The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-06-18
1.-THE Children of This World Ar,
in Their Generation Wiser
ethan the Children Of Light" was
the Text Taken.
Slowness of Christians to Take
Hold of tho Secular Press.
The Daily Press Already Publishes as
Much Religious Matter as the Rolig-
ious Papers-Maenincent oppor-
tunities for Great Work.

Rev. 4. Dewitt Talmage, d. D., took for
the subject OF his discourse, pulpit and
Press Made Allies" His text was, Luke
xvi, S: "The children of this world are in
their generation wiser than the children
Of light" lie said:
Sacred stupidity and solemn incompe-
tency and sanctifed lUiness are here re-
buked by Christ. lie says worldlings are
wider awake for opportunities than
Christians. Men Of the world grab occa-
sions while Christian people let tho most
valuable occasions DRIFT by unimprovcd.
That is the meaning OF our Lord when he
says: 'The children OF this world are in
their generation wiser than the children
oflight"
A marked illustration Of the truth Of
that maxim is in the slowness OF the
Christian to take possession Of the secular
printing press. The opportunity is open
and has for somc time been open, but &C.
clcsiastical courts and the churches and the
ministers are for the most part allowing
the golden opportunity 10 pass unim-
proved. That the opportunity is open
declare from the fact that all the secular
newspapers arc glad oI any religious facts
or statistics that you present them. Any
animated and stirring article relating 10
religious themes they would gladly print
They thank you for any information in 10.
gard to churches. II wrong has been
done TO any Christian church or Christian
institution, you could 90 into any
newspaper Of the land and have
the real truth stated. Dedication
services, ministerial ordinations and
pastoral installations, corner stone laying
Of church, anniversary Of a charitable
society will have reasonable space in every
secular journal, h IL Aaye previous notice
given. II had somC great injustice done
me, there IL not an oitorial or reportoria
room In tho United States in,o which
could not 90 and get i.,self vet right. and
that Is true Of every WI known Christian
man. Already tho daily secular press
during the course of each week publishes
as much religious information and high
moral sentiment M docs the weekly rc-
ligious press. Why, tlfcn, does not our
glorious Christianity embrace these mag.
niiiccnt opportunities? | have before me
subject Of first and last importance:
How shall We secure the secular press ~ a
mighticr reinforcement 10 religion and the
pulpit (,
The Grt thing toward this result Is ccs-
sation Of indiscriminaio hostility against
ncwspapcrdom. You might ~ well de.
douncc the legal profession because Of the
shysten, or the medical profession be-.
cause OF the quacks, 0r merchandise be
cause Of the sWindling hagain makers as
10 slam.bang newspapers because there
are rcccant editors and unfair reporters
aud uncloan columns. Gutienberg, the
inventor Of thc art Of printing, was about
10 destroy his types and ottinguish the
art because Il was suggested to him that
printing might be sulOncd into the ser
vice Of the devil; but nitcrward he he
thought himself that The right use Of the
art might more than overcome the evil
use Of Il, and ~ he spared the type aud
the intelligence Of all following ayes. But
thcrc are many tolsy in the depressed
mood 81 GuitcnberE with upliicd ham
tncr wanting 10 pound 10 pieces the type,
who have not reached his better mood
in which be- saw the tH Of printing 20 be
the rising sun of the worlds illumination.
II instead Of fighting iowspapcr, We spend
the same length u time aud the same We
hcmcncc in inanshaling their help in r..
ligious directions, W would bc ~ much
wiser NJ the man WIN gets consent of the
railroad superintendent to iptenn ear 20
the end Of a mil-tmin. shows better sense
than be who runs he Nheclbarow up the
track 10 meet aud drive back the Chicago
limited express. Til, slliest thing that a
man ever does il Ia frht a newspaper, for
you may have tho q or for uiicmncc per.
haps one day In the week, while the news
paper has the floor ovgfy day Of the week
Napoleon, though q mighty man, had
many weaknesses, AM one Of the weakest
things ho ever did W. 20 threaten that II
the English ncwrpapari did not stop their
adNorc criticism Of i mspli ho would, with
10000 hayonots, cf0ss the channel for
| their chastiscmcnt
Don't fight news, lpora. Attack pro-
| voko- attack. Botior u Nlitiill thocxCilCment
| blows over and then lo IN aul got justice,
/ for get Il you viii " 'lu have patience and
common sense aud r uIpoisc Oldip0sition.
. II ought 10 bc a mig y sedatiyc that there
/ is an enormous ann mt Oi common sense
in the world, and yol will eventually be
| taken for what you lrc really worth, and
/ you cannot BE- puficd np and you cannot
. BE- written down, AM . you aW tho enemy
| oi good society thai fact will come out,
/ anl Il you are the friend oi good society
that fact will be established. ! know
I what ! am talking ab0ut, Tor ! can draw
Z on my own cxpcrienra. All the rcsp,sia.
blc newspapers, as g. as ! know, are my
| friends nov. ~. many oi you
remember the tho when ! was the
most continuously aud mcanly at.
/ tackled man In th.s country. God
gave me grace not 10 answer back, and !
I kept silence ior ten ,,,r, and much grace
/ IL required. What : .aii was perverted
and twisted into JUS 'ho opposite Of what
did say. Ny person vas maligngd and !
WIS prosecuted ~ u G0rgon, aud ] was
maliciously dcscribcl 10y per ons who had
mover seen Tue NJ n monsiris.ty Ia body.
mind and soul. Ticw wlro millions oi
people who believes. that there was large
sofa In this pulpit, although We never had
anything but q chai aud ilnt during iho
singing by the cong siion We accus'
toned 10 llc down On that soia aud danglc
my feet Ofcr the en-. Lying Ncw York