The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-12-26
.rnem,es Of tbe sabbath.,


to explain the lack of worshippers in
their churches by laying the blame upon
agencies outside of the church. One Of
them, the Rev. Hugh Johnson, pastor OF
the presidents church" in Washington
laid much of the blame at the door OF the
Sunday newspapers. going 50 far as to
say they were IAN institution that threat
ems 10 destroy our Sabbath day" The
other preacher. the Rev. Mr.. Cuyler OF
BROOKLYN. accused the Sunday newspapers
and the bicycle as being jointly RESPONSE
BILE for great part of the falling Off IN
the attendance upon Sunday services IN
the churches
II is charged that a great many persons
spend the Sabbath at home reading the
large Sunday edition of the paper. when
they might be at church. and that many
others employ their time on Sundays in
pedalling along the roads instead OF TAX
ing part In religious exercises. Has 1t ever
struck the complaining preachers that the
people find the papers more entertaining
more elevating, more instructive than
some of their sermons? There are OF
course, some Sunday newspapers which
live on low sensationalism and the innu-
ence of which is poisonous; but happhy'
the number of them is extremely limited.
Those of that sort which have any circu-
lation worth mentioning could probably be
numbered on the fingers of one hand. INC
vast majority of the Sunday papers are
.nigI1-toned. and have as high conception
of and careful regard for their duty TO the
public as the complaining preachers them
selves have These papers are the wiling
and powerful allies of the pulpit. They
spread useful, enlightening helpful, Chris
tianizing information among thousands
where the preachers influence reaches
hundreds only The papers are interested
in the morals and the welfare OF the
masses, just as the preacher is.
The advanced and broad-minded minis
ters of the day recognize the newspaper
as a powerful aid in the work for the Cos
pei and they preach upon the line that
the papers work upon. That is to say,
they make their dscourses interesting,
presenting the great truths in attractive
and forceful form. They like to have their
church members read the papers, since 1t
brightens and strengthens their minds,
and thus aids the preacher in achieving
his end The newspaper press entertains
great respect for the pulpit, and labors to
treat it with fairness, and to work in con-
junction with it for the advancement of
mankind.
The bicycle is also an agent for good,
a fact which Is acknowledged by great
many of the leading preachers of this Cos
pei It gives young men and young wo-
men needed exercise. It takes them into
the open country. where they breathe
Gods pure air and return to their homes
with clearer minds and stronger limbs.
1t keeps the youths from congregating on
street corners. and getting into bad COM
pany and bad habits. 1t keeps the girls
from lying in bed and reading trashy or
dang srous novels. 1t promotes commend
able friendships between the young people,
to their mutual benefit The wheel is an
enemy of drunkenness, and a promoter
of good digestion appetite and health
1t is very interesting, in connection with
the complaint of the Washington preacher
and the Brooklyn preacher against the
newspaper anu the DiSS NiS " hOtO
an article in the New York Times of re-
cent date. 1t is to the effect that eight
churches of that city, which are named
in the article, find a great deal of difficulty
in providing accommodations for the large
numbers of persons who attend their Sun
day services. One of these churches, that
presided ov .r by the Rev. Henry Van
Dyke. has recently found it necessary to
add eighty new chairs to its seating room.
The other seven are Obliged to place terc-
porary chairs in their aisles frequently.
The pastors of these churches are not
complaining of the competition Of the Sun
day newspaper and the bicycle. They
probably know that the people of the pres
ent time demand preaching different from
that which satisfied the people Of a CEN
tury ago, and they are able to meet the
demand. If some of the complainers
would devote more attention to finding
cut what the people want in the way of
sermons, and less to finding excuses for
non-attendance at the churches, they
would probably see fewer empty pews in
front of them during their Sunday serv-
ices.