The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1898-10-10
THE NEWSPAPER.
Rev. Mr.. Roots S rm0n al The
Elmw0Od Temple.
Power of III. Press For Good early ana
FOrcibly Presented.

Rev. f. Talmadge Root, pastor OF
| the Elmwood temple, spoke last evening
on The Newspaper as Power for
| Righteousness taking as his text
Proverbs viii, Ia. After comparing the
daily newspaper TO the ancient gates -
where all news was retailed, Mr.. Root
said that the true course OF the church
is neither To ignore nor denounce, but
frankly 10 recognize the newspaper as
one Of the most important of existing
agencies for the moral betterment OF
mankind. The value OF the newspaper
as moral power does not lie I'm direct
moral teaching by editorials. reports Of
sermons, etc, although much good is
thus done. Its main function is the dis
semination of news.
I'm the presentation OF this news, the
reflection OF the life OF the world as IL
is, both good and bad, il affords an in
dispensable means OF our moral educa-
tion. BY simply chronicling the facts il
demonstrates how inevitably dishon-
esty, vice or intemperance bring ruin.
Terrible are the warnings which the
daily holds up before youth. and maid
ems. too! IL teaches that murder will
out; that the attempt To suppress JUS
tice Is vain: that though Dreyfus be
banished 10 the Devils isle and all the
military power of a nation be exhausted
10 suppress his cry for justice. that cry
must be heard. though the republic it,
self totter. For "a still deeper reason
the news eXerts a moral power All sin
is selfishness; We are selfish largely be-
cause we do not realize the existence
of others. No reader of the papers can
half fVaer 90 q ka
and variety OF human interests.
What is IL that holds together the
widely separated and diverse commune
ties, the different classes, races and
religions that compose the United
States? Perhaps, more than anything
else. the fact that the Associated Press
lays before the whole nation every
morning the same news, so that from
Maine to California people are talking
and thinking about the same things!
Suppress the daily paper and our i'm
perial republic would collapse under the
weight OF its own vastness! To be sure.
the press has many faults and 10 point
them out would be an invidious task.
The excuse for all is: OF course. a
newspaper is run TO make money! |
deny the premise. So important a pub
lie service should be regarded not as "A
business, but a profession. The pecu-
liarity of a profession, like that of
medicine, Tor example, Is that Whlle Its
members thereby seek a livelihood. they
have a code Of professional honor which
public opinion as well as their own
agreement compels each to put above
personal gain
Few people realize the heroism OF
journalism, for news is not collected
without -teii suffering and risk Of life.
Think OF that reporter who sent to the
world the first tidings of the Johnstown
flood, riding "a miles through the dark
ness OF the midnight storm. telegraph
ing for 80 hours from the scene OF desc
lation. drenched To the skin. without
shelter. sleep or food, Think OF Ed
ward Marshall. after receiving an APP
mortal wound al the battle Of
Guasimas. near Santiago. debating his
dispatches to wounded stenographer
until both fell i'm n dead faint. Chris
tianity requires us to know and appre-
ciate such services. The modern world
can be held together I'm the bonds Of A
common sympathy, only if we take the
pains TO comprehend the tolls of the |
thousands who daily unite to serve us. |
DO you ever think Of and pray for. the |
men 10 whom YOU owe so
much? The world is served less by the !
prominent few than by the unknown |
yet faithful many"