St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-11-22
SUNDAY NEWSPAPERS.


be making much Roadway in his crusade
against Sunday newspapers. In fact, he is
beginning to discover that he is century be-
hind the times. The wheels of progress
never go backward, and it is vain task for
man with even the ability of Dr. CROSBY
to wheel the world back to the conditions OF
the dark ages. 1t is gratifying to observe
that DR.. CROsBY's associates in the min
istry in New York city do not indorse his
views. The Rev. DR.. ROBERT CoLLYER
says that DR.. CROSBY has made a mis-
take in raising such an issue at this
day, and he expresses his gratiica-
ton that such protest fails to find any ma
terial support among thinking men. DR..
EATON of the Church of the Divine Pater-
nifty is also of opinion that DR.. CROSBY is
making useless and Improbable crusade,
for he is satisfied that the Sunday paper has
come to stay, and he is glad of it. Other
clergymen of equal prominence, in both
the Catholic and Protestant churches in
New York, have publicly expressed their
dissent from the views announced by DR..
CROSBY in his pastoral letter warning his
members against the Sunday newspaper.
which he accuses of ''nullifying all the sa-
cred influences of the Lords day." One
of the arguments which Dr.. CROSBY
advances against Sunday papers is that
their sale employs great many people on
Gods holy day. The same argument fol-
lowed to its legitimate conclusion would al
most make civilized life an impossibility.
1t would go so far as to close the churches.
The religious services which are held in all
the various churches cause the employment
of great many people. The sections, the
janitors, the ushers, the choirs, the Or
ganist are all employed to labor on that
day. The minister himself is laborer on
the Sabbath day and works for ire. 1t is
true he does not labor in secular pursuits, yet
he is as much dependent on that labor
for the bread he eats as is the boy who sells
papers on the street. The disciples who
plucked the ears of corn as they passed
through the grain field on the Sabbath day
were rebuked by their over-righteous breth-
ren for what, in their opinion, was desc
Grafton of the holy day, and yet their con-
duct was approved by the Master. 1t mat
tiers not what our opinions in regard to re-
ligion may be, we are all united in maintain
ing the institution of day of rest and the
majority of us are in favor of devoting that
day to the high objects of human existence.
There will be but few to differ with DR..
CROSBY in his opinion that the Sabbath
should be employed in a contemplation of
the more serious problems of life. And
yet there is no reason why part of the
day should not be utilized in recreation and
relaxation. And here is where Sunday
journalism performs a useful work. 1t
affords to many people the means of
mental recreation. People who would
go to church will not be kept at
home by the seductions OF Sunday paper.
1t is after the religious services of the day
are over that the Sunday paper is taken
up and read, and the higher objects of the
day are helped on, not frustrated, by allow
ing people to devote part of the day to
secular reading. The kind Of religion
which is better on Sundays than on week
days is a suspicious sort at best. If the
newspaper is good enough to read on
Monday or Wednesday, it is good enough
to read on Sunday. The fact is, it is
the candid opinion of many of
the most useful clergymen in the
Christian churches that the cause of
Christianity would be benefited by ]axer
Interpretation of the duties of Sunday than
has heretofore been given by the church
authorities. The question of establishing
Sunday museums and libraries for the pub
lie is now being discussed in all of the
larger cities. and is receiving favorable con-
sideration. The argument in favor of these
Sunday openings is, that they will divert
thousands of men from resorting to haunts
of vice. If this be true of public amuse-
ments, with how much force will it apply
to Sunday newspapers?