Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-13
Behold How Blessed a Thing If
is for Brethren to
DWELL TOGETHER IN UNITY.
Very Interesting Proceedings of the Methodist
Ecumencai Council.
In Discussing the Secular Press Mr. Atkin-
son, NJ. p, and Rev. Mr.. Balmer H.
dulge i'll 4 War of Words-Texas
Baptists on Liquor.
Negroes Open the Session.

T. SECOND church In the chair. Bishop
Games of the African NJ E. church de-
hvered prayer and Rev. Dr. c. H Phillips
OF the A. NJ. +. church of Washington read
the scriptures, so that the opening SER
vices OF the great council We're conducted
by three cOlored men.
The topic for the morning session was
cline Church and Her Agencies Bishop
X. Foster of Massachusetts proceeded to
address the council on the responsibility
and qualifications of preachers.
AT the conclusion OF Bishop Fosters ad-
dress the subject of the day was discussed
by Rev, John Bond of London, Rev Frank
Ballard OF England, Rev. Dr. William Ar
thur, Rev. Clio Clinton of Pittsburg and
others. Rev. Dr.. Leonard closed the morn
ing session in few remarks condemnatory
OF preachers who invited doubt by deliver
ing sermons on Darwinism and on Huxley
A recess was then taken in order that the
delegates might attend a reception at the
White House.
When the council reassembled Rev. NJ T.
Myers of the United Methodist church,
Rockdale, England, took the chair. The
topic for discussion was, The Religious
Press and the Secular Press
Rev. Hugh Price Hughes of London. de-
Hverlng the essay, among other things,
said:
1T has been asserted that a large proper
ton of the journalists of the secular press
were SkeptlcS or agnoSticS. That might be
so, yet there We're certain phases of the
CHRISTIAN religion that even agnoStic Jour-
nails might believe 10 be gyod and worthy,of
extension. Every one recognized the
fact that the day of the coming of
the klngdom of heaven on earth was at
hand. The preacher had learned from the
journalist, and God grant that they may
learn from US. For, united with all Jour
nallsts, we can hasten the creation of that
state which Christ is bringing TO all lands
In which there shall be no room Tor or sign
of miSery.''
Fred Dyar, editor OF the Christian Guard
ian of Toronto, held that the church had
not yet formed sufficie tly high estimate
of the influence of the religious press and
had not used it to its full ca
pacity. for good. An instrument. that
could be made an instrument of carrying
light and truth to darkened minds was
sacred enough to be used in the Masters
service by the saintliest hands. The
same reasons which justified the
use OF the pulpit and the platform
The religious press should be regarded as
rival to the pulpit. 1t supplemented and
backed up the teachings of the preacher
The church must have her own press as
well as her own pulpits. '.But dislike to
hear religious papers called organs of
the church as if their main business was. to
voice the authoritative utterances of the de-
nomination like papal syllabus or as if it
was an instrument on which certain tunes
were to be played in order In times of
moral degeneracy when the public con-
science is paralyzed by selfish views of
duty, the religious press should fearlessly
rebuke prevailing sins, whether
it brings popularity or opposi-
ton and reproach. The time-serving
press is the. curse of any country. a church
paper should be liberal in spirit, but loyal
ception of all duly attested truth, whether
in harmony with previous beliefs or not,
the religious paper that will be power for
good must not be temporizing weather
cocks.
Rev. E. E. Hoss of Nashville, Tenn, said
religious newspapers had not kept pace
with the secular press in development,
though the improvement had been great
A religious newspaper should be under the
control of the church. Every argument
brought forward to show that the church
should put it's hand upon the pull
PIT would apply with equal force to
show that it should put its hand on the
press. Religious papers should have an ex-
pert corps of assistants to the chief editor.
Attention should be given to the advertis-
ing columns. There had been much SHINING
he did see advertisements of quack medi-
cines, consumption cures, opposite an
unctious article on s'Helps to a Higher
Life" Laughter.
Rev. Thomas Shape of Liverpool made a
plea for closer relations between the church
and the secular press, particularly SO if it
is clean, is not published and edited in the
interest of or with the money of corrupt
men or corrupt influences.
Mr. Atkinson English memh nf nor-
lament, thought as all political parties had
their organs, the religious press should
take no account of political things.
In his opinion religious papers had
higher mission than politics. 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
a preacher to aid decrepit party,
he had said he would two
D. three times week. When he had got
down there he had delivered himself of
sentence that was almost as near blasphemy
as religious man could have come
The gavel fell at this point, but Mr. At
kinson called out this point: ut is merely
question of how Jesus Christ would speak
On the Irish question"
Rev. Dr. Balmer of England was grateful
10 DR.. Hughes and said: sit might be that
by some speakers was equiv
ilent to the praise of others.''
This remark called forth manifestations
If mingled applause and condemnation, and
Mr. Atkinson, with some spirit, interrupted
and asked:
SIS that sort of an insinuation to be |
brought forward by another brother9"
The chairman restored order and DR.. |
8almer withdrew his remark but imme- |
lately afterward again aroused Atkinson |
,y referring to remark made |
~ Mr.. Shape TO the effect |
hat one of the English political parties had |
ridden into power on a beer barrel, and |
Idding: 1--WE have never learned that their |
,arty was divorced from beer barrels
Atkinson replied excitedly that the party |
lever was married to it.
Balmer rejoined that he was sixty years |
# age and competent to form Judgment |
If the gentleman were in the British |
parliament he would be expelled
At this stage DR.. Morley of New Zealand |
aised the point of order that it was not |
to discuss English politics in the |
conference.
Balmer replied that his illusions to poll |
les had been called forth by the speakers |
He hoped he would be allowed |
o occupy his full five minutes
II hope you WON'T" was Atkinson's part |
ng shot, but Balmer was allowed to speak |
few minutes, and confined himself to his |
ubject of the proper functions of the press. |
The council then adjourned.
Baptist State Convention.