The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1891-10-14
The Methodist Congress ON the News-
paper Press.

On Monday. in the Methodist Ecumenical
Council, now sitting Mt Washington. there
| was an interesting debate on the relation
| OF journalism to religion. The discussion
was started by the. Rev. HUGH PRICE
HUGHES. perhaps the most powerful Wes-
leyan preacher in Great Britain. and who is.
/ at the same time. a vigorous and influential
contributor to the London journals. He
has exemplihed in his own person the fact
that the same intellect may be exercised
and on the press.
Some OF Mr.. HUGHEs's admissions are par
ticularly noteworthy as testifylng to the
soundness OF his judgment He did not hes
itate to say that the religious press should
never be used for political purposes. He
evidently believes that journals founded by
religious sects should confine themselves to
recording and furthering the progress Of
their respective organizations. and to pro-
noting the general,growth and vitality OF
Christianity. He did not consequently have
sectarian organs in view when he dwelt on
the Importance OF making journalism an
active coadjutor Of religion. Especially in
teresting was his indication Of the agencies
by which the desired alliance between the
pulpit and the secular press might in
some measure be brought about. He
made perfectly clear, indeed. his rec
ognition OF the fact that no great
daily newspaper could permit itself
to become the thoroughgoing supporter
OF any church or sect. He knows that tho
functions Of journalism proper are two:
first to publish the news. and second to
comment on them. He also distinctly sees
that the collection OF news by secular
newspaper must be impartial and exhaus-
tive. and that the more eclectic and I'm
biassed ls the spirit Gifts comments the more
weight they will have. It follows. as his
own experience has taught him. that tho
secular press cannot be transformed into
propagahdlst Of religious conviction by d.
rect concerted and systematic pressure on
the part OF the. clergy belonging to any
Christian sect, or to all sects taken together.
Nevertheless. and here again he is en-
lightencd by his personal experience. Mr..
HUGHES submits that there is an Indirect
method Of allying journalism with religion
and of converting the secular press into I'm
earnest cxpounder Of the momento,s bear.
ing Of Christianity upon tho welfare Of So
ciety. 1t Is believed. he says. that In Eng
land the editorial columns of the chief daily
newspapers are In tho hands OF men whose
attitude toward religion is that Of indiffer-
cntism or agn0sticism. II this Ike so. whose
fault Is It! Why should not men trained
for the clerical profession DO az we'll able to
qualify themselves for effective newspaper
writing as are men educated for tho bar?
Mr.. HUGHES considers entirely unfounded
the impression. which IL seems is current
among many English ministers. that there
IL something homogeneous between their
pulpit labors and newspaper work. Mr..
HUGHES is himself a proof that the
two functions can be reconciled. His
own contributions are welcome to London
newspapers owing to the umeliness Of
their themes. the freshness Of their treat-
ment. and the lucidlty and vigor Of his style.
Yet the newspapers accepting his contribu-
lions haye undoubtedly been led to stiffen
their attitude toward the vices OF public
men. to elevate tho standard OF political
ethics, aud to gradually assume the duties
Of censorship over the morals VI the COM
munity. We may add that what Mr.. HUGHES
has done In London has been done by other
clergymen In the United States. Indeed.
any one familiar with the. histpry OF Amer
lean Journalism will recall kAsnAnlss OF sew
esal useful and distpgeishS 2 imsMhers OF