Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-13

day, the questions of science, those OF
| morality and religion should be dealt with,
not in the pulpit, but in the press.
NOT UP TO THE SECULAR PRESS.
Rev. E. E. Hoss, of Nashville, said the
religious paper had not kept pace with the
secular press in development, though the i'm
provement had been great. The religious
newspaper should be under the control Of
church. Every argument brought forward
to show that the church should put its hand
upon the pulpit would apply with equal
| force to show that it should put its hand
upon the press.
Religious papers should have an expert
| corps of assistants to the chief editor. At
tention should be given to the advertising
| columns. There had been much SHINING, but
there was not so much now, although he Old
see an advertisement of quack medicine
| consumption cure-opposite an unctuous ar
ticle on help to higher life. Laughter j.
Rev DR.. Buckley, of New York, editor OF
the Christian Advocats told of the trials of
the editor of religious paper and of the
necessity for accuracy. He believed that
the weekly religious paper had greater in
fuence In manufacturing public opinion
than the daily. Greeley had attached su-
perior Importance to the weekly. The secu-
lar press could not be trusted in matters re-
ligious.
SOME JOURNALISTIC SHORTCOMINGS.
John II. Lille; of London, held that on
this question the layman should be heard.
He had gone into many store in New
York, Boston and Washington and tried In
vain to buy religious paper.
The English religious press also needed
improvement. As far as the English daily
press was concerned, it was to be deplored
that all of the principal papers had the bet
ting news Hear, hearl; Had the reports OF
cross-examinations in scandalous trials. He
hoped that a religious daily newspaper
would be brought forth The London sport
ing papers had larger circulation than all
of the religious papers The editors OF the
religious papers should discuss social ques-
tions and avoid politics
Rev. Thomas Shape, of Liverpool, made
a plea for closer relations between the
church and the secular press, particularly
so if it is clean and is not published and
edited in the interest of or with money of
corrupt men or corrupt influences.
Mr.. Atkinson, an English member of
Parliament, thought that as all political
parties had their organs the religious press
should take no account of political matters.
In his opinion, religious papers had
ullSSlOu Iudu pOllblCS.
MIR. ATKINSON CALLED TO ORDER.
A man should do the thing he could do
best. He was proud of DR.. Hughes as a
preacher, but he was not and never should
be proud of him as an editor. When DR..
Hughes was invited to come down from his
high place as preacher to aid decrepit
party, he had delivered himself of SEN
tence that was almost as near blasphemy as
H.
gavel fell at this point, but Mr.. Atkinson
called out, ''It was merely question as to
how Jesus Christ would speak on the Irish
question"
Rev. DR.. Balmer, of England, was grateful
to DIR. Hughes, and said it might be that
condemnation by some speakers was equiva-
lent to the praise of Others This remark
called forth manifestions of mingled ap-
plause and condemnation, and Mr.. Atkinson,
with some spirit, interrupted to ask eff
that sort of insinuation is to be brought for
ward on another brother?" The Chairman
restored order and DIR. Balmer withdrew his
remark, but Immediately afterward again
aroused DR., Atkinson by referring to a re-
mark made by Mr.. Shape to the effect that
one of the English political parties had
ridden into power on beer barrel, and
adding, "We have never learned that their
party was divorced from the beer barrel"
A HEATED POLITICAL TILT.
Mr.. Atkinson replied e1citedly that the
party never was married to it. DIR. Balmer
rejoined that he was go years of age and as
competent to form judgment as others. If
the gentleman was in the British Parliament
he would be expelled.
At this stage DR.. Morley, of New Zea-
land, raised the point of order that it was
not competent to discuss English politics in
the conference. DIR. Balmer replied that
his illusions to politics had been called
forth by the preceding speakers. He hoped
he would be allowed to tccupy his full five
minutes.
'I hope you WON'T" was Mr.. Atkinson's
parting shot.
But DR.. Balmer was allowed to speak for
few minutes and confined himself to his
subject of the proper functions of the press
The Business Committee reported back
the memorial touching on the closing of the
Worlds Columbian Exposition on Sunday
and recommended the appointment of
committee to prepare an appropriate ex-
preston of the judgment of the conference.
The motion was carried and the committee
will meet tomorrow. The Council then ad-
journed, after motion had been read to
the effect that the traternal delegates from
other denominations, including Rev. Dr. T.
w. Chambers, Rev. John Hall and DR.. w.
n. Markland, representing the Reformed
Presbyterian Churches, would be received
tonight in the church.