The Helena independent., 1894-12-23
InE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER.

THE SUNDAY NEWSPAPER.
Discourses by preachers Of the gospel
on Sunday newspapers are always in
terestlng, although generally highly
censorious. IL Is refreshing to ilnd a
progressive clergyman here and there
who realizes that the Sunday newspa-
per has become an established insti-
tuition and that attempts 10 talk ii
down and out OF existence are utterly
futile. II is rare, indeed, to fnd a
minister. however. who takes so broad
and just a view of the usefulness OF
the Sunday journal as does Rev Rob
ert A. Holland. Of st. Louis. who de-
livered an address on the subject the
other day before the Episcopal church
congress In Boston. For the news
paper that is a scandalmonger or n
blackmailer. that is vicious In its tone
and tendencies. Mr.. Holland has words
OF unsparing condemnation. But he
recognizes the fact that the majority OF
the newspapers OF the day are not
of that sort. He does not find fault,
however, that the newspapers publish
the worlds complete history every day,
and that the reports of good and bad
deeds, OF crimes and charities, here
appear side by side. ''ln the daily
newspaper" he says, imam lives th'
whole worlds life drop by drop. TIL
newspapers give him a worlds con
sciousness. During the day he buy,
and sells by an almost constant ap-
praisal of the worlds markets; he
watches the stages OF an international
regatta while Il sails; he sees cholera
spread from house to house along the
streets OF trans-oceanlc town; he at
tends the debate OF reichstag whose
vote may precipitate a continental war,
and all the while he feels his private
values and schemes autter like a pulse
through which flows the blood of the
whole worlds market. Day by day
each day between two nights, distinct
life between a birth and a DEATH the
day that has no newspaper loses that
much OF the worlds life from conscious
ness; to-day's newspaper a back number
tomorrow, an obituary, an order Of
death. a sepulcher"
But Mr. Holland sees even more
than these virtues Ia the Sunday news
paper. He sees IN it an agency for
great good to the t1iling masses Of men
and women whom 1t cheers. instructs
and enlightens. ON this point he clo-
quently says:
What. then. Of the one day IN seven
called the day ~ rest? Shall the
worlds consciousness sleep thgu or be-
more than ever awake? VIII it grow
more aware of Immortality and God by
lessening or enlnrging It's sense of the
life that now is, and the magnllcence
of Gods image ia mon2 Shall 1t drink
an unfermented wine Of the spirit AS
more eucbari5tlc than spldt wlna
thRt stimulates aud gladions? "a is u
day OK liberty, not OF constfalnt. pI ro-
Joicing, not Of pcnanco; "a high festival
rather than a solemn feast. Blessed
the Sunday newspaper which, without
OBTAINING q few that sock tho h.Ehus,
heaven and enjoy h. no lasa jof an,
larger Views OF earth haj un their up-
ward way saves milion7 or poor soui.
from latless stupo or Ignorant pas.
tAm" y drawing their lnpr... iu 10.
~. daily llfc to nu nmll.r raI'rq
thu days of work permit about tblt
lilc progress, its sclonca ita art. 10,
ii,Hurc its politics tu rIis,D. Thoa,
millions possess in the Sunday urws
paper thoir onc book thuir sole library
their museum, thyir pantheon ot con
temporary genius. ~ works ot ncccs
sily and mercy pro ra.mpJ uum sab
bRtlc law, surely this wor, f. NOR
merciful and mora necessary than bac
gate deliveries OF milk from far al
dniros or tA, cooking pf roast bee
for family diunrrs, on the most pillar
throplc driving Of "a span of horses /
church FOR the conchmnu 10 slt ou
SIDE In thJ cold while his mistress III
tena comfortably 10 a sermon ON III
email number of tbe elect and The War
McAllIgterism of God"
This lu nll true, and Mr. Holland
words win be- appreciated IN run men
urc by The toilcra ON the press through
out the land who Homotlmos feel th,
they ATE condemned with unrcasonlr
narrowncas Will, sincerely striving
make the world better.
There in one criticism, however. IN,
Alr. Holland might Justly have pass,
at least upon the metropolitan SUI