The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-08-24
THE WANING INFLUENCE OF.
RELIGIOUS NEWSPAPERS.

/
time the Evangelist, once a popular and
successful religious paper in New York,
was absorbed by the Christian Work be-
cause it could not pay expenses.
These two events in the world of jour-
nalism, happening about the same time,
have given rise to varying suggestive
comment, and many editors have sought
to find the explanation. Some have
thought that it presages the passing OF
the religious journal and have predicted
that its days are numbered. The Nash
vile Christian Advocate inclines to the
view that "the daily secular paper is
perhaps more secure in it's position than
ever before, while the hold of the dis
tinctively religious journal upon the pub
lie is becoming increasingly precarious."
The Advocate traces the evolution Of
the daily newspaper, through it's various
phases when it was, first, "a reflection of
the personality of a great editor" sec
ond, when the greatest editor gave way
to the political boss who controlled the
paper, editorial department and all the
rest, in the interest of his selfish
schemes" third, the period of the noisy
and ostentatious yellow journalism which
seemed to operate as sort of fatal
virus in nearly the whole body of our
daily press" and now it rejoices in "the
signs of a reaction which we trust will
bring our papers still nearer to a stand
ard worthy of the great people which
they represent" The Advocate continues
in this wise strain. which is the wisest
and most sensible editorial we have seen
upon the subject:
1.-The extent to which the reading of
daily papers forms the character and
taste of many young people is begin
ming to weigh upon their owners and
editorial writer's, and an ambition to
take rank as high class family paper"
is showing its benefcent effects in many
Quarters. We trust that it is not to be
long before the sagacious details of d.
vorce courts and the particulars of hor-
rible and brutal crimes, even though such
things are really news" shall be rigid
ly excluded from self-respecting papers.
In nearly all of our large cities there are
Examples of how clean, honest and cheap
papers may get patronage which rem
ders them Independent alike of venal poll
itics and sensational newsmongering.
1.-THE decay of the religious journal, on
the other hand to make use of current
phrase without accepting all Of its inn
plications is symptom which may cas-
lily be misinterpreted. 1t does not at all
mean, for example, any weakening of in
terest in religious affairs. An easy proof
of this is ready to hand in the fact that
never before have the churches and their
affairs had such extensive and judicious
treatment accorded them by the secular
Diapers. Much so-called Sunday read
ing" is vapid stuff enough, to be sure.
But trained reporters prepare columns of
intelligent and ineligible church news,
whole sermons are printed. the Sunday
school lesson has weekly place, and
frequent respectful, pertinent editorial
writing on religious topics exhibits an
attitude that is as new as it is COM
mendable and promising"
The Advocate is right in saying, wher-
ever decay does occur, 1.-THE decay of the
religious journal does not at all mean
any weakening of interest in religious
affairs" And it offers proof that this
statement is true. The time was, for ex-
ample, when one had to take the religious
paper of his denomination to keep posted
on its meetings, its changes of pastors,
its reports. In North Carolina this pa
per publishes fuller accounts for ex-
ample, of a Presbyterian Synod, than the
} Presbyterian Standard. The Presbyte-
rians do not need the Standard, there
fore, for the church news The Standard
has grown rapidly in circulation and
power because it recognizes that it must
become, in a sense. review to attract
subscribers. 1t must treat live religious
questions in a distinctly original and Wig
orous maner, if it stems the tide against
a large circulation for religious newspa-
pers. And it is doing this admirably.
The same thing is recognized by the edi-
tors of the Methodist, Baptist, Episcopal
and Christian church papers. They must
have power, they must have individuality,
they must have about them the indefi-
nable something that makes men and wo-
men want to read them if they are to sur
vive and retain their circulation and in
fiuence.
! There is one thing that has operated
against the circulation of religious papers
that is not in reality against them
and is therefore misleading. 1t is
that this is a day of the waning weekly
newspapers dependent upon general cir
culation. There has been growth in the
country press, dependent upon local in
fuences, but the weekly paper of all
kinds-religious, secular, fraternal, and
irreligious alike-are trying to make
Roadway against an adverse tide. This is
not due to the character of the papers
or the editors or any change in the peo-
pie as to their religious or other views.