The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-11-15
PUBLIC PRESS A SEWER
DIR. LAsBY's vIRULENT ATTACK ON
THE DAILY NEWSPAPERS.
Many of His Congregation Take Elk
ceptiOns to His RemarlSs--Bid
for NOtOriety.


censor. In a sermon he preached yesterday
morning he likened reporters to "carrion
crows" and declared that they too frequent
ly have no regard for the privacy of the
home. DR.. Lasby's sermon was severely
criticised by some of the members of his
congregation, who by no means entertain
ideas in harmony with those he gave utter
ance yesterday. "Understandest thou what
thou readest," Acts viii, 80, was his text.
In the course of his remarks he said:
1.-THE seer of Patmos, in a vision, beheld
mighty angel descending from heaven, who
planted one foot upon the sea and one foot
upon the land. Holding a little book in his
hand he declared that time should be no
more. The vision signifled, in the planting
Of one foot on the sea, that water, in all
its forms, should be subservient to man,
that steam. one of it's FORMS should become
his great ally. The other foot planted on
the earth signified that all of its treasures
and all it's powers should likewise minister
to mans well being. The book in his hand
foretold the era of the press, in which
should be recorded the hopes, the aspira-
tions, the achievements of the race. The
art of printing is the most valuable known
Sculpture wears away with the centuries
Paintings fade and the canvas falls into
shreds, but the press reproduces the work
Of the ancient authors and carries forward
toward Immortality the creations of think
ers Of all centuries. The press has more
power than artillery, Is more potent than
any machinery, and legislative halls are
subservient to its mandates. The character
of its emanations determines the moral con-
dition of a people. Many of it's works are
baneful; some-and a growing proportion
are beneficial
Most people content themselves with the
secular press. The mechanical achieve
ments of our foremost papers are simply
astounding. The whole world is indebted to
their enterprise as they penetrate the
jungles of Africa or record the riches Of
Alaska. The secular press has a distinct
mission. 1t treats of economic questions, of
theories of science and Of the popular move
ments of the day. 1t is the strongest ally
of our government, holding together by it's
interchange of thought the most distant Sec
lions of our Union. 1t frequently heads re-
commended. However, there has ever been
an abuse of power on the part of the press
The reporter invadeS the privacy of home
life and frequently misrepresents the situa-
ton and misinterprets the person inter-
viewed. The pathetic complaint Of General
Sherman strikes a cord of sympathy in
many hearts. The tyranny of the secular
press in this country said he, is becoming
awful. 1t is worse than the old tyranny
of the slave holder. The gossip of the news
papers has destroyed freedom of social in
tercourse, has made men afraid of their
neighbors 1t has led to suspicion and dis
trust. No man can open his mouth and be
sure that his confidence will be respected
No man can write to his acquaintance and
be sure that his letter will not appear In
print. There is no comfort left in the land.
/ am old and cannot be hurt by this condi-
ton of things, but 1t will be the bane of the
rising generation and they will be obliged
to rebel against it,
A SEWER OF FILTH"
1.-THE general tone Of the news is immoral.
The daily press is largely a sewer of filth.
Reporters. like carrion crows, hover around
all forms of crime. A divorce case or muir
der trial will receive columns by telegraph,
while great religious, moral and educational
gatherings receive the briefest mention, and
that in dryest detail. The question is, viii
1t payT If the prize ring, glowingly de-
scribed, will sell a thousand extra papers,
1t Is reported with every detail included.
The public press has thereby become a
school of vice. Almost One-third of our
criminals are found to be between the ages
of twelve and twenty years, and almost in
variably they have got their suggestions
of crime out of the columns of the daily
press. Those in charge of reforrnatorieS find
1t impossible to accomplish anything in the
way of reformation while the inmates have
access to the leading daily papers, with
their salacious setting OF criminal news. II
prisoners need defending from this immoral
influence, how much more should virtuous
families be protected against IL.
HE that confines his reading to the secu-
lar press dwarfs his mind and stains his
soul. The Sunday newspaper is one CT the
chief obtacles in the work of the church.
Its columns are mostly made up or court
intrigues, society scandals, sporting news,
business enterprises with just little re-
ligious matter interspersed. A man who
dc he Gum ia iC in M
worship. He invites from the end Of the
earth all diStracting news, and brings his
mind into ASSOCIATION with al CRIME, "a an 10
the business of the week, so that he has
little chance to enter the chamber OF peace
where the jarring voices of the world are
stiled. No intelligent man would put Sun
day newspaper in the hands OF soul seek
ing peace with God, and If 1t would not be
helpful on the threshold or CHRISTIAN IRE
1t would be a sure detriment in further
stages. ,,.o o+nonoco
Of the religious press: Health ofncers are
stationed at our markets to condemn un-
wholesome meat, but we have no censors
who shall condemn and forbid unWhoiesome
news. Our public libraries, in large proper
ton minister to, if they do not create, a
vicious taste. Fiction, with It's unrealities
and fascinating features, units for the stern
realities of life. Every Christian home
should be supplied with pure and helpful lit
erature. The weekly paper, the monthly
magazine, the volume with It's noly lnsplra-
lis
ought to find a welcome everywhere the
Lord is loved, and in this course lies the
welfare of the church and rising genera
The speaker concluded his talk by urging
his hearers to patronize the UNCONVENTIONAL
publications.
AS TO MR.. LAsBY.
One gentleman, who gave attention to Mr.
Lasby's sermon, said:
ut was most unfair arrangement or the
press at least insomuch as It refers TO the
indianapolis dailies, with whose tone, or
course, l am acquainted. He sald tnat
columns are devoted to murders, While
great religious gatherings receive scant at
tention. l do not recall murder IN recent
years which has received over two columns
of space in an Indianapolis paper, put l
recall ten-and-ffteen-column accounts IN
the same papers of the recent Quaker con-
Vention, as much of the CHRISTIAN Church
meeting here and the United presbyterian
gathering. Every Monday the columns or
the papers TEEN with accounts OF locai ser
mons. Even Mr.. Lasby's sermons get IN
row and then. through the courtesy of the
editors, when requested by members OF TINS
congregation l have heard the complaint
that Indianapolis papers print too much or
this church matter. l am acquainted with
local newspaper men, ana what ne says as
to the invasion of homes by reporters Is
sheer rot Mr.. Lasby recently preached
sermon attacking one or the pesI-FnOWn
and beloved citizens of this State. When
ministers seek notoriety, the newspapers
for doing it, But Mr.. Lasby didn't say
anything about that"
UIEE IN GAY PARIS.