The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1894-04-26
Prayer for Editors

| ~ hheVii uPltt uil cNuOIIullOu
to sint ,rs by praying for the saliva
ton Of editors.
That was very proper supplca-
tion, for next to the Church, the
most powerful engine for good or
evil, insmodern civilization, is the
newspaper press. 1t is of the high
est Importance that editors should
be first of all and always, men of
principle. Every newspaper should
be a religious paper, in the sense
that itobeys the obligations of reli
gion.
The whole number of newspapers
in the world is estimated at 5OOOD,
aud more than half of these are in
the United States. The combined
circulation of American newspapers
far exceeds the church -goers. The
editors reach much greater multi
tude OF people than the clergymen
do with all their services. They in.
tluence vast numbers of men who
never listen to sermons and in that
and many other ways the press is
more powerful than the pulpit With
out the newspapers to help the cler-
gymen, they cannot attract to their
meetings the crowds necessary to
j generate the enthusiasm essential to
the prosperity OF their spiritual en-
terprise. With the editors working
i'll u contrary aud an evil direction,
the churches would have opposed to
them the most dangerou enemy in
modern society. The most powerful
ally the devil could get would BE- the
daily and weekly newspapers. We
look with pride upon the modern
standard Of journalism. M" -'.
-r.. er enterprise, ..su prop
erly conducted, is the bacllbo,ie aud
sinew of n laud of promise. The pa
ges of such publications are read by
the most stable aud most reliable of |
American citizens. Hence 1t IS of
vast importanc i'll what direction
4 'h'ii ihiutu't II tNtl lt'as
The many thousands of editors III
the United States urs subject to no |
other code of ethics chan that estub- |
lishel by their ow', conscicnces un-
der the pressure Of public opini on.
They do not have 10 pass any official |
examination for admission to their |
profession, like that which lawyers
must undergo for admission to the |
bar. They are not bound by the oath |
and lie gal restrictions which bind the ,
practitioner of medicine They are un-
der no authority like that which the
church exc rcises over its ministers. |
There is no precise test of their quail |
iiic ations applicable when they un-
dertake to be editors.
The editor can advocate any prin-
ciples or theories in religion or poll
tics he wishes, il he keeps within the
broad and elastic requirements of the
law. He is II free moral agent.
How, then, do the many thousands
of editors in the United States use
this liberty As body there is no
learned profession, however strict its
code of ethics and, however severe
the accountability to which it is held
by professional rule and etiquette,
which is more faithful to its moral
obligations than this great multitude
of editors. Ofcourse, there are some
conscienceless scoundrels III their
ranks, as there a.e quacks in medi-
cine, shysters mt the bar and repro
bates in the pulpit.
The thousands of editors are scat
tered over the union in every com
munity both great and small, and
more than any other men, they are
subject to the constant criticism of
the community, so that their offences
and short comings cannot be con-
cealed. Their very existence de-
pends, in the long run certainly, on
their securing and meriting the pub
lie respect and confidence.
The enterprising editor is lead
er, maker of public opinion and
his influence is felt wherever he is
found. AS whole, the people have
no servants more faithful or more
valuable to them than the thousands
of editors who furnish them with
the chief part of their reading.
We are sure. however, that all ed
itors will be thankful for any sin
cere prayers that may be offered up
in their behalf, with view to OBJ
tanning for them greater strength
for the exercise of their responsible
function.