New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-27
MGIoUs PAPERS OF NETWORK.

HGIoUs PAPERS OF NEw-YoRK.
This city is undoubtedly the centre of American
religious journalism at the present time For
nearly all the papers that represent ana monld
religious opinion are published here. The religious
paper of to-day is vast Improvement on 1he
religions paper of thirty forty years ago, and
il is now an influential factor in the journalism
of the country Your odtime religious editor
was picturesque parsonage, but he stood for
nothing outside the opinions and prejudlces OF his
sect The shibboleth of his party appeared IN
everything he said. His editorials were either
disqusitions In theology, one OF his old sermons
pcrchance or pious commonplace or hercc on
slaughts on some rival denomination. Ills ldca
of nevvs ras IN oorfy the most trivial occurrences
in his own denomination. and to Ignore or dis
parage what occurred in other denominations.
He was good fighter, good hater and most
intense partisan every day IN the week. Often
n man of great ability. his only ann was 10
advance the interests of his own church. And so
he produced paper that had in it little To interest
the average reader. It's matter was strung to-
pether without much idea of perspective relative
Importance Brightness and ncwsiness were re-
garded with grave suspicion, things that
smacked Of the world The good man in the
sanctum took things easy. that there
always a plentiful supply of golden thoughts
from the works of the denominational writer's,
and when everything else failed, filed up with
letters from friends and admirers, who testified TO
the grand work the paper was doing.
To-day all this is changed. Religious papers
have found formidable competitor in the secular
press, which now treats religious questions and
news with ability and fulness that no religious
paper hope TO excel This has compelled the
religious papers not only TO emulate the enterprise
Of their secular contemporaries, but TO
develop new features of their own in
which tie secular press cannot compete
with them. The prominent religious journals
of the present day represent vast aggregate of
money and brains They edited by trained
and accomplished newspaper men. who have
fine editorial instinct and the traditional nose
for news" While their UNCONVENTIONAL bias has
not disappeared it has been suborcnated. The
best modern religious paper has something TO say
for religion apart from sect. 1t is a model
of typographical comeliness. Ii presents a well
digested epitome OF secular as well as religious
happenings. 1t publishes brilliant articles on
the great questions of the day by eminent
in every walk of life Many religious papers
own their own plant, and their weekly payroll
would have seemed large fortune to the religious
editor of forty years ago. And to run such
papers successfully in this age of keen competition
requires business ability of the first order as
we'll as religious faith and enthusiasm.
THE INDEPENDENT.
THE Independent was founded forty
two years ago by It's presen. owner
Henry c. Bowen. The list of the men
who have been editorialy connected with
it is brilliant one. It includes the names
of the Rev. Doctors r. s. Storrs. Leonard W
Bacon, ]. p. Thompson. Joshua Leavitt Theodore
Tilton, Edward Eggleston, Oliver Johnson. and
Justin Mccarthy. 1t a sturdy advocate Of
abolition in the days when it required great
courage to aVow abolition sentiments. and IL is
to-day an able and vigorous champion of the civil
and religious rights of the colored people. Re
gardina the Republican party on the whole
the best exponent Of this policy. it has BEEN and
is, a strong advocate of Republicsnsm. No other
religious journal excels it in the full, and often
verbatim reports which il gives of all important
religious gatherings. People look IN The
Independent for such reports just as they look
IN The Tribune for reports Of the NewEngland
dinner and similar gatherings Another Of Its
striking features is its contributed articles. by
the greatest statesmen and religious leaders Of the
age. Jew and Gentle. Catholic and Protestant
are freely invited to say their say in its broad
columns Indeed, it would rot hesitate TO ask
the Pope himself for an article if there was any
chance Of getting it.