The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1900-03-13
" IN HIS steps, INKANSAS.
REV. CHARLES NJ. SHELDON s
EXPERIMENT.
Begins Today to Conduct a Daily
Newspaper as He Thinks Jesus Would
His Guiding Principles.

HIS GUIDING IIlnClpleS'
Today, March 10, Is the day Rev.
Charles M. Sheldon takes hold of the |
Daily Topeka Capital for a week, and |
runs it for a week las Jesus would"
This experiment is one of the results |
of the book "In His Steps" written by |
Rev. Sheldon. The authors ideas of how |
Jesus would be guided as editor of a |
modern daily are given in chapter XVII |
of I'm His Steps" However in max |
ing the practical experiment Rev. Shell |
don seems to have modified his ideas |
in some particulars, for in In HIS |
Steps" he expresses the belief that
Jesus would not issue a Sunday edition, |
while in the actual experiment it is !
understood that Mr.. Sheldon will.
In the book the experiment is .des- /
cribed as being made with the Ray
mond News" of which Edward Norman
is editor. Norman is described as out
lining the policy of the paper under
the heading, What would Jesus do IS
Edward Norman editor of a daily
newspaper in Raymond?'
The following is the policy proposed
as described in the chapter
a. He would never allow a sentence
or a picture in His paper that could
be called bad or coarse or impure in
any way.
Z.
political part of the paper from a
standpoint of non-partisan patriotism,
always looking upon all political ques-
tions in the light of their relation to
the kingdom of God, and advocating
measures from a standpoint of then
relation to the welfare Of the peOH'e,
ALWAYS on the basis of What is right
never on the basis of What is for the
best interests of this or that parry?
In other words, He would treat all po-
litical questions as He would treat nV-
cry other subject-from the standpoint
of the advancement of the Kingdom OF
God on the earth
Edward Norman looked UP from the
reading for a moment. you under
stand that is my opinion of Jesus prob
able action on political matters N
daily paper. l am not passing juds-
ment on other newspaper men WI o
may have a different conception Of
Jesus probable action from mine. l am
simply trying to answer honestly,
What would Jesus do as Edward Nor
man? And the answer l find is what
have put down"
"3. The end and aim of a daily paper
| conducted by Jesus would be to 90 tie
| will of God. That is His main purpose
| in carrying on a newspaper Wjuli not
| be to make money, or gain polltl'al
| influence, but His first and ruling pur-
| pose SnOulQ De SO TO COnuuCI HIS pdpVl
| that it would be evident to all of His
subscribers that He was trying to seek
| first the Kingdom of God by means of
| His paper This purpose would be as
distinct and unquestioned as the pur-
pose of a minister or missionary or
any unselfish martyr in Christian work
anywhere.
"a. All questionable advertisements
would be impossible.
"5. The relation of Jesus to the en-
ployes on the paper would be or the
most loving character"
80 far as 1 have gone said Nor
man, again looking up, 81 am OF the
opinion that Jesus would employ prac-
tically some form of cooperation that
would represent the idea of a mutual
interest in the business where all were
to move together for tn same end
am working out such plan and l am
confident it will be successful. AT any
rate, once Introduce the element OF per-
| sonal profits to a person or company
and 7 do not see any way except the
most loving personal interest between
editors reporters, pressmen, ana al
who contribute anything to the life o.
the paper. And that interest would pt
expressed not only in the personal ioV'
and sympathy, but in sharing OF th'
profits of the business.
"6. AS editor of a daily paper today
Jesus would give large space to th'
| work of the Christian world. He Woul'
devote a page possibly to the facts o
reform, of sociological problems, of IN
stitutional church work and slmlla
movements.
az. He would do all in His power II
His paper to fight the saloon as an enc
my of the human race and an unneces
sary part of our present CIVILIZATION
\ He would do this regardless of publ
sentiment in the matter, and, OF course
always regardless of its effect on HI
subscription list"
Again Edward Norman looked up.
n state my honest conviction on I'M
point. OF course I do not pass judo
, ment on the Christian men who ar
editing other kinds of papers today. Bu
as interpret Jesus, believe He woul
use the influence of His paper to remoN
the saloon entirely from the po1tic'
and social life of the nation
IS. Jesus would not issue ounua
edition.
80. He would print the news of II
world that people ought to knoN
4 Among the things they do not need
! know and which would not be publishe
would be accounts of brutal priz
fights, long accounts of crimes, scanda
in private families, or any other humt
events which in any way would CONN.,
with the first point mentioned in tn
outline.
30. If Jesus had the amount
money to use on a paper which '
|, have He would probably secure Il
best and strongest Christian men Al
| women to cooperate with Him in I
~ matter of contributions. That will
my purpose, as I shall be able to she
you in a few days.
al. Whatever the details of the p
-. per might demand as the paper dew
IL oped along it's infinite plan, the ma
principle that guided it would alwa
be the establishment of the Kingdom
God in the world. This large genel
principle would necessarily shape
the details"
SAFE NOW