New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-01-26
THE IDEAL JOURNAL AGAIN
MINISTER'S COMMITTEE WILL NOT Es
TABLISH ONE.

TT prpoRrs ON THE strHJECT. HOWEVER. TO AN
OTHER CONFERENCE. AND THE NATTER IS
DISCUSSED BY VARIOUS CLERGYMEN
Nsarv three hundred ministers representing the
PRESBYTERIAN Baptist. Methodist Lutheran Congre-
gational and Reformed churches. met yesterday IN
the Fourth Avenue Presbyterian Chrch' twenty
second-st and Fourth-ave. TO renew the discuss'oh
on 1.-The Ideal Newspaper" At meeting he!d on
December II, the Rev. Or. d. j. Burrell read paper
on the subject that reused considerable interest," ana
a committee appointed to consider and report
upon the ACCESSIBILITY OF establishing a newspaper
that would reach the ideal standard az laid dow" py
DR.. Burrell. and to consider what Influences cou'o
be brought to bear TO counterfeit what were ter"e"
the evil influences OF OF the present day news
papers The committee appointed consisted OF the
Rev Drs. j. NJ. Buckley, Editor Of The Christian
Advocate: John Hall. Henry A. Stmson. X s. Mac
Arthur. j. B. Remcnsnyder and William T. SABINE
and the Rev. J. W. Johnston
The Rev. Dr. Albert Erdman OF Morristown. N. j.
presided yesterday and the Rev. DR.. Leighton Will
Jams opened the session with prayer The committee
the outset found that the proposition to establish
the ideal newspaper mpractcable and conse-
quently in their report they confined themselves to
Illustrating the low moral tone OF some OF the New
York newspapers and Of various demoralizing tenden
cies which they thought prevailed in other papers
which would otherwise attain a high average OF
merit. In closing the report read:
Recognizing the DIFFICULTIES OF the situation. your
committee submits for adoption the following recon-
Flrs,-That whatever the sentiments OF publishers
and editors. religion should be treated by the press as
n factor OF prime importance In the life OF the coun-
try. should be mentioned respectfully. and the re,
ports OF religious enterprises special services ana
canoe properly demands We are aware that the
as nS ya~nse to
rate Them But there has been frequent occasion 10
Of the subject and Of representative paper In the
discussion of religious principles and enterprises:
earnestly that such reports and discussions be pre-
sented with seriousness and respect MOI nfrequent-
to bring churches and ministers into, undeserved
ridcule. If NOT reproach. and men OF the purest
character and movements OF The h9llest design nave
second-we regard Sunday newspapers as tending
other days They have become the great adverts.
ing issue OF the week thus carrying the current OF
Christian lifc impairng the spirit OF devotion.
OFTEN superssng me tn ncessry a. 70 nrcnare
for the house Of God and preoccupying tho minds
Gus to spiritual influences. Inasmuch as paper
published and distributed on SUNDAY is n Itself
tons to its improvement are aside from the
Third-We appeal to the people Of the churches to
consider prayerfullv their responsibility in these
premises They can by combining exert an lrreSls.
tible influence upon the character OF the secular
press
patronzing only such newspapers as manlfestly aim
10 he clean and wholesome. and such as support the
Ffth--We suggest that If any ono Of our leading
newspapers should withdraw Its Sunday edition. II
should have such immediate and general support
as will Enthusiastically manifest the moral sentiment
of the community.
DR. KNOWLES DISAPPOINTED.
After the reading of the report the Rev DIR. J.
r. Knowles said that he thought that after all
very little that was practical had been adj
duced although he admitted that the report
contained some very grave and serious truths
LAS to the reference TO the reporting Of religious
gatherings" he continued, more than one editor
has told me that the reason why more prominence
was not given to these events that fuller re-
ports not desired by their readers. And when
an editor says that it Is useless to argue with him.
because an editor Is autocrat and can do az
he plcases;, as the Editor Of The Christian Ad-
fSi wheher A the newspapers can Induced
D on M0r he Of ns Sqnan Se a
for some time after starting Its sunday edition u put
any y' newspaper do anything that will affect it's
Sunday edition? think not Briefly. then. feel a
disappointment that the report shows no practical
The Rev. DR.. John Alexander Roche. who FOL;
to It as judico1s effective and bound to
weight DR.. Roche inferred that the last speakers
hsd bssn Brought forward
Of the ideal newspaper and added that, While 1t
these ike other ideals. had little chance OF being
actualized with several humorous illustrations he
task to suit the taste of every reader. ana wouni
up by saying that some people In Phadephia who
had endeavorcd to realize an ideal journal had
severely burnt their fingers. The reverend speaker
should be very sorry to any ministers of any
denomination undertake 10 issue In New YORK an
actualized ideal paper 10 please all congregations
and to please an communities.
The Rev DR.. Campbell offered suggestion ut
this point that some good might be derived in the
direction Of lettering the standard of the New
York press II the meeting would put on record the
mes OF Journals which il could safely commend.
DR. Campbelrs idea. however was discouraged al
most before he had time TO give II utterance.
THE TRIBUNE AS A MODEL
ment that the report more general than practi-
cal He had thought that something would have
been done TO define just what the legitimate
freedom OF the press. and whether something
might not be dene In the way Of legitimate censor
ships to check the growing license of the press
Then. in especially emphatic terms. he denounced
the Sunday edition. But. apart from this phase"
he said, IF want an ideal newspaper. here II
is" holding up copy of The Tribune. THE
Tribune" he continued lis clean. and there Is
nothing in II that Is low and vulgar
After further discussion II was decided to take
I'D the recommendations seriatim. Each put
sngly TO vote. and vas carried with little fur
Their comment Originally. there was an additional
pa TO the NTH recommendation which proposed
that support should be given TO any of the morn
OF the sunday news for readers opposed
purchasing editions published on Sunday and Of
any evening paper that would adopt a simllr
plan 1t was generally felt, however. that this
savored OF "A compromise. and therefore
dropped.