The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1885-07-23
PRESS AND PULPIT.
The Attitude of the secular Presa
Towards Reitgion-Hey. NJ,
GInddea,s OpiniOn.

siuouens ophhtou.
The attitude of the average Ameri y
editor toward religion is one of c,t,Ia
superiority, II is not the only topic he
handles with the air of mastery, Art,
philosophy, medicine, law, political science,
social economy, he understands Just rs
well us he does religion. There are en-
ceptions, but the typical journalist is
nothing If not infalliblc. There is an oh
vious cause for this, Is not the supply OF
knowledge rs of all other commodities,
regulated by the demand Put IN Amer
lean in a position where he is obliged to
know everything, and like Mr., Squeers
pupils, he goes and knows it. Though not
over reverent toward religion, the secular
editor does not take an interest in ii.
Thirty years ago the great majority of the
secular papers practically ignored religion
Occasionally You tind Il managing editor
now who seems to think that religion is Il
matter of no consequence to II newspaper;
but the number is small, for their papers
fail to survive.
The great ma iority of successful daily
papers manage this matter very different
ly. They recognize religion as II great
special fact; they perceive that the contin-
uous series of religious movements and
events is an important part of the news OF
the day, quite as worthy to be chronicled
as the dog fights and the divorces; and
they observe that the people most inti-
mately concerned with the work of the
churches are intelligent and thrifty, like
ly to subscribe for newspapers and to adj
vertise in them, a class TO which the man
ager can well atl ord to pay particular at
tention.
| could name dozens of newspapers,
East and West, that never were persecut-
ed for righteousness sake, and that yet
devote much space to religious news.
The astonishing feat of teleGraphing the
whole of the revised version of the New
Testament to Chicago Oh the day of its
arrival at New York, and printing it the
next morning, will long be remembered.
1t was undoubtedly the most prodigious
- scoop ever achieved by an American
newspaper.
The increase of attention to religious
matters by the secular ress is due to bet
ter comprehension of the scope and func-
ton of the newspaper Its reports of re
ligious utterances are generally intelli-
gent ana accurate. y fair outline OF what
is said and done at this Congress will lie
found in the journals Of this city, and will
be telegraphed to all parts of the country.
The value Of the meeting will be mdtiin-
itely multiplied by the secular newspaper.
Even in the casual rel orting of sermons it
is surprising how well most of these pen
Gil pushcrS do contrive to get hold OF the
substance of what is said. The faithful
teacher of the Christian law and Gospel is
often indebted to these reporters for II
great extension of his influence. AS II rule
these young men are bright, courteous,
and thoroughly likeable.
On the whole, it is by the reporter rather
than by the editorial writer that religion
has thus far leen most effectively served.
The wide awake managing editor keeps
reporters on the track of religious move
ments. There are few daily journals in
the country by which editorial comment
and criticism on current religious events
are intelligently made--notably two or
three in this valley. They are apt to be
more confident than lucid, more pragmat
ical than profound. 1t would pc too much
to expect of the average editor that he
should always discuss doctrinal and eccle-
siastical questions intellgently. 1t would
be equally unavailing to expect him to
refrain from discussing questions that he
does not understand.
Is live man with shillelah in his
hand to keep quiet all through the shindy
simply because he does not clearly know
which head he ought to hit. The first
thing to be hoped for is that the newspa-
per may, by and by. rise above its present
business of rejecting public opinion and
take the leadership of it. attaining pro
phetc functions and dignity. Clear con.
victlon and brave uttcrances are now
needed.
The influence of the counting room upon
the editorial utteranccs is far too apparent;
it is not often successfully resisted. News
papers generally are owned by men whose
principal purpose is to make money out of
them, and herein is their weakness as in
struments of righteousness. Whatever
the christian pulpit has done mankind has
been, not by rejecting public opinion, but
by challenging and Christening it. If the
press ever has the power which the pulpit
certainly has possessed and has not wholly
lost, it will only be when its utterances are
directed toward some higher end than Pc
tuniary profit and shaped by some other
force than public opinion. The press can
never of itself be a reiuvenaing power,
save as it possesses q faith that it can fight
for and face Il browning worll and wa
ming subscription list. 1t is greatly to be
desired that the secular press of America
should continue to maintain IL friendly
attitude toward religion, but is is far more
important that it should have religion of
its Own.-Rcr. Wash nJtoA GldddCn Lc-
fore Congress Of Churches at Hartford.