The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-10-09
PAPERs AND PREACHERS.


There should be no conflict between the
press and the pulpit. Being two Of the
greatest educating and ennghtening fact
ors Of our civilization, they should work
together in harmony. Each has a field
of it's own, though that Of the newspaper
is more comprehensive and its audiences
are larger by far. Newspapers do nOt an
tagonize the pulpit They are in favor of
its growth In power and influence, and
give literally Of their energies and space
10 that end. There cannot be too many
sermons of the right sort, such as the
vast majority OF ministers preach. They
are good for Sunday and Monday; as
good for one day OF the week as another.
No newspaper ever enters a protest
against the activity Of the pulpit. Preach
ing twice or thrice a day, week in and
week out, receives the sanction and sup
port of the press.
Some occupants of the pulpit however,
are not so kindly disposed towards the
press. Rev. Curtis Lee Laws Of Baltimore
says that no man can own, edit. sell,
buy, read or advertise in the Sunday
newspaper without violating the law of
God" This is rather rough on some of
Mr. Laws own brethren of the cloth.
Many of them regularly supply sermons
readable instructive. elevating sermons.
too-for publication in Sunday papers.
Many others of them regularly receive
and read the Sunday papers previous TO
going 10 church and preaching to their
ngregations. We have in mind an elo-
quent Methodist preacher, now presid-
ing elder in this state, who says he finds
that he can preach more clearly and fore
IDLY for the glory Of God If he keeps up
with the news Of the day. He reads the
Sunday paper at his breakfast table Sun
day mornings. If he were not to inform
himself of the progress of the world day
by day, there would be a hiatus every
seventh day, and he would be out of touch
with the evolution of events. His Chris
tianity. as exemplifed by his works, win
compare favorably with that of Mr..
Laws.
Mr. Laws says that the Sunday paper
is the most persistent and most relent-
less foe of our Sabbath" He makes no
distinction between classes of Sunday pa
pers, Notwithstanding there are as wide
Iy differing classes of papers as there are
of preachers. There are a few sensation
al. reckless, nerrow-minded. bigoted
preachers, and great many preachers
that are broad, liberal and Ioveable. And
just so 1t Is with newspapers. He pre-
supposes, it may be assumed. that all
Sunday newspapers are on a par with
those sensational sheets OF New York
to which he made especial reference. That
is a mistake. The "yellows" of New
York are in a class by themselves. They
have a few imitators elsewhere, 1t is true.
But the vast majority of newspapers, Sun
day or Monday, are clean and whole
some. They have a high conception of
their duties to society. They attack false
hood and error wherever it is found. They
are profoundly interested in the welfare
of the country, and of individuals who
make up the country. They carry the
truth, and often the gospel, into homes
whose doors are seldom, II ever, dsrkened
by the form of the preacher. They In
culcate the principles of good citizenship,
correct morals and right living, The dark,
or criminal, side of life finds relatively
small space in the pages of the high class
Sunday papers. On the other hand, the
extra pages are filled with wholesome lit
erature. much of 1t from the pens Of
leading authors and touching upon sub
jects respecting which all persons, TO be
wen informed. must have some knowl-
edge Whatever tends to educate, and to
impart the right sort Of education, should
not be called a foe 20 the Sabbath.