The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-06-08
The Religious Newspaper.

The very radical change in the character
Of religious papers which has taken place
within the last few years is regarded by
the Pioneer Press of st. Paul as :" q strik-
ing proof that they are consciously or
unconsciously adapting themselves to the
needs OF their time !" In other words. are
recognizing that "ther survival as I'M
portant factors depends very largely on the
closeness OF their relation with the life OF
the world"
The simpler explanation however, is that
these formerly religious papers are trying
to save themselves from extinction by
transforming themselves into secular
papers. Twenty-Five years ago and even at
n more recent period some OF the most prof
table newspaper properties In this coun-
try were weekly religious publications.
Very considerable fortunes were made by
their proprlctors, for their circulation was
large. and it WAS maintained steadily by
the religious conviction of the denomlna-
tions they represented. During late
years, however, that conviction has
been decreasing in strength. and the
UNCONVENTIONAL craftsmanship upon which
they depended for support, once intense,
has now been succeeded by spirit OF in
| difference. This looseness OF conviction
was manifest also in the papers themselves ;
| instead OF building up the religious faith Of
their readers they spread among them
| teachings subversive OF it, or at least they
were religious Mugwumps with no def
mite cause either to sustain or attack. The
consequence was that their prosperity de-
| clincd greatly or gave place to actual adj
| versity. They lost their distinctive char
| acter and with It their distinctive support
Instead Of strong meat for men they pur-
veyed milk for babes-literary mush and
swash and intellectual slops.
We do not speak OF the religious papers
generally, but only Of certain OF the more
notable and most prosperous examples.
| The majority have maintained their orig
inal character, but their present appear
ance suggests that they are suffering be-
cause OF the declining faith which followed
the spread among formerly believing peo-
pie OF the unbelicving criticism Of the Bible
Of the Briggs school. The project for a
conference on religion in New York next
year affords symptom Of this increasing
looseness OF conviction and Indifference
to tenets and doctrines which had before
kept alive spirit OF craftsmanship in reli-
ginn indicative OF the earnestncss and
sincerity of conviction essential TO the vital.
ity Of Churches. This conference is called
| by representatives Of ten different denomi-
nations once separated by radical conflicts
OF view. Bnptists, Congregationalists.
Episcopalians, Methodists and Presbyte-
rians are to participate in it, along with
Unitarians, Universalists, and even Jews.
The theological lion and lamb are to lie
down together 1t has even been suggested
that Mohammedans and Buddhsts he in.
vited to Join, and we cannot see any good
reason why they should be excluded from a
conference to establish so composite and
eclectic religion.
or course such an enterprise would not
be undertaken II there was not widespread
indifference in the orthodox denominations
regarding their nOminally distinct doc
trines and tenets, for there can be no com
munion between them and Unitarians and
Universalists, unless they are prepared &c