The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1900-03-20
MIR. sHELDON's EXPERIMENT,


Rev. Mr.. Sheldon's experiment OIL con-
Quoting for one week a CHRISTIAN daiiy
newspaper would seem TO lndicaV tha'
there are no dailies published on the
principles laid down by Christ h'hlie II
is true that we have no distinctive Chrls-
,ian daily. it is true that Ve.ty many
dailies are conducted upon the ethics OF
the Bible. though not professeuiy chris
tian newspapers. Many look upon MI
Sbe,don.s idea with levity. He looks
unon il as a serious piece of work, and,
as the world generally takes a man at
his own estimate. before the week is out
Mr.. Sheldon's plan will be r'ous re-
garded. While its temporary AZURE VIII
not nroye whether such a paper would be
s,nnortad if will give an ideal of a daily
naper from the standpoint of a sincere
and devout man who, in all his ll1e-
work is guided by answering this ques-
tion what would Jesus do?' If his ex-
in a large city to establish such a daily
PAPER. conducted with the spirit that
actuates the life of Mr.. Sheldon, we
have no doubt that it would be a fnan-
cial success in course of time. In the
life of the late Elliot F.. Shepard, The
Mail and Express affected to be conducted
on religious lines, but was so stupidity
partisan and sanctimoniously unfair ass to
disgust honest men who believe IN re-
ligion but hate cant. If Mr.. Shepard's
paper had breathed the same spirit that
is seen in Mr.. Sheldon's paper, New
York might today have a great Christian
daily. Here are the rules laid down by
the editor for the news policy:
No theatrical news whatever.
No DugiliSm or W~reStIlng-Only the
cleaner kind of sporting news.
In crime no details of the deed itself.
but modification of the moral causes
which led to it and the moral lessons
which it conveys.
Politics from a strictly non-partisan
standpoint, locally and editorially.
All interviews to be submitted in man.
uscript or proof to the person interviewed
before publication. In case a person re-
fuses to be interviewed, he or she must
not be pestered by the reporter, but left
alone.
No scandals and nothing which in the
| remotest degree is of a scandalous char
acter.
No slang, not even that which is cOnSid-
cred permissible by the average news
paper
~, 1z- 80 ,-,l q ou,e,> n
and there is need for all papers to eX-
(, anime the creeds that govern them to
, see if Mr.. Sheldon has not adopted some
! worthy of universal emulation.
Our idea of a. newspaper is that it shall
be "a map of busy life" a looking glass
which reflects what passes before it, and
our creed, is to print all the news, Civ
ing prominence to the subject that is
uppermost in the current worlds history.
If it is a great battle-give the fullest
details; a large religious g~athering-give
/, the best report: a prize fight, give the
rounds and result without honoring the
, sluggers; a political gathering, give all
the side-lights and notable speeches.; a
scandal-give the story just as it is
without setting down aught in MALICE
a theatrical performance-give the truth
| about it, praising the good and condemn
ing the bad; a crime-give the details
plainly so that the reader can have g
the news a full photograph of passing
events, not parading the bad and ne
g~lecting the good, but giving place tc
actual events that transpire without cen
that is calculated to gild vice. That is
our conception of news. There are Other
matters that do not come distinctly under
the head of news, where the editor il
the teacher. We refer to the selections
and contributions which instruct and in
terest. They ought to touch every phase
of human life and to be selected with {
view to elevate as we'll as to please ant
instruct. But it is in the editorial col
umns that the editor shows his real char
acter, because there he discusses liv,
topics and seeks to direct the thought ant
action of his readers. He is none the les.
the Christian because he discusses poll
tics and is an earnest partisan, if his pc
litica1 teachings make for the better
ment of his fellow men, and he is guide,
by a sense of truth and Justice.
John Wesley said: THE world is M,
parish The true editor says: 4 an
a man and whatever concerns man inter
eStS me-
GREAT DISPARITY.