Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1901-07-05
|OUTsIDE POINT OF VIEW.
Written for the Times Rebpullcan.


Written for the Times Rebpullcnr.
just now there is an epidemic
on the part of the newspapers, which
takes the form of the editorial fratern
ity telling the ministerial fraternity how
to run their business. For many years
the good men of the pulpit have been
telling the good and bad men of the
editorial chair, how to run a newspaper.
Within the last year or two some of
these good minister's, not content with
Wise advice. have for a day or a week
with consent of money loving publish
ers, run a newspaper themselves. But
MIR. Sheldon's attempt is yet fresh in the
minds of the people. But only few
weeks ago an editorial writer in the
Record Herald brought all of the min
isters UP standing" by giving a list
of the subjects chosen by the ministers
of Chica2-, OH the previous Sunday. and
pointed out how much ~bf SENSATIONAL
such subjects, and how little of Jesus
Christ.
Then. as 1T We're, to add injury TO in
suit, several of our Iowa dailies. now
regularly have in their Sunday editions
a sermon written by a layman--wrtten
by an editor who is frequently not a
church member An unregenerate soul
Who actually takes text out of the
Bible and breaches sermon. This,
too by n man who Doesn't know a
Greek RIO. from Scottish thistle The
chances are he does not even attend
church, only on special occasions. This
lay preacher cannot tell whether the tex;
chosen is from the revised or regular
edition. Does not know what the Pres
byte'ians are just now trying to do or
rot to do. Does not know w. there are
several hundred sects of Christian be-
levers. and for the life of him would
utterly fail in his lay sermon If his
text introduced the subject of baptism.
He assumes and presumes to preach
when he has, not spent years in u theo-
logical seminary. Said editor out of the
reach of an encyclopedia would not at
tempt Il leader on free trade, yet dares
TO take up So vital subjects as are sug-
eosted by his text from the Bible, and
preach lay sermon. Now the writer
happens % know Why these lay ser-
mons from an illiterate (religiousi)
editor. are SO effective. This writer will
80 farther and claim Ito give an
| .ilustration) that the lay sermons from
the pen Of .eUncle George" in the Sioux
City journal are so Well appreciated in
the ungoodly town Of Sioux CITY as the
! most erutiite6 sermons delivered in any
pulpit in that wicked town.
4 The reason why the lay sermon in tho
| newspaper takes" is The same exactly
las why the editorial IS read and appre-
eiated Qualify this by giving the reas-
/ ons. .oi there are more than one. First
| ~ the editor has this one great advan-
tage over the preacher. he knows men
/ as well az things. The reader will pleas
Ibear in mind that the terms editor and
/ preacher assume Only the average Gun
saulus and Henry Watterson are not re-
/ .errsd TO in this article. The editor
! bumps UP against all sorts and con-
4 diiions Of men. His cloth does not
/ prevent him from hearing the worst
thoughts and language of bad as well
as good men He knows by sad expei'
i ienee. hypocrisy in his editorial gives al
sEopening the editor OF the opposition is
sure To use TO his disadvantage. He
| knows that III these strenuous times
men do not care 10 have pain prop
POSITION enlarged upon up To l6th-ly
lutes of bis readers' time ard patience
4 thay wo,,ld ti.y and read some other pa
her. He knows .hat neither bathos MOI
! ,a,hos is expected in his editorial or las
I sermons He knows all this and mans
4 more things. because he has had II
mounted into him, by his readers as
A w4Illas brother editors. "6ona,ant Read
q err. .'Nindex" AN Old Subscr ber'
y sJ,,e .ict nd ,llpre. reguia
ltice" and many more of the reguia,
s,crt,ibntors "a the columns of the dali,
,sIo,a w..k1y nape,s have Impressed ai
~ these ,l,irrs on his mind. The preach
or lacks iris Kind Of friendship. Hi!
neara,s do no, .alk back. In fact ar.
NO, allowed 70 by custom or Law. ant
+. s3ne hear.r ventures to critic!se ;
MINT. ra,n3nn t,y an article In the press
i er well knows TO his sorrow