The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1900-04-02

continued. ito tell the brethren here
that during the week was engaged in
editing the Topeka Capital I was con-
Sclous of a great volume of prayer go
ing uD all over the country. And I
never was in better physical condition
in my life than during that week
The discussion of Mr. Sheldon's ex-
pertinent followed the reading Of papers
by Rev. D. NJ Fisk and Rev. Leroy
Halbert, in both of which it was re-
viewed. The latter paper amounted to
a defense of Mr. SheldOn's attitude dur
ing the week. in which many references
to Mr.. Sheldon's methods of work, cen
SorshiD- etc. sent out in press dis
patches from Topeka that week were
stated to be untrue. Mr.. HaIbert is Mr..
Sheldon'S assistant in Topeka.
All the ministers present were called
upon to express themselves. When the
opportunity came to Dean Sykes, he
said:
IT think Mr.. Sheldon's purity Of life
and motives saved his venture from be-
ing more of a failure than it was. I
will yield to no minister present in the
matter of respect and admiration for
Brother Sheldon, but I think he made
a great mistake by publishing to the
world that he meant to run a news
paper as Jesus would run it. ] think
he should have rather announced that
he would run a newspaper according to
his. conception of what a Christian
newspaper should be.
1T is q mistake for any minister to
say that Jesus might publish a news
pepper if he was on earth today. Every
account we have of Christs life on
earth proves conclusively that he would
not have engaged in newspaper publ
cation. We are shown that he kept
wholly aloof from all questions of poll
1ticS and literature, and carefully kept
himself clear of any entanglements.
He devoted himself exclusively to the
great question of the redemption of
mankind, and his work was altogether
| of a spiritual character.
1.-THE newspaper that Brother Sheldon
gave US for a week is not the kind of
a newspaper I would want to read 365
| days every year. In the first place, it
| was not newspaper. To be a news
| paper a publication must give all the
news, regardless of what it may be.
/ The kind of a newspaper 1 want to read
/ is one that tells me all that is hap
/ pening let It be murder suicide. di-
vorce or anything else. The only re-
/ Quirement is that it be true. I want to
/ know what is going on in the world
about me, and there is no reason why
I should not know. There is no news
! paper published at the present day that
tells as deDlorabIe truths in such a
| clear and pointed manner as the Old
| Testament, and still every man, woman
and child is supposed to be conversant
! with the Bible. When a newspaper is
made the exponent of religion to the ex-
| clusion of daily truths it becomes
simply a religious journal, and is a sue
/ cess only in it's proper place.
| Personally, had I the opportunity of
Brother Sheldon. should have handled
| the paper differently. I should have
| printed all the news and followed the
| painful truths with comments. For in
| stance. if a man was convicted OF
| murder which had been the result of a
| drunken brawl, no better opportunity
| could be asked for a short sermon on
| temperance I should have condensed
| all Mr. Sheldon said about temperance
during the week to about three para
graphs. I would do this, not because
am not heartily in favor of the tenn
| perance movement handled properly
but because the people it might do good
in reaching would read a short article
where they would not a long one. ]
should not have devoted the space tC
the Bible Brother Sheldon did in hi:
Saturday issue, because I give the av-
craze Christian credit for being more
| or less familiar with the Scripture.
However, I know Brother SheldoT
was absolutely honest in his motives,
said Dean Sykes in conclusion. s"AnC
| right here I want to take opportunity
| of saying that as brother ministers WI
| have no right to criticise the motive.
of others. 1t is only just that we be
lieve every man as honest in his Opin
| ions as we are. The very reason tina
no advance is being made religiousl1
| and spiritually and morally is becaus'
we ministers are not broad enough t
respect the opinions and motives o
others.