New-York tribune., 1896-12-08
MINISTER'S ON NEWSPAPERS
nR R1rRRELL SUGGESTS THE ESTAb-
1JsrIMENT OF A CHRISTIAN DAILY.

GO ,r,uxG pENUNcrATIoN OF JOURNALS THAT
nru. N scANpAIs-DR MACARTHUR DEPRE-
Gates INDIsCRIMINATE CRITICISM.
In response to a call sent out by the leading pas
tors OF the Methodist. Baptist. Lutheran. Congreea
tIona Reformed and Presbyterian churches Oh '''''
c,tv there was n large gathering of ministers III
tho Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Church yesterday
morning to discuss THE Ideal Newspaper. Inc
Rev Dr. Albert Erdman president or the fresps
tcrian Ministers Association. presided ana maoc
brief address. He then introduced the feV. III
David j. Burrell. pastor of the Marble Cohesia'.
Church. who had been inViteu 10 re"u ''o ~
paper of the day.
Dr. Burrell at first spoke OF the power OF the
press and then said that the power was RESPONSE
bty and there right OF protest when INC
power was abused. The ideal newspaper was uh-
attainablc he said. but a newspaper III ior '"''S
tian homes was demanded "The newspaper we
orc after he said must be clean and wholesome.
Scandal IS not news Vice. murder. inebriety ana
RIGHTEOUSNESS are not news. These are ola as >oa''
drunken I'm his tent and wearisomc as the itera,'o
chatter Of a magpie." DR.. Burrell quoted SNAKE.
speare and Spencer to characterize "Ihe "oro
and "Thc Journal" and said:
These are not newspapers: they are scavenger,s: ,
Our attitude with respect to such II authoritatv'n,y
defined in the Deuteronomic law for the cieans,S ni
blame.ess Is there one that can consistently say:
I'VE print all and ID only 1 hf ,nai is n or
less decatey over them all. We have supped full
respondent Why must we breathe the odors OF
garbage and coaguated blood? Is 1t the tune'Hn iS
OF the great public educator to thus poiiute tie
air? Must 1t need pander to the lowest ana pases.
The newspapers. DR.. Burrell declared. should
tell the truth and must be respectful toward re-
llgion The Sunday newspaper he said, was uh-
necessary and issued In violation OF divine law.
He recommended the appointment OF committee
to clear the way for the publication of Christian
newspaper. and said:
BY the occupation Of churches and Christian cap
iaists a new publication might he undertaken. or
a sufiic.en, guarantee OF continuance under the
supervision OF Board Of Christian business men;
The Lord has millions millions OF money In this
city.
After the ministers had listened 10 the address the
Rev J. Wesley Johnson. the Rev. DR.. Robert D.
Macarthur the Rev Dr. H. 4. Stlmson and the
Rev Or John Hall made short hve-minute addresses
Dr. Macarthur. OF the Calvary Baptist Church said
lndscr!mnate criticism unjust and unwise, ana
in the end reacted upon the critic II was only JUST
recognize the splendid work Of the press he sad'
and added:
in any city was done by The NewYork Tribune in
ms IN this xhen cy tne Al OF the papers did
but The Tribune surpassed them ali ~ woid on % nars
10 have collected and printed the religious literature
that was sent out al that time by the daiy papeir;
not have reached the homes where It was carried by
the newspapers.
Dr Macarthur said that all OF the church people
owe a debt OF gratitude 10 the papers that nave re-
ported the Moody meetings fully: the influence OF
these meetings bv the aid OF the newspapers. he
said was as great greater outside OF New-fork
than fl was here. lie favored the appointment OF "A
committee visit or more OF the better papers
10 se. II some Improvements could not be made IN
some OF their features. lie did not think the
ideal paper would until there an Ideal people
In IDEAL republic.
Or Hall said II the duty OF the ministers to
luc,. their pastorate what read and what not TO
read In this way the public could be educated TO
higher class OF newspapers. and he was certain the
editors would be quick 10 notice the change ana edlt
their news accordingly.
I, was decided to let each association Of pastors
,ak. the question UP and discuss IL at their next
Monday meeting. after which another general con
ference could be agreed upon. Or. Erdman then APP
pointed as the committee suggested by Dr Burrsl
in his address tho Rev. Dr. j. NJ Buckley the
rev pr Macarthur the Rev. J. Wesley Johnson.
The Rev. Dr. H. a. Siimson and the Rev Dr' Jonn
1T