The Roanoke times. (Roanoke, Va.) 1897-1977, 1897-11-28
PULPIT AND PRESS.
Very Bad Break of an !ndiscreet
indianapolis Preacher.


EEL rom the Houston Post: The tendency
in the modern pulpit towards the substi-
tuition OF quasi political, or social, or
otherwise worldly harangut $ for the old
fashioned Gospel sermon, cannot be noted
10y well-wishers of the church and
thoughtful citizens generally but with
regret and pain.
The recognized religious teacher to be
successful in accomplishing the ends of
his ministry must stick to his text and
eschew sensationalism.
A noteworthy departure from this rule
of action is cited by the indianapolis Sen
tinel III reporting TRADE of one of the
indianapolis preachers, II Sunday or two
ago, against ''the press" This g.ntle
man, who was evidently thirsting for the
notoriety which he expected the press to
give him in reply, among other things,
said:
1.-The general tone Of the news is inn
moral. The daily press is largely a sewer
of filth. reporters, like CO rrion crows
hover around all forms of crime A Iii
vorce case or murder trial will receive
columns of telegraph, while great relig-
ious, moral and educational gatherings
receive the briefest mention, and that in
driest detail. The question is, will il
pay If the prize ring, glowingly describ-
e", I'll cell thousand extra papers, it
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 he between the
ages of twelve ard twenty years, and al
most invariably they have got their sug-
gestions of crime out of the columns of
the daily press. Those in charge of re-
formatories md it impossible to accom-
plish anything in the way of reformation
while the inmates have access to the lead.
ing daily papers, with their salacic us set
Ting OF criminal news IL prisoners need
defending from this immoral influence.
how much more should vrtuous families
be protected against it,"
AS matter of fact, this is n gross libel
upon the legitimate, responsible daily
press OF the couhtry. A few sc low Jour
nails and unconscionable free lances there
are. here and there, who pander to the
lower intelligence and impulses of the
public. but in the. columns of the vast
majority of the daily papers of the Uni
ted States there is nothing that is calcu-
lateo TO corrupt youth or ian evil pur-
poses. Events are chronicled simply as
they happened, in language as clean as
that OF the pulpit,and in every waste bas-
ket in every decent editorial sanctum of
the country will be found the "sala.
cious" details Of scandal and revolving
descriptions Of crime If which this pulpit
sensationalist complains. Tha. which
goes co the public is pruned or sifted.
The press does not make immoral news:
IT. merely chronicles facts, accurately,
about which the entire community is al.
ready talking aud n.orbidly curious.
Too many people forget that the legiti-
mate daily newspaper is legitimate bus
mess enterprise, furnishing that which
IS demanded by the community lust as
caterers in other lines of business supply
other public wants. From this reason
the press simply reflects the tastes and
desires OF the people from news stand
point. If the details of pris fight are
| given it is because the community wants
them. 1t is not true, however, rs this
preacher would have his hearers believe,
that the sensational news monopolizes
newspaper columns. No great religious
| gathering fails of Il complete report in
these days. The pres. shines for ALL as
| Il great daily educator, and is doing more
to-day to bring all natl, ms and peoples
closer together and further the cause of
humanity ard civilization than any other
factor iii organized society.
III the press. therefore, be subject to
criticism the fault lies with the public
| the vitiated taste is not in the sanctu,n.
but among the people. If religion or any
religious matter is not receiving extra
consideration it is because of Il growing
indifference on the part of the public TO
which pulpit sensationalsts and political
preachers are consigning it. :.et the pul-
pit do its duty in elevating the standard
| demand for news before condemning the
i present adaptation of the news columns
to the present conditions of society The
press IS TO be congratulated that III meet
ing the public's demands it is able to
skillfully and thoroughly eliminate
the coarse, or huruful, or saacious de-
tails of events.