The Russellville Democrat., 1888-06-28

That Providence intend the profession of reporters to have a mighty share in the worlds redemption is suggested by the fact that Paul and Christ took reporter along with them, and he reported their addresses and reported their acts. Luke was reporter, and he wrote not only the Book of Luke, but the Acts of the Apostles, and without that reporter's work we would have known nothing of the Pentecost, and nothing of Shepherds martyrdom, and nothing of Tabitha's resurrection, and nothing of the jailing and unjailing of Paul and Silas, and noth- ing of the shipwreck at Melita. Strike out the reporters work from the Bible and you kill large part of the New Testament. It makes me think that in the future of the Kingdom of God the re- porters are to bear a mighty part.
 About thirteen years ago representa- tive of an important newspaper took his seat in this church one Sabbath night, about five pews from the front of this pull pit. He took out pencil and reporters pad resolved to caricature the whole scene. When the music began he began, and with his pencil he derided that, and then derided the prayer, and then derideS the reading of the Scriptures, and then began to deride the sermon. But, he says for some reason his hand began to trem- ble, and he, rallying himself, sharpened his pencil and started again, but broke down again, and then put pencil and pa' per in his pocket, and his head down or the front of the pew and began to pray. At the close of the service he came IF and asked for the prayers of others and gave his heart to God and though still engaged in newspaper work he is an evangelist, and hires & hall at his own ex. pense, and every Sabbath afternoon breaches Jesus Christ to the people. And the men of that profession are going to come in body throughout the country. I know hundreds of them, and a more genial or highly educated class of men il would be hard to find, and, though the tendency of their profession may be to. wards skepticism, an organized, com mon- sense, Gospel invitation would fetch them to the front of all Christian en- deavor.
 Men of the pencil and pen, in all de. partments, you need the help of the Chris. tian religion. In the day when people want to get their newspapers at three cents, and are hoping for the time wher they can get any of them at one cent, and as consequence, the attaches of the printing press are by the thousand ground under the cylinders, you want God to take care of you and your families. Some of your best work is as much unappreci. ated as was Milton's Paradise Lost" foI which the author received twenty five dollars; and the immortal poem, "Hohen- linden," of Thomas Campbell, when he first offered it for publication, and in the T ents" appeared the words: "To T. C. The lines commencing, On Linden, when the sun was low,' are not up to our stand ard. Poetry is not T. C.'s forte"
 0 men of the pencil and pen, amid your unappreciated work you need encourage. ment and you have it Printers of all Christendom, editors, reporters, com positors, pressmen, publishers and read CTS of that which is printed, resolve that you will not write, set up, edit issue or read any thing that debases body, mind or soul. In the name of God, by the lay. ing on of the hands of faith and prayer, ordain the printing press for righteous ness and liberty and salvation. All of us, with some influence that will help m the right direction, let us put our hands to the work imploring God to hasten the consummation. A ship, with hundreds of passengers, approaching the. South Amer ican coast, the man on the lookout neglected his work, and in a few minutes the ship would have been dashed to ruin on the rocks. But cricket on board the vessel, that had made no sound all the voyage, set up shrill call at the smell of land, and the captain, knowing that habit of the. insect the vessel was stopped time to avoid an awful wreck. And so insignificant means now may do wonders, and the scratch of pen may save the shipwreek of a soul.
 Are you all ready for the signing of the contract, the league, the solemn treaty proposed between journalism and evangelisml Aye, let it be Christian marriage of the pulpit and the printing press. The ordination of the former on my head, the pen of the latter in my hand, 1t is appropriate that publish the banns of such a marriage. Let them from this day be one in the magnificent work of the worlds redemption.
 Let thrones and powers and kingdoms be
 Obedient, mighty God, to Thee
 And over land. and stream. and main,
 Now wave the scepter Of Thy reign.
 On. let that glorious anthem swell
 Let host to host the triumph tell,
 Til not one rehel heart remains,
 But over all the Saviour reignS
 SOME one has pithiiy said that hesdions Dsopis are not apt to be lcAs headed. They 1ct hustily and without due reflection, and