Herald and tribune. [volume] (Jonesborough, Tenn.) 1869-current, 1896-07-01
PURITY IN LITERATURE AND ART.

PURITY IN LITERATURE AND ART
Annual address by Prof. A. o. Bun
nell before the National Editorial AS
sociation of the United States, at the
eleventh annual convention held in st.
Augustine, Fla, January 81 "a, 1896:
1t will be remembered that at the
tenth annual convention of this associ.
alton a resolution was unanimously
adopted affirming the hearty accord of
the association with every effort in the
direction of eleyating the moral stand
ard of the press and pledging our uni
ted aid and influence in furthering the
object of the various women's organi-
cations in educating public sentiment
in this direction. We can do no better,
we can do no less than to reafirm our
position this year, to solemnly and
unanimously resolve that the National
Editorial Association of the United
States earnestly s%ympathizes with the
women's movement for the promotion
of literature and art, as tending to
maintain the moral standard and en-
deavoring to realize the prime object
of the press-the elevation and better
ment of humanity, intellectually, NOR
ally and socially; for the suppression
of sensationalism, cruel personalities
and immoral details in the reports of
vice and crime, which tend only to de.
grade the moral standard of the COM
munity, often melting to the re enact
ment of the horrors thus depicted; and
that we will further endeavor to make
the press one of the truest and best
friends of humanity by refusing space
to all questionable and impure adver.
Using, also excluding from our writ.
ings and doings the untruths and half
truths which are often more danger
Gus and often have more poison than
unmasked vice because of the pure al,
10y which promotes their circulation.
Oh, the unhealth of it all. Let us vow
to have no more of it and henceforth
to labor with clean hands and pure
hearts, assured that the successful and
influential editor of today must not
only have a conscience but a nice con.
science at that. Let us apply to cur
selves this test: What do we like:
What do we printY For frank answers
to these questions will determine what
we are"
The National Editorial Association
by o unanimous resolution, endorsed
President Bunnell as follows:
"The elevation of the standard Of
journalism and the moral tone of thu
press, so aptly expressed by Presiden
Bunnell in the following, is approved
"Resolved, That the National Edito
rial Association of the United State
earnestly sympathizes with the wo
mems movement for the promotion o
purity in literature and art, as tend
ing to maintain the moral STANDARD
and eudeavoring to realize the prim
object of the press-the elevation an,
betterment of humanity Intellectually
morally and socially; for the suppress
sion of se~nsationalism, cruel personals
ties and immoral details in the report
of vice and crime, which tend only t
degrade the moral standard of tn
community, often melting to the re
enactment of the horrors thus depicted
and that we will further endeavor t
make the press one of the truest an
best friends of humanity by refusin
space to all questionable and impur
advertising, also excluding from GU
writings and doings the untruths an
half truths, which are often more dar
gerous and aften have more of poiso
than unmarked vice, because of tn
pure alloy which promotes their circu
lation."
One day a nan came into Willar
Hall while requests for prayer were b.
ing offered. He cried, pray for MT
l once started in the good way, br
have fallen. 1t is the drink, the drink.
Subsequently we learned that he ha
come from a city in another State VI
der an assumed name, for while undt
the power of the demon, drink, he ha
done a wicked thing. He thought
hide in this great city, but the awfl
shame burned deeper and deeper, an
he started for some dark alley that /
might "blow his brains out"
On the way he heard a gospel son
from some mission, aud turning in W,
led to the feet of the Master. For
time he resisted temptation. Again |
could not tell how 1t came about