The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-12-27
THE SECULAR PRESS AND RELIGION.

THE SECULAR PRESS AND RELIGION.
An individual who says he has been re-
quested to read a paper before the New York
Congregational Club, on ''The Attitude of the
Secular Press Toward Religion" levies con-
tribution on the editors of the country by ask
ing them to append their answers to certain
questions which he propounds on a neatly
printed blank. The nature of these questions
suggests that the inquirer might have made
himself acquainted with his subject by read
ing the secular press; but, as he explains that
his time is limited, the Journal will not refuse
to come to his aid, taking the liberty, how
ever, to do so in it's own columns rather than
by circular.
The first thing desired is our idea of the
attitude of the secular press towards
religion in its broadcast sense; second,
the same towards religion as defined and lin
tied by creeds and conventional foundations;
teal force for the spiritual, moral and material
good Of mankind. Briefly stated, our opinion
is that the daily press is in harmony with true
religion in all its devel opments; that it makes
no discrimination among sects and creeds, but
upholds and encourages, to the best of its
ability, all that tends to right living and the
improvement of morals and manners. "What
average space per day or week do you give to
religious subjects, etc7" is the next inquiry,
and one which it is impossible to answer, since
the space given varies according to the pre-
dominance of "news" Of one character over
that of another. The effort is, in all cases,
to give all the room to religious information
commensurate, in our judgment, with its i'm
portance, as compared to other current topics.
To average this space is out of the question,
although we should be glad to add to the sta
tistics which are to enlighten the New York
Congregational Club. The reverend gentle
man-of course, he is a ''reverend;" his in
quisitorial manner gives him away-desires to
know further if "you"-meaning the editor
who is detailed to answer his conundrums-
'tare a church COMMUNICATE" and, eff so, of
what denomination" He also requests to be
informed as to whether the publisher or bust
ness manager of this paper is a church COM
municant; if so, of what denomination, and
asks, finally, what proportion of the
staff, including writers, managing or
night editors, reporters, ETC., is in church
communion. To all the queries we must
gently but firmly reply that the personal
opinions and beliefs of any publisher or employe
are not matters which concern the New York
Congregational Club. Church membership
not made a requirement in engaging an editor
or reporter; the publisher has not been guilty
of the impertinence of prying into the private
views Of his employees for his own informa-
ton, and is not likely to do so for the possible
edification of a stranger who wants to write a
''paper." Room is given at the end of the
blank for remarks" but we can only say
that if the Congregational Club bases it's con-
cluslonS and opinions on the great questions
of the day on information CLEANED in the
manner here described, it is likely to be led
into error. 1t would be far better, in the
humble opinion of a secular paper, if the next
writer chosen to discuss the relation of this
portion C the press to religion should be one
who has previously studied the matter at first
hand, and does not find it necessary to
'cram."