Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1885-05-13
CONGRESS OF CHURCHES.
The Assembly at Hariford-Representa nta.
hves Of Various Deuominations
Discuss their Religion.

The Assembly at Hartford-Represent nta.
tlves Of Various Denominations
Discuss their Religion.
HARTFORD, May IL.
The congress of churches at Hartford. Con-
necticut, was called to order at lO.l5 A. M.
by Governor Harrison. large audience
was present, including many clergymen and
Others from all parts of the country. Rev.
Or. N. j. Burton opened the discussion on
the function of worship in promoting the
growth of the church.
The Rev. Samuel M. Hopkins OF Auburn,
New York. followed, with remarks on the
same subject.
Rev. Father Grafton of the Church OF the
Advent, of Boston, said that he welcomed all
the baptized as Christians, for all were one in
Christ. 1t was not unity of church which
had been lost but union among Christians.
Rev. Thomas X. Beecher of Elmira, follow
ed. He said that the basis of the truth of
worship was the Holy Ghost the comforter.
President Long of Antioch college follow
ed, declaring that the 18th century would 90
down into history as an age of light and liber-
ty, and explaining the progress. of liberalism
since the century opened.
The last speaker was Professor Pliny Earl
Chase, a Quaker, of Harvard College, Pa.
He said that worship must be the worship of
Christ. Christ and the Holy Spirit are the
watchword of quakerism.
At the evening session of the congress of
churches. Rev. w. GLADDEN. speaking on the
attitude of the secular press IN America to-
ward religion, said that the attitude of The
average American editor toward religion is
one Of calm superiority. 1t is not the only
fnrrn hns, al. ...,l
philosophy, medicine, law, political science,
social economy, he understands just as well
as he does religion. There are exceptions, but
the typical journalist is nothing if infallible.
The daily papers which do not give proper
tion of space to religious news, he said, fail
to survive. There is, he said, a few daily
journals in the country by which editorial
comment and criticism on current religious
events are intelligently made.
He appealed to the newspapers to give still
more attention to religious news. Another
result to be desired is that the newspaper may
rise above its present business OF inflicting
public opinion and take the leadership of it,
attaining prophetic functions and dignity.
Clear conviction and brave utterance are now
needed. The influence of the counting room
upon the editorial utterances is far too appar-
ent and it is not often successfully resisted.
Newspapers generally are owned by men
whose principle purpose is to make money
out of them. Herein is their weakness as in
struments of righteousness. If the press is
ever given the power, which the pulpit GER
tainly has possessed and has not wholly lost
it will only be when its utterances are direct
ed toward some higher end than pecuniary
profit and shaped by some other force than
public opinion. The press can never be of
oil q, -
sesses faith that it can fight for and face the
frowning and waning subscription list. 1t is
greatly to be desired that the secular press of
America should continue to maintain a
friendly attitude toward religion, but it is far
more important that it should have religion
of its own.
Mr.. GLADDEN. was followed by Rev. Julius
Wizard and the discussion was further con-
tinued by Rev. DIR. James M. Pullman of
Lynn, Mass. He said he gave as result of
inquiries he made to several leading editors
that IN Its commercial attitude the newspaper
collects and gives such religious news as its
readers want and, editorially. it advocates all
the religious movements on their ethical side.
Its attitude is one OF absolute federation of
all sects, and free criticism of all extravagan-
ces, and it ignores sectarian theology. The
mephistopheles press, that loves nothing and
reverences nothing, does not flourish among
US.
The speaker had cut out SO editorial COM
ments on the death of James Fiske from Sec
ular papers and with one single exception
there was not scrap of theology in one of
Them The career OF Robert Ingersoll through
the country affords searching test of the
secular press and discloses real reverence
for religion on its part.
Gen. Hawley followed. He said he had
looked into Tory magazine of 1882 and
found there the most melancholy predictions
as to the evils the free press would surely
work. Then in the Christian Review of 1874
he found the prediction that the free press
had been brought in as an agecy to break up
the existing despotisms. The second was
nearer correct. The speaker illustrated the
growth of the press in this county by the
census figures. In 1850 the sheets printed
were 426 ,000, 900, and in 1880, 2,067 200, 900,
and of the ll,3l4 periodicals printed in the
United States, 1868 constitute the secular
press, devoted to news, politics and family
reading. If this press is badly irreligious,
God save the republic. Out of our 5000 daily
papers not one processes to be religious. The
secular papers have been preparing the way