Grand Rapids herald. [volume] (Grand Rapids, Mich.) 1892-1959, 1892-05-09
POWER OF THE PRESS.
The Rev. Johnston Delivers Timely and
Thoughtful Sermon.

The Rev. Johnston Delivers Timely and
Thoughtful Sermon.
After reading the order OF evening
prayer the rector, Henry j. Johnston,
spoke on "Thc POKER OF the Daily
Press" taking for bis text Philippians
iv, 8: "Whatsoever things are true;
Whatsoever things are honest; whatso-
ever things are just; whatsoever things
are pure; whatsoever things are lovely;
whatsoever things are of good report; If
there be any virtue and II there toe any
praise, think on these things" Tue
power of the daily press Is subject
upon which all should think. How TO
think of IT, how to regard it, should be
impressed upon the minds by all who
stand III tho light of teachers. What
ever Is III the mind, whatever is in the
heart regarding the influence of the
daily press should be III limo with its
vast power. Whit is that power
thrown about us by the press?
What is that ideal? We open the
Scriptures and find IN them all
things pure. 1t there is any virtue.
any truth, any honesty. any purity
such rs mentioned in my text We ind
it IN not only the Bible but IN the daily
newspapers. 1t is an enormous power.
II knocks out the hurricane, flashes
back tue powers of the thunder, cx-
plans the advances of science, heralds
achievements IN mechanics, portravs
the peace or agony OF the death bed. 4.
You and have 10 meet this power. IL
commands your respect and NINE. Ii
arrests our attention in the daily walks
of life and decides for US the living
questions of our everyday life. The
multitude of opinions and their maay
diversities are spread before US by this
vast power. From the presi-
dent down they turn 20 the
dairy newspapers for their opin-
ions. IL is not Ia the Bible
they turn. but TO their daily news
papers. Ii is q power. If nothing more.
When we open our newspapers We zee
every question under the sun treated.
1t wields an enormous power, prepares
your mind and mine for the reception
aud absorption of the latest theories.
in theology, theosophy, economies
science. All andquestIons are treated
by the daily press; oftimes by a young
man on the third or fourth noor IN .
dingy room, surrounded with exchanges
and smoking = pipe or cigar. l am told
it il not my business TO speak OF the
press; that / should cuntjne myself 70
scriptural subjects; that this 10 no part
of the work of q minister. New, ] be-
lieve in Gods holy word. and | believe
also IN the daily Newspaper; | believe
in Its power TO do good. Ii 10 vast
power and of enorssous value. Ii fur
nishcs an approximate contsn-
poraTy vaiue on history and up
en- oil topics suited TO The
ssvsnt. II speaks of and points the
duty OF man TO man, reaches oftimes
msn wemAn and child We would he
unable To reach. 1t tells us OF disturb
ances, famine aud fire. IL IS the palls-
dunn of liberty. II has the power TO.
abuse and the right 10 demand reforms
ia danger lies in sensstion.iisna. n tie
sacrifice Of truth IL imagination by
the reporter wto "a rshured ev tasst
who have news and withhold il. We
should welcome the,s men. glve them
every encouragement, every al. We
should do our part towards hslnisf
tltis psvsr Which has done ~ nnuch
for us. DO not pat tksm swsy, bat
greet TIE reporter With tne fscis yoa
hsvr, that BE nay not De tmpsea 70
write mag native scc9uBts Fart.
Tsutain = snothsf evli. Bat yop can
. rel A.ams tne press Cor denE thst vr
expressing siewt ~htNh yoH vos>rstsi
waala espfess II vscrs.ts Cnris, 30
op.nfans lhe daliv press viil ecso them.
Il - rxfFrss uu-Chsisiasn faoerba.
tAev rtil fepoFt them sna ceaaeusn as
IL = lssssiy sith ourselves. honsesv
to bsns US vast poser toward good.