The record-union., 1893-06-12
HOW TO RUN A PAPER.
Rev. F. w. Gunsauus Gives Advice
to the Editors.
Deprecates the Absence of Faith =
Much That is Bad He Attributes
to Reportorial Work.

-
to Reportorial Work.
Editors of all kinds and degrees were
told by Rev. Frank w. Gunsaulus last
night how to run a newspaper on faith.
says the Chicago Herald of May 22d.
They had been invited to Plymouth
Church to hear the eloquent preacher and
they attended in force, with their wives
and daughters. But they were hardly
prepared for the trouncing they got from
the pastor. DIR. Gunsaulus first led them
along pleasant paths by describing the
opportunities an editor has for molding
public opinion and setting flame to the
torch of true heroism. Then he pounded
them, crushed them, dashed them with
the whips of his eloquence and rubbed
salt into their wounds. He was unspar-
ing in his adjectives and his unconnected
coruscating expressions. He hurled
fiery bolts of rhetoric at their heads, told
them that they might possibly become
great editors, and then dashed their ris-
ing spirits by condemning the methods
OF the newspaper manager OF to-day. He
proclaimed that true editor was an I'M
known quantity in a newspaper office
of the present day, and informed them
confidently that unless they ran their
organs OF public opinion on faith they
would fail i'll LIES mission.
The editors may forgive Mr.. Gunsaulus
| for his seYero arralgnment of their profess
siOn.. The members of the National Edi
torlal Association have only been in the
city for week and everywhere they have
been received with kindness.
For the first time i'll the history of
Plymouth Church more than 100 editors
attended service in a body. They
were there with their badges and OBJ
tanned seats near the pulpit. Mr. Gun
saulus was evidently pleased at the
chance OF getting so many editors in his
church. He had them at his mercy. for
none of them could answer his singing
remarks or point out the fallacy OF his
argument.
MENTIONED IN PRAYER.
The preacher told his congregation in
the morning that he would speak TO the
editors at the evening service and the
church was crowded. During the prayer
Mr.. Gunsaulus said: 1--WE rejoice that we
have her among US those who have the
amazing opportunity of so touching the
lives OF men and women through the
printed pages as to show the largest pos
sible extent of human endeaVor and
human interest. They have yielded to
man the best and brightest gifts and given
back to the world all that God has planted
within them. We thank thee, . God,
that the world has been made brighter
and better by the chapters in human hero
ism which are printed in their journals.
Their hate of error and love Of truth has
caused some of them to die in thy service,
and we pray blessing on this profession
and hope that thou wilt give all the graces
necessary to make it noble aud true"
Choosing as his text "Acquit yourselves
like men," the preacher said it was evil
dent that true success in life came from
the results of the professional activity of
manhood. ''To the members of the edi-
torial profession here present." he con-
tinued, 81 say that there is no difference
betw cen your profession and mine. You
are men whose business is commentary
on truth and with the clarion pressed to
your lips you pour out all the riches OF
your soul. You command the music
| from which you call all the marvellous
chords and harmonies, aud with a sword
cut path to goodness. l should like TO
stop with young man on the edge of the
editorial profession, and ask him if he
really feels that the clarion will never
shiver with music unless he gives it his
power, unless he gives his life to human
| ity. God calls men to be editors lust as
he calls preachers to the pulpit. Horace
| Greeley was one of the called and a di-
vine aureole hangs over his head as much
as over the prophets of old.
| GREATER TO BE A MAN THAN AN EDITOR.
| mo man is worthy Of the name of edi-
| tor who does not do the work of illumin-
| alton, inspiration and education accord
| ing to his ability. We can dispense with
page scintillate, the sensationaIism which
| brings a crowd to church or to the edi-
! tOriai sanctum. We want manliness. 1t
| is far greater to be man than an editor.
The moment an editor looks at the
mountain tops of duty and finds there the
great springs of inspiration then ne full
Hills his duty. | would suggest to the
editorial profession that they should as
sumo an attitude toward events, supreme,
noble manly-a wide horizon which can
only be obtained by faith.
Mr.. Gunsaulus then proceeded to state
that the days of great editors had gone bv.
because the latter day molders OF public
opinion no longer ran their papers on
faith. Take up paper" he continued,
and you find facts, facts, facts-So many
gems without a string. We need an edi-
tor who will see the divine power in all
these events and will point out God's
purpose to us in murder head, an awful
disaster there and a celebration in our
midst. This cannot be done but by faith
and there Is lainentaDIe lack OF faith
among editors Of the present day. Look
at the articles, the editorials and even the
headlines They indicate want of faith.
In my Judgment the editor has some
thing more to do than arrange news I'M
der headlines, ana not until he brings the
scattered melodies together shall his pa
per be worthy of my attention"
RESPECTS PAID TO REPORTERS.
Then he told the editors that there was
not great man among them, nor would
there ever be unless they had faith and
showed the finger of God in the events
they printed. Give US papers filled
with manly vein," he cried, "breathing
heroism which is faith on its feet Is
there heroism in that editors sanctum
when the opportunity comes for printing
a brilliant lie safe from fear of libel suits,
and which is not taken? l think there
is" Mr.. Gunsaulus grew tired of laying
all the blame upon the editors in the
church and turned his attention to re-
porters.