The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-23
STANDS BY THE SUNDAY PAPER
REV. 1. p. MENDES CALLS 1T THE
CHRONICLE OF CIVILIZATION.

the CLERGY TO sunday Newspapers,
He Believes They Strengthen the
cause of ReIigiOn-DOes Not Re-
Iieve Any one Who Would Go to
Church Ever Staid Home to Read
Il Sunday Paper-What Sunday
Newspapers Have Accomplished.
The Sunday Newspaper" was the sub.
7ect of Rev. I. P. Mendes' lecture a the
slckva Israel synagogue yesterday after
noon. DR.. Mendes is a believer in Sunday
newspapers and he does not unders tani
why there should be any opposition to
them by the clergy. What he said was lis
tened to with the closest attention and in
terest, and after the lecture he received
many ccngratulations on the stand he has
taken on this vexed question. In DIS
GUESSING the subject, Dr. Mendes said:
whilst it is an excepted fact that every
one is entitled to his individual opinion
upon matters and things which are of
common interest to all, yet, at the same
time, il affords the world many a favora-
bic opportunity, not only to thoroughly
and eXhaustiVely ventilate these opinions
but to accept or to reject them as reason
may permit, or as justice may demand. l
am not very far wrong, think, when |
venture the assertion that there is
perhaps no subject which is at
the present time occasioning more differ
ence of opinion. and is offering more food
for honest and free discussion than is that
vexed question, THE Sunday News
paper"
Just at the very moment that one is lei
70 expect that the subject has been ex-
hausted and is about to be allowed to rest
in peace, 1t bursts forth afresh like a
fierce and raging fire which has been. after
all only smoldering until it shall have
gathered new and sufficient strength We
owe the revival of this question as to the
propriety and advisabity of publishing
''The Sunday Newspaper" to a recent
strong and almost unanimous resolution
which some days ago was passed by the
members of the National Reform Associ-
alton during their convention which was
held al the Broadway Tabernacle, New
York The mere statement of the fact
that the men who most favored the adoD.
ton of the resolution, were ordained min
listers in the service of God, will / am
sure give us something of an insight into
the motives which called forth the reso-
hutton and the reasons for the utter con-
demnation of the Sunday Newspaper"
THE Sunday Newspaper" these gentle
men claim, is one of the greatest foes
against which religion and the church
have to contend; it makes the human be-
ing forget his Sabbath tempts him to ab-
sent himself from divine worship; sur
rounds him, as it were, with wall Of
Indifference, which it is next to impossl-
Die to break down; in short, every wrong
That IS perpetrated, every sin that is built
upon Sabbath violation, can be most easily
traced to the evil influence which is WELD
Cd by the Sunday Newspaper" 1t may 4
be delicate task for one who claims no
allegiance whatever to the Sunday or first
day sanctity to raise even the most feeble
voice either for or against the Sunday
newspaper but when we take into con-
sderation the fact that the world has sufn-
Gently advanced to understand and appre-
cate the true principles of intelli-
sent progressiveness we are at once con-
vlnced that in this question of "The sun
udy Newspaper like in everything else,
reason, justice and common sense must
guide us to satisfactory conclusion.
cahont refrain from expires sing my
aStohlshment that the clergy should have
taken so decided stand against the "Sun-
Vay Newspaper" more especially as
known so well from personal experience
mat the pulpit and its exponents have no
warmer stauncher, firmer friends and CO.
operators, than the press and its able rep
Tesentat1ves Then again, looking through
my spectacles Of candid impartiality, I
cannot understand why this SET same
clergy, whilst condemning the Sunday
canning 1t to be a very Satan of Evil.
whist refusing most persstently. to either
a'loW II IN their houses, much less to read
1t themselves on Sunday, should be 50
painfully particular, TO regularly announce
IN us columns the hours of divine service.
'ne subjects of their sermons the speciaI
programme of their church work for the
coming week, and cordial invitation for
strangers 10 visit them. And all of this
Is uone repeat, in the face of the accusa-
uon that the Sunday Newspaper is one
VI the greatest and most bitter foes
AGAINST religion and the church. 1t has
ever been an open question whether the
eyn-worklng power of the Sunday News
paper is not after all, more imaginary
tndh real. The immortal Bovea is very
Gear , and emphatic in his declaration thar
Inc Office of good newspaper is to rep
resent well the interests of its time" Hem
~ ward Beecher continues the thought by
Hhpresslng upon us that News apers
pie" ---l-o' "
me world, 1t must be RENE m bered has
Uecofne spongelike in it's nature. through
,iHs constant desire to keep abreast of the
une' and through its anxiety 10 expand
as usefulness and influence. People are
40 longer satisfied or content to bury
themselves in the narrow shell of an ig-
Grant obscurity, and TO leave to the
s1uoiaf and the student all the pleasure
qua qualification which can lie derived
ION, ION knowledge of current and educl-
u1ndi literature and happenings Public
r.nVols have given them the taste for
tb lung, and the desire to keep pace with
u uc regular onward march of progress.
i's, the newspaper has become their
aIIudole and recognized friend, which is
WAYS ready to serve them in the broad
S1pdcity of an inexhaustible encycIopae-
Cd SWING them in its concise and abridg-
et way the lessons and EXAMINES
W every day life and experiences. as well
me results and conclusions of a higher
II,Gpg ana nobler ambition. Now you will
@rnuly mark particularly. that in this pro-
s'sihme of what Beecher has termed the
uucd'lon OF the common people," there
no proviso attached that people shall
toeu ana learn for six days and must per-
80 rest from the knowledge of all out
W 'e affairs on the seventh day, for, if
",Ie were, some honest antagonist would
mtce against us, with the crushing re-
,~.iuer OF Cowper "absence of occupation
49, not rest mind quite vacant is a mind