The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1900-04-05
THE NEWSPAPEIl'S MISSION.
The Men Who Make Newspapers Are
Neither Better Nor Worse Than
Their Fellows

| Is newspaper to be regarded AS a
mirror Of the words daily life or a
| sort OF pulpit from which sermons are
to be preached t.? The Rev. Mr.. Shel.
don, who edited the Topeka Capital
| for week, adopted the pulpit theory,
which Is natural to some preachers.
Many clergymen, looking at the even
ing and morning papers, day after day,
Will argue that their management in
"G!"tS great responsible aud that
the duty OF their conductors is 10 In
culcate lessons OF morality, civic duty,
and common brotherhood. Thev
would have newspaper made over
| into member of big society for doing
good. They talk much Of the grave
and solemn responsibility Of every one
who writes for a public journal. In
such light, ys do many Of our gooa
and thoughtful men, look at the daily
papers and their opportunities MIR.
Sheldon eXemplitied the preachers
side Of what d newspaper should be
and made a dismal failure Of it.
Rev. Charles II. Strong, Of Savan-
nah, learned and liberal clcrgyman
takes q practical view of the news
paper mans mission. He told, in an
especially interesting discourse on the
subject last night, how the newspaper
was the chronicier Of doings Of man
and woman, the strange product of
long evolution since the creation
Sometimes the mirror shows sights
the gentle shrink from. Sometimes it
pictures the cruel side of the demons
and then their good acts. 1t does not
make q mans or womau's life. 1t
reveals their dOings. Men who make
newspapers are neither better nor
worse than their fellows. They are
skilled. perhaps, in detecting truths,
in sitting facts, in swift and clel er eX.
preston. They are not mOralists or
preachers. II the world were u better
or a happier one they would print
pleasanter record. Usually they are
glad to aid In good causes. There are
lcgiOns Of crApks in the world and
newspaper men grow suspicious and
took askant on the pretended philan.
thropists who hang Oh the fringes of
society and demand support from the
masses. Hence an occasional outcry
against the Jealous, wicked newspa.
per men,"
The world Is not q Christian one. 1t
does not come within any chance OF
rca.jzing the whole ideals Of Buddha
or the stern and ardent aspirations Of
MahOmet, who dreamed at times
angels dreams. Thoughtful men, read
ing The daily papers, see the good and
the bud, stop u moment to ponder tn.
Lessons Of life, and perhaps, are in.
spired to do sOme good To their fellow
men. They would not tnank the con-
ductors OF the newspapers for rcmov.
ing the shadows from the pictures Of
of life. They want to soc life in its
entirety. They will do their own
moraizng. And 20 the newspapers
show forth the daily life OF our big,
blnnderlng, storm tossed world. This
place, whicl is our home and which We
must make tho best Of, in which evil
seems most often to win, but is vet
frightened by the light OF hope. that
rainbow OF tho heart. this world was
planned for struggle, for combat, for,
AGONY, and gladness, and man leaves
here something which he carries on
with him to the next place Of his spr.
ltual evolution. The great lesson of
lie Is common kindness between man
and man and so tho world has, after
all, nothing higher to offer than the
Ideal Of the Nazarene.-~Savannah
Press