The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-05-20
| Office
| BURKE
| BUILDING
THE POWER
OF THE PRESS"
Discussed by Rev. M. G. Elliott in a
Splendid Discourse at the Ccngre-
sational Church, in Which He Pays
Tribute to the Daily Newspaper.
Splendid Musical Programme.

GaL1Ondl SHuICils III " hbSh ~~S - ~ -
Tribute to the Daily Newspaper.
Splendid Musical Programme.
II was large and interested congrc-
CATION that listened to Rev NJ. {.
Elliott preach on the Power of the
Press" AT the First congregational
church, last night
Like the sermon Rev. Mr.. Elliott de-
livered before the knights Templar,
and over which there has been so much
favorable comment, the one last night
showed tho results of very hard study,
and IL was one devoid of attack on the
secular publications.
Mr.. Elliott used the words of Paul to
Timothy for text: GIVE attendance
to reading" During his splendid dis
course. Rev Mr.. Elliott said
One duty Paul never neglected. the
duty of self.cuture through reading.
Certain companions were ever with
hn,-his favortc authors. Saner in
tellect than his never trod this earth,
and could he speak to our age, with
its fret and fever. his message would
certainly include some words about the
companionship of good books. maga-
zines and papers.
Modern civilization has its flower
and fruitage in books and culture for
all. through reading. Should the dream
of the astronomer come true, and sci
cnce establish a code of electric signals
with the people of Mars, our first mes
sage would not be about engines. ocean
steamers. or looms. Not the phone by
which men speak across continents,
but the publications, by which living
men and dead men converse across
centuries. would be the burden of the
first message For wise mon the joys
Of reading are life's browning pleas
urcs. Books and daily newspapers are
tho peoples universities. where souls
are the professors. Books and daily
newspa pers are the looms that weave
rapidly mans inner garments Books
and daily newspapers are the Jewelers.,
not by lowering the great, but by lift
ing up the small.
Wisdom and knowledge are derived
from sources many and varied Like
ancient TheheS. the soul is a city hav-
ing gates on every side. There is the
eye gate, and through It pass friends
a multitude of strancers-the forests.
the fields. the marching clouds. There
is the ear gate, and therein go trOoping
all sweet songs. all conversation and
-
woe and grief. There is conversation,
and thereby we cross the threshold of
another's mind. and wander through
the chambers of imagination But these
faculties are limited. The earwas made
for one sweet song, not a thousand.
Conversation is with one friend living
not with Raphael or PericleS. The Vis-
ion stays upon yOnder horizon: but bc-
yOnd the line where earth and heaven
do meet are distant lands and historic
scenes beyond are the Parthenon and
the pyramids: but literature comes in
10 increase the power of the vision.
Literature causes the arctics and trop-
les, the mountains and hills, all the
generations with their wars and woes,
the achievements for freedom and re-
igion. to pass before the mind for in
Struction and delight. And when liter
ature has made men contemporaneous
with Socrates and Cicero, when it has
made man a citizen of every cline and
country, it goes on to advantages still
more signal"
At this point the speaker referred 10
the great minds of the past and how
the achievements they had made in the
field Of literature had left their mark
upon the world.
'spIltlHllIHS, HC Sdlu. 'lne press of
todayis exercising a tremendous power
IL arraigns political parties, straightens
out corporations, Inearths crime. and
discusses strategic points in states
manship. 1t opens large mission for
the church by disseminating Sunday
thoughts through the week. 1t is itself
a liberal education. If not controlled
by clique or clan, it is indeed the
peoples benefactor."
In referring to the average news
paper. Mr.. Elliott said he had no de-
sire to see the good daily transformed
into a paper wholly religious.
In concluding, the speaker discussed
the Bible as the literature of character
which he treated in a very forceful
manner.
The music last night was a partial
repetition OF that given on Ascension
day, and was up to the usual high
standard for which the choir has be-
come noted. Mr.. Naylor presided at
the organ, and held the audience in
ecstacy with the prelude.
The trio was n delightful selection.
and rendered in a beautiful manner by
Miss Benson. Miss Hills and Mr.. Roe.
Next Sunday night the Grand Army
OF the Republic will be given a treat
in some special music being arranged
for them.
Following Is the service of last night:
Prelude offertorio, V. A. Pettali: choir
"Alleluia Forth" Buck: trio, Father
lead Me by the Hand" Butterfield
CFrom Belshazzar), Miss Benson. Miss
Hills, Mr.. Roe: offertory; duet, Love
Divine" ID. Stainer, Miss Benson, Mr..
Roe' choir. 'Te Deum," in b flat, ID.
stainer; postlude. "Priest's March,"
Mendelssohn.