The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1891-10-13

urst ually appearing, lie talu IN ltVS. lutIo
are now four thousand daily papers. Was
IL not strange that this great agency had
rarely received the consideration of the
churches. 1t was now the fourth estate,
the greatest engine of the world, and be-
came so without the aid of the church or Its
blessings. Christian churches must face the
fact that this great engine was In the
hands of men who were in some cases in
different TO the church. and in others abso-
lutelv full of hatred for It. What were the
true functions of this enginef First, TO
collect news, and enormous were the eX-
pense and results Through the telegraph
every man might know what traDspired In
the whole world. Christ condemned the
of the times. A great function of the press
was the definition of public opinion. 1t
was we'll TO know the prevailing opinion.
no matter what II was. Another junction
of the press was to influence the pubic; TO
impress upon it the views of the editor.
THE POWER OF JOURNALISM.
1t had been said that the newspaper was
mightier than the pulpit. and perhaps that
estimate was not too high. The powers of
journalism used on The right side were
enormous and irresistible. The great ma
jority even of Christians were SO pre-oc-
cupied that they did not realize the evils
that existed under their eyes. For the
creation of public opinion In these swift
days the press was supreme. If so dis
posed, the editors of the daily papers could
render incalculable service to the cause of
God. The religious press should never be
used for political purposes ('Hear. hear''l
and it should extend its work in learning
and recording the progress of Gods work
on earth. II had been said that a
large proportion of the journalists
tics. That might be SO; vet there were GER
tain phases of the Christian religion that
even the agnostic journalist might and did
believe to be good and worthy of extern
sion. Everybody recognized the fact that
the day of the coming of the kingdom of
heaven on earth was near. The preacher
had learned from the journalist. said Dr.
Hughes in conclusion. and GOD grant that
they may now learn little from us, for
united We and the journalists can hasten
the creation of that state which Christ ~
bringing TO all lands. III which there shall
be no room for, or sign of, misery"
r, The Rev. DR. n II. EdTart, editor OF the
held that the church had not yet formed
sufficiently high estimate of the influence
of the religious press, and had not used 1t
To its full capacity for good. Any instru-
ment that could be made the instrument of
carrying light and truth to darkened minds
was sacred enough 10 be used In the Mas
ter's service by the saintliest hands. The
same reasons which justified the use of pull
pit and platform justified the use of church
regarded as rival to the pulpit. 1t sup
plemented and backed up the teachings of
the preacher. The church must have her
own press as we'll as hex own pulpIts, but
| dislike TO hear the religious paper
called the organ" of the church, as If it's
main business waste voice the Ruthorita-
tive utterances of the denomination like
papal syllabus; or as if it was an instru-
ment on which certain Tunes were to be
played in order. In times Of moral de-
generacy, when the public conscience Is
paralyzed by selfish views of duty, the re-
ligious press should fearlessly reouke pre-
vailing sins whether it brings popularity
or opposition and reproach. A time-serv.
church papers should be liberal in spirit,
but loyal 70 Christian truth.
Rev. DI Joseph +. FERGUSON. president
of the Primitive Methodist Church of Eng
had said, Snd especially where ne said that
religious papers should not take cognizance
of politics. lCries OF "Oh. no."l In Eng
land there were thousands of people that
papers, but from the weekly religious jour
mails. OCCASIONALLY became necessary
| that religio-pOlitlcs, questions should be
| treated by them. GMurmurs sofdisapproval. of
| He would not 60 further into the subject,
friends. [Cries of .Oh. no."l Many parts
| of this great country. he had been told.
were influenced strongly by the
| Roman Catholic power. 1t might be
because that power was concentrated, but
| might it not also he because of their use OF
the pressf He rejoiced that the secular
| press was not subject to censorship. But
| IN it's freedom should that press not recog-
| nize the fact that Christ was the living
force of national life. The churches should
| ally themselves with the daily press; give
| the press their sympathy. Very few of the
mon who stood at the head Of the great
| daiies would reject that alliance. The great
4nx- x.f
| science, those OF morality and religion
| should be dealt with, not IN the pulpit. but
| in the press.
RELIGION AND QUACK MEDICINE ADS.
Rev. Z. f. HOss, of Nashville, Tenn, said
| the religious newspapers had not kept pace
| with the secular press in development,
| though the improvement had been great.
| The religious newspaper should be under
the control of the church. Every argument
| broug ght forward to show that the church
| should put its hand upon the pulpit would
| apply with equal force to show that ic
| should put its hand upon the press. Re-
| ligiOus papers should have an expert corps
| of assistants to the chief editor. Atten-
| tiOn should be given to the advertising col
| umns. There had been much shining. but
| there was not so much bow, although he did
see an advertisement of Quack medicine
consumption cnreIopposite an unctious
4
Rev. Dr. Buckley. of New York. editor of
| the Christian Advocate, told of the trials
| of the editor of O religious paper, and of
the necessity for accuracy. lie believed
that the weekly religious paper had
| opinion than the daily. Greeley had at
| tached superior Importance to the weekly.
| The secular press could not be trusted in
| matters religious. He was severe in his
| criticisms upon the secular press for it's
| light treatment of serious topics laughing
| at suicides and publishing detailed reports
| of scandalous divorce cases.
Mr.. John II. Lille of London, held that
| heard. He had gone into many q store In
| New York. Boston and Washington and
tried IN vain TO buy religious paper. The
| prOyement. 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, hear and the reports of
| cross-eXaminatIons IN scandalous trials.
| He hoped that religious daily newspaper
would be brought forth. The London sport
| ell of the religious papers. The editors Of
the religious papers should discuss social
| questions and avoid politics.
| Rev. Thomas Shape, of Liverpool made q
| plea for closer relations between the church
| and the secular press particularly so If it
IS clean and is not published anu edited in
| the interest Of or with the money Of cor
| rupt men or corrupt influences
| Mr.. Atkinson. an English mem ber OF Par
lament. thought that as all political par
| haA hair fhay yali