The morning call., 1894-11-17
THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER.

A convention of cleTgymeD, under the
auspices of the Episcopalians, Is now
being held at Boston, and is considering
topics of secular and social interest.
Among other themes that favorite old
standby, the Sunday newspaper, was
taken up on Thursday, and various
opinions were expressed. The only divine
who followed in the beaten track by con-
demnlug the Sunday newspaper in toto
was DR.. Curry. who thus denounced the
Sunday press:
1t opens the stores for us and puts us in the
midst of The markets and takes us frequently,
column after column. through scenes of sin
and horror. II is hard TO see how people can
justify the immediate prefacing OF their
prayers and thcir holy communion by partaking
an hour before OF the world, the flesh and the
devil through the columns of the Sunday news
paper.
DR.. Curry has forgotten the story of one
of the most pious and eloquent preachers
OF war times, who was gently reproached,
one Sunday morning. with having deliv-
cred dull sermon. II am afraid did,"
said the minister; 81 am afraid did. The
fact is my morning paper Gid not come to-
day, and my mind was lost for want of the
news"
With all possible respect TO DIR. Curry it
may be deferenlially limited that he was a
little behind the times. In the old Puritan
days the true believer was expected to
expel secular thoughts from his mind on
Sunday. He could not read secular books
or engage in conversation on. secular
themes. But at the present day conscien-
tious divines admit the good that may
come OF reading the current news every
day of the week. He who refuses to read
the news as printed in the Sunday news
paper willfuly shuts himself out from
knowledge of such events as occurred just
before Sunday. If he is a clergyman he
loses the oppOrtunity-which able diyines
never neglected. illustrating his Biblical
teachings by suggestions drawn from
0c urrences which are fresh in the congre-
cations memory.
There are. of course, newspapers which
choose Sundays as good day to unfold in
sensational style the calendar Of vice and
crime. They are 10 be eschewed not only
on Sundays but on all days. There Is no
wholesome fruit on any day to be gathered
from exaggerated pictures of the weak
ness and the viciousness of human nature.
But it is always well to remember that
whether we grub In the avenues of money
getting or soar to lofty thoughts on q
future existence we must take life as we
find it. with 6 it's drawbacks in the: shape
of 1.-THE world. the flesh and the devil"
Prayer cannot be more efficacious because
it is based on ignorance. Even DIR. Curry
will not contend that the old hermits who
shut themselves up in clefts of the rocks
and held no communion with mankind
were of any use in their day and genera
tion. They contrast unftvorably with
that stalwart champion of pra tcal Chris
tiani'y, the Rev. DR.. Parkhurst of New
York, who took mis- reputation and his
life in his hand to do battle with intamy,
nd who. in spite of MISREPRESENTATION
and hostility, psrseysred in his work until.
he had lifted off the roof of the Augean
stable of Tammany and laid the f0nnda-
lions of reforms which will enroll. his
name among the benefactNrs of mankind.