Daily globe., 1883-05-29
Il FLTPP4NT UNTRUTH.


At the session of the general assembly
of the Presbyterian church held at Sara
toga last week, the Rev. DR.. Howard Cros-
by, of Brooklyn, n. Y, told fippant un-
truth.
''He said he cared nothing for what the secu-
lar press would say. He has no fears of it, and
asks no favors from it.''
The learned Doctor Of Divinity put him
self in contempt when he made that re-
mark, which .came out in the course of d
discussion concerning action proposed in
regard to the Steubenville (Ohio) Presby-
terry, and was rejoinder to the remark of
another clergyman that the action pro-
posed would expose the Steubenville Pres
bytery to the assaults of the secular press.
DR.. Crosby told fippant untruth when
he said he cared nothing for the secular
press, and proved it on himself by his
speech. This same remark has been heard
before, and in every instance from men
who mean exactly the reverse of what they
say. The pesslmists among the clergy,
and there are not a few, have the propen-
sity to decry the secular press, and are
VI ClO BILL VI un4dIEu0SS, lubOl6T-
ance, Incorporate speech and narrow judg-
ment, and the very Rev. DR.. Crosby seems
to be one of these.
If, as DR.. Crosby was warned by one of
his colleagues, proposed certain policy
would be oriticised-assaulted was the
word used-by the secular press, no fur
ther evidence is needed for assurance that
the proposition was wrong and ought not
to be adopted. The divine felt the Justice
and sting of the remark and in vain at
tempt to parry it made profert of his mar
row. unchristian spirit.
Intelligent men generally, and especially
intelligent clergymen value the secular
press and invoke its cooperation in all
good works, and they never invoke in vain.
The influence exerted by the clergy in
this country is very largely due to the very
agency that DR.. Crosby decries. The sec
ular press is a lay-preacher more far
reaching and far more influential than the
ordained clergy. This lay preacher comes
in contact with and speaks to the millions
whom the pulpit never addresses and can
not reach. The secular press is eminently
aatholic, without bigotry and with the
race of charity for the foibles of man
kind, at the sametime fearless in speaking
for the best good of humanity.
The secular press respects the clergy
and holds up their hands as they go for
ward in the endeavor to minister to and
ameliorate the condition of mankind. In
stead of battling against the clergy it gives
scope and influence to their work that
cannot be overstated or overestimated.
No matter how massive the Sunday con-
gregations addressed from the pulpits, the
secular press addresses congregations that
are not told by numbers, and inculcates
the principles of morality and religion
with vitality that builds up the church,
the social order, the good communi-
ty. What would the reader think if on
ol'e1ing his morning paper he should read
this:
''We care nothing for what the clergy may say.
We have ro fear of clergymen and ask no favors
from them.''
The secular press has never thought OF
said thing like that, but as it is poor
rule that has only one application, why
should itnot be said, if the clergy entertain
the sentiment expressed by the New York
divine. If there is any weight of obliga-
tion, and it is no assumption to say that
there is, that obligation is due from the
clergy to the secular press, and in DR..
Crosby's position is found ingratitude and
intellectual obtuseness that marks all who
endorse or sympathise with his attitude as
deplorably wanting in the most essential
grace that may be acquired or possessed
by mankind, the capability to try to do
unto others as ye would have them do un-
to you.
The secular press has the vantage
ground of being untrameled by sectarian
limitations, and from this important fact
it is the broadest, and with all respect it is
said, the best teacher of the people. The
great missionary work of the secular press
cannot be perceptibly abridged by want
of appreciation from the clergy, but on
the other hand, the clergy cannot prosecute
their work with any degree of usefulness
without it.