The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1891-10-13
POWEROF THE PRESS
The Methodist Council Discusses
Newspapers.
A PoTEN TRACTOR FOR GREAT GOOD,

Says Rev. II. p. Hughes. Of London,
the Principal Essayist-ReIigious
Papers, He Urges. Should Hold
Aioof from Politics-Secular Jour.
mails as Instructors for the Church
WASHINGTON, Oct 13.-The fifth day
of the Ecumenical Methodist council
opened with Bisnop ]. W. Wood, of the
African NJ. IL. Zion church, Fayetteville,
N. c., in the chair. The topic for the
first session was "The Church and Her
Agencies" and Bishop R. S. Foster, OF
Massachusetts, proceeded to address the
council on "The Responsibilities and
Qualifications of the Preacher" He was
followed by Rev. John Bond, the Wes.
leyan Methodist church, London, and
Rev. Howard William Day, of the Afri-
can NJ. E. Zion church, Harrisburg, Pa.
The afternoon session of the confer
ence was devoted to essays on the re-
ligious press and the religious uses the
oil secular press.
.... Power of the Press.
Rev. H. p. Hughes, Of London Mis-
sion Wesleyan Methodist church, was
the principal essayist. He spoke of the
origin and obscurity of the press and of
its gigantic growth. The earliest En-
glish journal, he said, was small PAM
phlet printed in the time of James /. He
spoke of the enterprise of the great
Journals and the expense connected
with it and the profits of journalism.
The religious press, he said, should
work for Christ and not for gain. News
papers, he added, have an ambition to
influence public opinion. The power of
journalism, when used on the right
side, is immense. Religious journalism
ought not identify itself with politics,
but should hold aloof from political
bonds, SO it could regard all questions
from religious standpoint. In conclu-
sion he said that the church had learned
much from secular journalism and
hoped they would learn much more.
The Religious Press.
Rev. E. H. Dewart, editor of The
Christian Guardian, Toronto, Ont, fol.
lowed Mr.. Hughes. He maintained
that the full influence of the press was
not yet fully recognized by the church,
and that there were the same reasons tor
using the press that justified the use Of
the pulpit and platform. II is not tho
rival, but supporter and supplement to
the preacher The church needs its own
press. The religious press should bo
liberal, but loyal to essential truth. 1t
should be wisely adapted to the times
in which its work is done. 1t is not q
mere organ of the church, but an in
structor and inspirer of those who
read it.
Rev. Joseph Ferguson, D. D., pres
ident of the Primitive Methodist
church, Leeds, England, made an ad-
dress in which he said the religious
press of this country should take more
distinct attitude against certain evils;
should leave for their children evil
dences of their belief, and in their re.
Ggious literature say more of those who
lived and who now live who have dono
SO much for religion.
Rev E. E. Hass. d. D., of Nashville,
said that Methodism in this country had
been indifferent to religious newspapers.
The development Of secular journalism
in the last twenty-five years was amaz-
ing, and while religious journalism had
made rapid strides it had not kept pace
with sepulur journalism