New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-02-02
NEWS OF BROOKLYN.
PLYMOUTH STIRRED UP.
THE FAMOUS CHURCH OBJECTS TO THE
NEW JOURNALISM"
uNwARRANrEp CRITICISMS OF DR. AHBoTTs
SERMON ON JONAH PROVOKE SOME RE-
MARKS FROM MEMBERS OF THE con-
GREGAT1oN-GRoss EXAGGERA-
=. TON CONDEMNED BIZ WELL
KNOWN MEN

KNOWN MEN.
x,,.,or,. ala Plymouth Church Is much stirred up
first now and the object OF Its resentment Is inc
.nnw journalism" The feeling against certain OF
che exponents OF that is bitter, On sunday Right.
vhen tribune reporter visited the church to report
DR. Abbot,s sermon there only one topic OF con-
yersation among the church members 10 "hom he
spoke. and that was the excuses OF the lie" '0"i
nalism
On the preceding Sunday DR.. Abbott had preacheo
. sermon one Of the course he is now delivering on
1.-The Bible as Literature. AT one point IN MS ser
mon there was a litter. The next DAY TWO Oh t"o
representatives Of new Journalism published sehsa-
tional articles with heads describing now LIZ
Abbott had delivered comic sermon on Jonahs eH-
perences with the whale and how the congregation
had shouted guffawed with mirth throughout the
whole discourse, and particularly while Dr. Aooot'
reading the pathetic and poetic prayer OF JONAH
In order 10 give reason for this apparently uh
necessary mirth the two newspapers stated that Dr.
Abbott had compared the story OF Jonah TO PICK
wick Papers" The result Of the publication OF this
flake" was that Dr. Abbott was denounced In many
pupits for the evity with which he had dealt with
the Scriptures.
As the whole story had only the slight foundation
Of litter TO upon, the members Of the church
are indignant beyond expression Toward the news
papers which printed correct accounts Of the ser
mon, particularly The Tribune they have only kind
feelings but their denunciatons Of the new journal
ISM unmeasured d.. Abbott who has been
courteous accessible
men, feels much hurt at the selection Of himself as
the victim OF fake" but will say nothing for pub
lication.
Members OF his congregation however. not
re;icent One OF the women members said ycster-
day: I'VE OF expected criticism from people
who did agree with us. but did expect
that DR.. Abbott would be charged with things he
never said. and still less that ministers would base
their criticisms upon utterly false reports When
OF the sensational fabrications was first shown me
could hardly believe that Il intended a report
OF that sermon. for heard IL. and the report was
nothing In the least like Il. / amazed. FOR in
epite OF all have read and heard OF the new Jour
nalism.' this was the first time l had ever realized
10 what methods II would resort. II this is an ex-
ample Of what 1t is capable of. it is disgrace TO the
newspaper press of the country"
NO EXCUSE FOR MIsoUOTATION.
Henry Sanger Snow treasurer of the New York
ana New-Jersey Telephone Company said
IT seems to me that there is no excuse for such
misquotation as was involved in the statement
OF some of the new journals that Dr. Abbott had
likened the Book Of Jonah to 'Pickwick Papers
In referring TO the book as In satrical Dr.
Abbott alluded TO Lowelrs satirical Biglow Pa
pers, but without instituting a comparison even
with that work. Certainly no one should know
better than the editor Of the last newspaper which
reiterated this falsehood that it would be impos-
slbie Tor man OF DR.. Abbotts character and !
standing and good taste as speaker and writer |
10 make use OF such comparison as that cred |
DISCREDITABLE TO MODERN JOURNALISM |
AS to the expression which has gone the rounds |
OF the newspapers, that DR.. Abbotts sermon was |
greeted throughout with loud outlaws the state |
ment is extravagantly untrue. Every one who |
was present knows that while at one point Dr. |
Abbotts words created ripple Of laughter 1t |
was not more than is frequently heard In Plymouth |
and other churches. think that the attacks |
made upon Dr. Abbott during the week are dis |
both TO modern Journalism and 10 those
demned him purely upon hearsay, especially az |
which are not notorious for accuracv. CIV papers
II have been an interested listener to DR.. Abb
and they have certainly both instructed in my
and respect for the Bible While he has said mnes
with which others may differ In opinion he has
way to the i in wSch t the Bible a
held by Christian people"
DEFENDED IN DIR. LYMAN's CHURCH
Thomas G. Shearman said:
AN attendant at DR.. A. J. Lyman's church the
South Congregational stood up in prayer-meeting
last Friday and stated that he had heard DR.. Abb
bolts sermon on Jonah. that those reports in the
sensational newspapers were entirely false and that
%s was as being M
ner and that there was no irreverence on the part
OF the congregation.
POINT FOR PREACHERS.
II should like to say a word to the different cer-
gymen who have shown that they very steady
readers of the lower class of newspapers by taking
up this false report and giving credence it. ]
think II they would pay attention to the
Ninth Commandment and less sensational news |
papers they would reflect much more credit their
cloth. Both in law and in common sense. every man
Is a slanderer who repeats story which he has
no good solid reason to believe to be true Some
of the ministers who have eagerly accepted
the falsehoods Of not very reputable journal have
publicly avowed their belief in the things that
Dr. Abbott has been saying. I doubt II there
two out Of the twenty that voted to censure Dr.
Abbott who would be willing TO say they really
believe that big fish swallowed Jonah and that
Jonah composed psalm In his belly. One of the
ministers who bitterly censured DR.. Abbott heard
myself approve and indorse the work OF DR.. Briggs.
who the platform with him.
Several other prominent members Of the church
we're seen. but although they expressed the same
views they did talk for publication.
because" as one Of them. well.known writer and
speaker said. 1.-The lie has travelled far that It
useless to try to catch IT, AS the proverb has It.
a lie travel seven leagues while the truth is
getting its boots on 3" But while they would not
peak for publication. in private conversation they
the new journalism in unmeasured
erms