New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-07-16
4 SuALL ISLANDER.

A so-called evangelist, of SlangouS pro-
clivities, is credibly reported to have revived
lhe othor day one of the stalest and stupdest
of ISLANDERS upon the newspaper press; to the
effect that great amount of space is devoted
to infdel utterances. "while religious teachings
are almost denied admittance to the papers, or
receive but little attention" The falsehood Is
so patent to every intelligent person that 1t
might well be allowed to pass unnOticed were
il not that it was uttered in the presence OF
large audience of reputable people, and, instead
of being sterny rebuked, was allowed to pass
unchallengcd, if indeed there were mot some
manifestations of approval. And even so pre-
posterous an assertion rs that if allowed thus
to 90 on record ncOntIadicted is capable OF
being in future recalled and quoted and finally
believed. to the detriment, perhaps, of some
well-meaning but careessly thinking souls. No
man should be permitted to tell lie to i've
thousand people at once and have none make
reply. For the entire press OF the country we
are not able to answer this attack. Our file OF
1.-THE Wayback Guyhooter'' is unfortunately so
incomplete that we cannot compile from II an
entirely accurate statement of the comparative
spaces devoted on the one hand to the unctuous
cyhortations OF The Cradle Revivalist and on
tbe other to the esoterc ethics of Billy tho
Kid. But we do consider ourselves fairly well
qualified to speak, from experience and ooServa-
ton. Of such papers as are published around
Printing House Square and in the cities and
chief towns of the United States.
The simple fact is that all reputable news
papers now devote, and for many years have
been devoting, incmparably more space to re-
ligious than to anti-IeligOus teachings. 1t Is
the practice of daily papers in all large cities to
report at considerable length on Monday morn
ING the best sermons of the day before. Even
the little weekly papers in country towns and
VILLAGES print in every issue whole sermon
by some eminent preacher, furnished to them
by news agency. No antl-rehglouS lecturers
have ever received a 1.-THE OF such attention.
So much for routine matters. Exceptional
events in the Church world are still more fully
reported TO Presbyterian Assemblies, Meth
odst Conferences, Episcopal Conventions and
other Church gatherings THE TRIBUNE has de-
voted daily columns Of matter, often telcgraphed
at great expense from distant cities. 10 the
Christian Endeavor Convention, and Mr.. Moody $
Mortified Conference, to the ASbmy Park and
Ocean Grove summer meetings, and to numer-
ous other like events, much space has been given
daily. And to the great discussions of matters
of faith and practice that from time to time
absorb the attention of the churches we open
our columns as widely as to any topics that ever
come before us. We not only give our space
to these things, but we employ our ableSt writ
ers to report and to discuss them; and we do
20 not in iiippant or sensational manner, but
in a spirit of reverence for the Truth and OF
earnest sympathy with every effort made Tor
the spiritual advancement Of mankind.
That TIE TRIBUNE does this every one OF
its readers will avow. That the newspapers OF
America in general do so, in greater or lesf
degree according to the needs and wishes OF
their constituencies, is entirely true. And yet
This man. who has been dubbed Rev. Dr.,
declares that "religOus teachings are almost
denied admittance to the press OF the country, or
receive but little attention" 1t would be pleas
ant to imagine that his words were mere md
summer madness, the yaporings OF a brain hall
stewed by the July sun. But he spoke Ill the
cool ir.of Il scasiGe resort, spoke deliberately
and spoke, moreover III the full knowledge that
his own elevation to prominence and prosperity
has been gained only through the attention pad
to him by the very papers that he now reyiles