The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1898-07-25
Of Fourteen Daily Newspaper
Writers Who Replied
To Rev. Mr.. COuntermine'
Queries About the Gospel
SAY THAT THEY ARE
Processing Christians = Some
Offer Various Advice
As To Position of Newspapers
Toward Christianity.

Rev. J. D. Countermine, D. D., pastor
of the First Presbyterian church. last
evening preached a sermon on the sub
ject, THE Relation of the Newspaper
to the Gospel He had previously sent
out letters to twenty Topeka newspaper
men, each of which contained the fol-
lowing questions:
Are you a processing Christian?
2-If not, will you state your reason
for not being one?
Gin your opinion is the newspaper
favorab bic to the gospel?
Fourteen of these newspaper men re-
piled to the questions and but four of
them stated that they We're protesting
Christians.
In his opening remarks DR.. Counter
mine said: L will take for my text
part of the thirteenth verse of the
fourth chapter of First Timothy: Give
attendance unto reading
Reading makes the full, richly in
tellectual man. There must be reading
matter, and this requires a host of peO-
pie who write and publish books, maya
zines and newspapers. Gentlemen of
the press, here we have an intimatiOn
OF the divinity of your profession. Your
business is not SO much to create, as to
collect, abridge and resuscitate. Did
you ever consider the word News -
Take the letters NEWS They stand
for North, East, West, South, and you
see the scope.
1t seems to me as if the gospel has
established every news stand, book
store and news mart in the world I
think every newspaper man in the
house this evening will agree with me
when L say that America is the para
disc for the newspaper. They seem to
belong to the very soil. They spring up
spontaneously, apparently the sweet
flowers which spring in our path.
"A few days ago sent out 20 letters
to 70 newspaper men. Fourteen have
replied Four of those were protesting
Christians, ten We're not. You might
say that this wasn't fair representa-
ton. could not believe it was a fair
representation myself. but it shows you
the condition. 1 will read from these
letters so that you may see what these
noble men think on this subject"
Dr- COuntermine then read from the
letters. One man gave as his reason
for not being a Christian that he had
been defrauded by a Christian. Shame
on that Christian said the minister
but unprofessOr, did you ever think
what a fool you are? Would you let an
others shortcomings keep you from
the richest blessings? Here's another
reason. He says that he has doubts
which he can't dispel. Did you ever
DOUBT about your newspaper work?
Did you ever doubt whether you would
make good newspaper man? And Just
mere let me say this, don't believe the
world will become ecclesiastical I
thoroughly believe the day will come
when everything Will be spiritual Peo-
pie have COMPOUNDED the church with
the gospel. Churches make mistakes
and grave ones. When you talk about
the gospel, leave the church out of it
Another letter contained as a reason
that there were apparently many far
ceS in religion. DR.. COuntermine said
I'll admit that there are many farces
in religion as practiced. There are lots
Of hypOcriteS in the church. I think
there are more hypOcrites in the church
tnan out OF It, But there are other kinds
of hypOcrites besides religious hypO-
critics. There are political hypOcrites
social hypocrites, and may there not be
newspaper hypOcTiteS? Here is one
which says that in the rush of news
paper offices it is hard to practice the
CHRISTIAN religion. know that. be-
cause L have been at two different
times associate editor of PAPERS I
know that there is a rush in the office
and lots of things to disturb the mind
put do not agree with the brother
that it would be impossible to practice
Christianity under such conditions One
here says that when he gets a breath
ing spell he viii study the creedS and
the Blble and try to see what is in the
gospel nope he viii have a breathing
spell soon, although it is doubtful if
this hot weather continues Listen to
this one; If you would put yourself on
the level with Jesus Christ and act like
MIN IN your work, inside of few weeks
You would be preaching to empty
peWs. 1 wish that brother would come
and hear me for a month and seq If 7
had empty pews.''
Some of the letters were long and DR.
Countermine hurried through them
quickly. In concluding he said: Chris
tianity does favor the newspaper. The
newspaper is vital to the gospel The
newspaper editor can do more to spread
the gospel than almost anyone else. if
he chooses.
I never lived in city where the
newspapers had so little to say about
the gospel, as in Topeka. What's the
matter? You claim to print what the
people are thinking about Why don't
you do it? America is the paradise for
the newspaper, but every paradise has
its snake. We call them dirty sheets
They are like vile serpents which crawl
in the weeds. I hate the dirty sheets
They are q menace to our lives.
In conclusion let me say that I
thank you for your attention during
this hot evening. Let me urge you to
all take a religious paper. Take good
one. And another thing , everyone
should take a good daily paper I am
not advocating any particular one. My
friends. we ought to help these news
paper men. Pray for these noble men,
Help them in every way. May God help
them to bring about the good which it
is within their power to accomplish
James Brown Drowned.
OIafba TuIy ro~o,-,,