-day. while the daily
secular press is fast taking its place, and
gaining the ears and the hearts of the people,
and making its way into every household
every day of the We Eek, not excepting even
the Ssbba' b; full of information, ready in
discussion; fearless, almost uIbridled in
criticism, reviewing every current
question and phase Of life, secular, social
political and religious, thereby educating and
controlling the great world by its potent
forces, and imperiling the very existence OF
our comparatively feeble and shackled
religious weeklies. The change is as mar
velous as it is sudden. 1t was easy to
p%hilosophize upon the causes which have
produced it, but it is impossible to forecast
The effects of it on the religious sentiments
and character of the next generation. The
fact, however, suggests tremendous POSSIBLE
ties" 49,, .,.
try now publish Sunday editions, containing
not only the current news, but original and
selected matter bearing upon all the
leading topics ofthe time. These topics.
sacred or secular, are discussed from the
journalistic or popular standpoint. Inc
discussion is not always profound, and nee
c~essarily cannot be exhaustive, but it Is
;ntended TO be, and generally is bright,
forcible. Ineligible and impartial. 1t ia not
for the highly educated few, but the modera-
telv educated many; and its brevity and
clearness commend II TO them as mere length
and learning would utterly fail to do. The
c-opseouence is that nine-tenths of what we
people know concerning the most interest
ing and important questions OF the day Is
derived from this source. Nor is the Sunday
edition the only one which enters the broad
field of scientific, religious, moral and social
debate. The others do so Whenever occasion
REQUIRED, 90 that the supply OF this form OF
populsr knowledge keeps pace with the
ever increasing demand. The reverend
gentleman whose frank and truthful
tatement we have quoted does not overrste
the influence which such a change must
work. II does indeed suggest tremendous
possibilities" but that the final
results will be benihcent we have no doubt.
Modern Journalism, while independent and
progressive Ia the best sense OF the
W. rds, is slso eminently conservative. or
course there are exceptions, but this Is the
rule. A great Newspaper nowadays repre-
sents great capital. Its proprietors, setting
principle aside altogether, cannot afford TO
weaken any Of the hesl.hy restraints which
wisdom and experience have imposed upon
society. They have their al at stake upon
the public peace snt prosperity, and these
cannot exist when the restraints are removed.
Therefore, self interest," IL no higher
motive, would prevent them IRON using
their columns for the circulation OF PERM
ciou, doctrines, and such doctrines always
hnd their strongest opponents in the lead
inc journals Of the land. On the other
hand. As history proves that the gravest
danger 20 society lies In the ignorance OF the
msnyLmsking them the willing tools OF the
fev-tbe popular education which modern
journalism provides is . protection 10 the
social structure. II strengthens It's weakest
point the foundation, BY rendering peril
Gus popular delusions II not impossible,
At least short-lived. II tesches the people
not only 70 DO their thinking, but 70
stand Rnsrd over themselves. IL 10 ct once
sguide. philosopher and friend" and nsy be
safely trusted IN The most critical emergency.
Fuspstine f.om institutions which, AZ We
have snid. have The deepest Interest in the
uuhlic welfare this e5ucstion IL designed 70
msirtsin and enlsrgs thst welfare; not,
psrhspa IN sccordsucs with the views Of q
csrtsin ssci, school or party, but IN sccord-
sucs with the dictstss Of reason and common
sense. Modern Journalism IL not fsultless BY
suv mesna butis faults are Of the besd rstber
tbsr the hesrt and seldom very ssriJua II
he fsult-fpders would only sssrch for and
roirt out ne merits they might help 70 cure
rurh Of Which they complsin- When tbe
wiVhtv work Which ur1slism has done and
Il do,r Il prop-rly measured eDd ap
r-.ci.ss7. De sondef r, not that fbs error
irtertiorsl and unirtertonsl are somsuy.
but that tbsy are n move No hgsucy Ne
wr-ld hss eTg sser haA % The Whole &C.
curplsbe1 % uueb eyo1 sDo 20 h.tls hsrm
Al - uisirn kss rnly beEun- Wtst ~
-rrurrsuer Of tus1ret yesrs ego y H.
H to1ar. ne rrvsreps 81 tocsJ VI
"a tfrt ii tur.rs1 yesr bsrca you-rsl
- = sirsfT ths eve a Archimi3es
wt.tHsU - IN ths sEs 20 - ~ 70
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