Virginia free press. (Charlestown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1832-1916, 1895-01-30
y'irgiaia fsee 2ress.
". ". r.. GALLARER. Editor.
January 80. 1895.
THE MODERN NEWSPAPER.
It's Usefulness, Responsibility and Poic-
er Discussed by DR.. Harcourt.
From he Baltimore Sun.

From The Baltimore Sun.
At Grace Methodist Episcopal Church,
Rev. DR.. Richard Harcourt preached last
night on "The Good and Evil of the
Newspaper Press" He said:
"The work of gathering news has grown
into science. It's scope and perfectne.s
are the wonder and pride of human genius.
The age in which we live, if from no 9th
er cause, is an age of wonder. Former
ages were prophetic; ours is one of full.
fillment. Ours is q day of marvellous
realization, day of godlike manifesto
ton, and in no other direction do we so
fully realize this fact as in the improve.
ment and perfeciing of the printing press
and its auxiliaries.
"In the early history of the race the
orator was a very important person, for
by him only could the pubic be reached.
Demoslhems and Pericles were the peo'
pies daily newspaper. What marvellous
changes have come about since their day
of getting and communicating knowledge
1--WE owe debt of gratitude to the
daily newspaper. Each morning it comes
to the home, the office or the store and
awaits our convenience. News from home
and dabroad, news from the other side of the
world, news for and from the cabin and
palace, city and farm, sea, river mountain
and lake.
ITO cheer yoang genius, PHYS tear to start,
In truths bold cause TO rouse each fearless
heart:
To hunt corruption from the secret den
And show the monster to the gaze of wonder
ing men
The newspaper press is the mightiest
power to day in our world for good or
evil. The pulpit was once considered the
greatest power but that time is past
If Paul, the great apostle TO the gentiles,
should come back to earth, | am inclined
to believe that in carrying out his own
advice to covet the best gifts he would
covet the place and power of the editor of
one of our great daily newspapers, that
can speak through the pen TO over one
hundred thousand human beings daily.
II believe the secular press is doing a
work not done by the religious press, from
the fact that it is secular and not religious,
for in some issues the secular paper out
strips the religious press in the amount of
religious matter which it gives to the
public. 1t is one cf the best mediums Of
Christian unity; in this respect it is doing
work which the pulpit and religious
press cannot do. Rarely does Protest
ant hear a sermon from a Roman Catho-
lie, or a Roman Catholic sermon from
a Protestant, but the daily newspaper, BY
printing our sermons side by side on the
same sheet is doing much to break down
these walls of separation.
The press is the mightiest power in
the world for disseminating light. There
are some | know who think otherwise
They fear the consequences of giving evil
deeds publicity. But why should they
fear :? Truth cannot be hurt by ventila
ton, aud | am sure some foul places are
made more heslthful by letting in upon
them air and sunshine There is nothing
sin fears more than publicity. A hidden
evil is the only incurabe one.
bad men tear the publicity of the
press more thsn Ine eye of God. Width
er shall We fe, from thy presence is the
language of the criminal to-day in refer
encc to the press.
"Dr Parkhurst deserves all the praise
he has received and more. He is moral
hero, God.like man He has fought q
good fight, and is not willing to sleep up.
on his laurels. Yet what could DR.. Park
hurst or the Lexow committee have done
in the fight without the aid of the press ?
"There is nothing that de.potism fears
so much as printing press. Russia is q