The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1890-02-26


sanctitjes Of religion, the most eminent
eflAwyers, the mostemihent doctors, the
most eminent Of the merchants, and
there are no better men in all our land
than some Of those who sit in editorial
chairs. And II that does not correspond
with your acquaintanceship, ] am sorry
that you have fallen into bad company.
In answer to the question put last spring
"Can secular journalist be ChristianH'
not only answer In tho Affirmative, but
assert that so great arc the responsi-
bilities Of that profession, 80 Infinite
and eternal the consequences Of their
obedience or disobedience Of the words
Of my text, ''Take thee great roll,
and write in 1t with mans pen," and
so many are the surrounding tempta-
tions that the men Of no other profession
more deeply heed the defenses, and the
reinforcements of the grace Of God.
And then look at the opportunities OF
journalism. praise the pulpit and
magnify my Office, but ] state fact
which you all know when | say that
whero the pulpit touches one person
the press touches five hundred. The
vast majority Of people do not go to
church, but all intelligent people read
the newspapers. While, therefore, the
responsibility Of the ministers is great,
the responsibility Of editors and re-
porters is greater. Come, brother jour
nalists, and get your ordination, not by
the laying on Of human sands, but by
the laying on Of the hands OF the Al
mighty. To you is committed the pre-
cious reputation Of men and the more
precious reputation Of women. Spread
before our children an elevated litera-
ture. Make sin appear disgusting
and virtue admirable. Believe good
rather than evil. While you show up
the hypocrisies Of the church, show up
the stupendous hypocrisies outside the
church. Be not, as some Of you are, the
mere echoes Of public opinion; make
public opinion. Let the great roll on
which you write with mans pen be o
message Of light and liberty and kind
ness and an awakening Of moral power.
But who is sufficient for these things?
Not one OF you without divine help.
But get that influence, and the editors
and reporters can go up and take this
world for God and the truth. The
mightiest opportunity in all the world
for usefulness to-day is open before
editors and reporters and publishers,
whether OF knowledge on foot, as In the
book, or knowledge on the wing, as in
the newspaper. pray God, men OF the
newspaper press, whether you hear or
read this sermon, that you may rise up
to your full opportunity and that you
may be divinely helped and rescued and
blessed.
Some one might say TO me: "HowcAn
you talk thus Of the newspaper press,
when you yourself have sometimes been
unfairly treated and misrepresentedP"
l answer that in the opportunity the
newspaper press OF this country and
ether countries have given me week by
week TO preach the Gospel TO the nations,
lam put under so much obligation that |
DEFY all editors and reporters, the world
! over, TO write any thing that shall call
forth from me one word OF bitter retort
from now till the day OF my death. My
opinion is, that all reformers and relig-
ious teachers, instead OF spending so
much time and energy in denouncing
the press. had better spend more time in
thanking them for what they have done
for the worlds intelligence and declar-
ing their magnificent opportunity and
urging their employment Of II all for
benehcent and righteous purposes.
Again, remark that Henry w. Grady
stood for Christian patriotism irrespect-
i've Of political spoils. He declined all
official reward. He could have been
Governor Of Georgia, but refused II. He
could have been Senator Of the United
States, but declined it. lie remained
plain Mr.. Grady. Nearly all the other
orators OF the political arena, as soon as
the elections are over, go to Washing
ton, or Albany, or Harrisburg, or At
lanta, to get in city or State or Ma.
tlonal office reward for their services,
and not getting what they want spend
the rest OF the time OF that ad.
ministration in pouting about tho man.
agement OF public affairs or cursing
Harrison or Cleveland. When the great
political campaigns we're over Mr.. Grady
went home to his newspaper. He dom
'onstrated that it Is possible TO toll fol
principles which he thought TO be right,
simply because they we're right. Chris
tian patriotism is too rare commodity
in this country. Surely the Joy Of liv.
ing under free institutions as those es
tablished here ought TO be enough re-
ward for political fidelity. Among all
the great writer's that stood at the last
Presidential election on Democratic and
Republican platforms, you can not re.
call In your mind ten who wero not
themselves looking for remunerative ap
pointments. Aye, you can count them
all on the fingers Of one hand. The
most illustrious specimen Of that style
OF man for the last ten years was Henry
w. Grady.
Again, Mr.. Grady stood for the new
South and was just what we want 10
meet three other men, one TO speak for
the new North, another for the new
East, and another for the new West.
The brayest speech made for the last
quarter Of century was that made by
\ Mr.. Grady, at the New England
dinner In New York about two OF
three years ago. ! sat with him
that evening and know something Of
his anxieties, for he was TO tread on
dangerous ground and might by one mis-
spoken word have antagonized forever
both sections. His speech was victory
that thrilled all Of US who heard him
| and all rrhn Rad him Thaf anoach.