The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-11-30
PREACHERS AND EDITORS.
THE MIyTxTERIAL ASSOCIATION
DISCUSSES THEIR RELATIONS.
Rev. L. 8 Gregg. who Has Been =
Newspaper MAJ, Reads . Paper On
the "Preachers' Use Of the Press


A number OF interesting matters occu-
Pied the attention Of the Seattle Minis
teriAl Association at tho Y. NJ. &. A.
rooms yesterday morning. President w.
II. Selieck presided. and Rev. II. D.
Brown conducted the devotional exercises.
Chairman Gilchrist, OF the executive COM
mtttee. announced that he was ready To
receive the reports Of the pastors In the
matter OF the census % church attend
ance. which were ordered II the last meet
Ing. Reports were handed in and the
chairman said that the results would be
announced at the next meeting.
Rev. George III. Lee made q general re-
port In the matter Of street preaching.
and after some debate the matter was re-
committed. On motion the old COMMITTEES
on street preaching was discharged. and
new one constituted by appointing Mr..
Lee az chairman. with power to select the
other members Of the committee
The order Of the day was called and Rev.
A. 8. Gregg. pastor Of Madison Street N.
E. church. read paper on the Preach
ers' Use Of the Press" Among other
points he had the following to say regard
ing the attitude OF preachers toward edt-
tors:
In the matter OF encouraging newspaper
managers 20 promote good morals, much
depends upon the attitude Of the preacher
toward the editor. There seems to be a
feeling Of antagonism between preachers
and editors which occasionally breaks OUT
In public attacks upon each other. Some
Jealous brother. because OF the sins of a
particular paper, will indulge in a TRADE
against the press. and then some editor.
who. perhaps. had nothing to do with the
original offense, but who feels that his pro-
fession has been insulted. win reply TO
the preacher by attacking the ministry
either directly or by ridicule- This in turn
Is felt by other ministers who had nothing
whatever to do with the matter. Repeat
ed occurrences Of this kind have developed
sort of ministerial tradition that the
daily press is a rotten institution, and the
sworn enemy of the church. There is also
tradition among newspaper men that
preachers look upon them as enemies OF
religion, and this very feeling Is often re-
sponsible for the caustic and uncompli-
mentary paragraphs respecting preachers
that sometimes appear in daily papers.
In all that l have said am not unmind-
full Of the low moral tone Of some papers.
or that some editors are positive unbe-
hevers In Christianity, but on the whole
I believe much more could be done In the
interest of our cause IL there was better
personal understanding between preachers
and editors. In order to bring about this
result the preacher should seek TO estab-
lish personal and pastoral relation be-
tween himself and the editor or become
acquainted as men. II something is print
ed that the preacher regards as subversive
Of good morals. 1t Is far better to make 1t
a personal matter with the editor than 1t
is to attack the press In general In the
pulpit. / know of instances where the
personal protest Of the preacher to the
editor had q very happy effect. I might
add that in case you feel 1t your duty to
protest against particular article or class
Of news. IL would be wise to look over the
paper and find something to compliment
or approve. and mention II In your letter OF
criticism. Editors, like preachers, like TO
feel that they are appreciated sometimes.
little sympathetic encouragement will
very often cause an editor to advocate
moral reforms that he would perhaps
have otherwise disregarded. ] know an
editor in this state who has rigid rule
In his Office against printing obscene or
suggestive stories. He was led TO such
course by the compliment of an old farm
er, who praised the editor for printing
paper that 1t was safe for little girls to
read. Thereupon the editor resolved TO al
ways print a clean paper. This editor. by
the way. is not religious man.
IAN experience OF ten years In secular
journalism and of four In the ministry
leads me to the conclusion that generous.
sympathetic and brotherly attitude OF the
preacher toward the editor will do much
toward increasing the moral power or the
press l do not mean that we are to con-
done or excuse the evils OF Journalism, but
do mean that we should not regard news
paper men, as such, as naturally the enc
mics OF the church. There are many hon.
est. painstaking men on daily papers who.
while they may not be church members,
on the other hand are not rascals. and they
should be given fun credit for what they
are worth in morals We must also take
into account the peculiar exactions, stress,
strain, temptations. etc, Of Journalism.
and exercise a broad charity In all our
criticisms"
The remainder OF the paper was devoted
TO a description OF newspaper rules gov
erning the preparation OF church news
sent TO the papers. The extract quoted
made a favorable impression and num-
Der Of the preachers expressed convictions
I'm line with the sentiments OF the paper.
The matter OF securing the evangelist
Henry Varley 10 lead a union revival ef-
fort in Seattle was discussed freely. and
II was decided not to attempt TO secure
him The sentiment was strongly In favor
of independent meetings In the different
churches.
Evangelist MptEdus oi NuASdsV. was
troduced and in his remarks spoke OF the
Importance OF emphasizing Bible study
and personal work IN revivals.
p. N +. VahvahoH was presented as ian
exile from Russia because Of HIS religious
opinions" and said some very interesting
things He was originally a heather"
a sun worshtper. but had found "the way
Of nfer by studying the Bible. and after
a term as a Siberian exile. Is now on his
third tour around the world. He speaks
eight languages. and Is altogether an ex-
ceedngiy interesting travelling preacher.
He spoke at the North Seattle Baptist
church last night, and will perhaps preach
In other Seattle churches during his stay
here.
To the Kiondike free and cash besides.
That's the way the Post-Intelligencer
proposes to send Its friends to the land
Of gold.