, 1900-02-24
ON SHELDON'S TRAIL
LIVELY FIGHT PROMISED WHEN
THE TOPEKA PREACHER BE-
COMES AN EDITOR.
Will Have Strong Opposition-Ed
Howe, the Kansas ~Iconoclast, Will
Tell Clergy How to Preach the
Gospel-Department in the Tope-

Gospel-Department in the Tope-
ka Journal Devoted to This Purpose
Topeka, Kan, Feb. 23.-There is
Sheldon will not have things all his own
way when he assumes the role of edi-
tor of the Topeka Capital for the week
beginning March IL next. Ed" Howe
lists as an opponent of Mr.. Sheldon.
and, Mr.. Howe being a sort of human
buZz-saw. the ministerial fur is pretty
sure to fly. Howe has been engaged
by the owners of the Topeka Journal
to conduct a department in that paper
the same week that the Rev. Mr.. Shell
don will edit the Topeka Capital.
While Mr.. Sheldon will show the news
paper men how newspapers should be
run. Mr.. Howe will educate ministers
on the true way to preach the gospel
in fact, his department will bear the
caption, How Ministers Should
Preach the Gospel"
E. w. Howe is known as the Kansas
philosopher and %iconoclast. Besides be-
ing the editor and proprietor of the
Atchison Daily Globe, which is one Of
the best-paying newspaper plants in
Kansas, he is an author and lecturer
of considerable note. Among his books
which have attracted wide attention
are The Story or a Country Town."
why l Am an Exile The Story of
a Rich Man." "An Ante-Mortem State
ment," 1.-THE Confessions of John Whit
lock, Late Preacher of the Gospel"
etc.
The controversy between Mr.. Howe
and the Rev. Mr.. Sheldon arose in this
way: When the announcement was
first made that Mr.. Sheldon would edit
the Topeka Capital for one week "as
Jesus would he gave out an interview,
in which he declared that the average
newspaper of today was immoral,
harmful, and was not being managed
on a Christian basis. His idea in edit
ing the Topeka Capital "as Jesus
would" he said, was to demonstrate
to the editors of this country that a
Christian" newspaper would be a sue
cess. Mr.. Howe took exceptions both
to the Rev. Mr.. %Sheldon's statements
regarding the newspapers and to his
attitude in assuming to be the Judge OF
of what Jesus would do. In an editorial
in his paper Howe severely arraigned
Mr.. Sheldon.
by what right or authority" he
said, does Sheldon assume to sit in
judgment upon the editors of the
country? Did Jesus commission him
to do it? 1t looks to me like a piece
of consummate gall for him to presume
to know more about the newspaper pro-
fession than those who have spent the
greater part of their lives learning it.
| deny the statement that the average
newspaper is immoral and exerts a
harmful influence in the home. The
newspapers of standing are managed
along Christian lines. They are con-
scientious, truthful, %enterprising, and
progressive. The progress Of Journal
ism during the past century has been
one of the wonders of the age. Can
Sheldon say as much for the clergy?
| assert that the newspapers have
welded a more beneficial influence up
on civilization than has the clergy. In
stead of attempting to run a newspaper
as Jesus would, Sheldon should preach
the gospel. | can demonstrate that he
has not only failed in this. but that he
has preached doctrines which Jesus
specifically forbid"
Mr.. Sheldon replied mildly, and one
word brought on another until F.. P.
McLennan. editor Of the Topeka State
Journal, requested Mr.. Howe to write
for the Journal, during the same week
the Rev. Sheldon would be editing the
Topeka Capital, a series of lay SER
mons, giving at length his idea on how
the ministers should preach the gos-
pei. The invitation has been accepted
by Mr.. Howe. 1t is believed that the
clash between the two men during that
week will be full of fire and force.
By a peculiar coincidence it happens
that both men have written books CIV
ing their views on the work which they
will follow during that week. In his
book, "In His Steps," the Rev. Mr..
Sheldon told at length how he would
manage a Christian daily newspaper,
and in The Confessions Of John Whit
lock, Late Preacher Of the Gospel" Mr..
Howe told how and why the ministers
had failed.
In his book Mr.. Howe puts the words
conveying his ideas into the mouth OF
John Whitlock, who has been a minis.
ter of the gospel for forty years, but
who. becoming weary Of preaching
things he did not believe. resigns hi,
charge and writes his Confessions" II
this book Mr.. Howe vigorously excor.
iates the modern minister, asserting
that he has not only misinterpreted
and misapplied the word of God. but
that he has been preaching doctrines
specifically forbidden by Christ. Howe
asserts that religion has been surround
ed by doctrines. dogmas. and creeds
which has tended to confuse the aver
age mind, and has made pure religion
practically an impossibi;lty. He as
serts that, while the world Is more In