The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-06-11
CANTEEN-AND CALUMNY.

Brooklyn Eagle.


Brooklyn Eagle.
To the Editor of the Brooklyn Eagle:
You may discontinue the Monday Eagle
to my address. My main reason for discon-
tlnuing is the fact that you come out and
DEFEND the liquor canteen system for our
army teditorially), in spite of the fact that
the best of evidence shows that the system
Is curse to the young men of the army. 1
appreciate the good things you publish, but
1 do not approve of this catering TO the
liquor power which is so common among
too many Of our newspaper men. Very
cordially yours. CHARLES PARSONS.
Pastor First Congregational Church,
Byron. Ill. May %. 1902"
The Eagle has defended the canteen. Pas
tor Parsons CONSTITUTES this as catering to
the liquor power" The construction in
wolves the proposition that the liquor power
was behind the canteen. Substitutes for
what is known as liquor were sold in the
canteen, statement which disposes of that
phase of the case. AS to the other, that
the Eagle caters to the liquor power, there
is almost as little TO say, and that little is
conclusive. The Eagle caters to its readers
only. Overtures from the liquor power
have not been received in the office OF this
paper. Nobody asked il to espouse the
cause of the canteen: nobody asked ii to
antagonize that cause. What the best of
evidence" has shown the system to be is a
matter of dispute Opinions differ on the
subject There were and are those who be-
lieve the canteen TO have been a curse
There were and are those who believe IL to
have been blessing in that il shielded the
army from temptations to which 1T is now
exposed. The forces arrayed on either side
met in conflict at Washington, where the
anti-canteen hosts routed their adversaries
and the canteen was abolished. The Eagle
believes both sides to have been animated
by the best Of motives. 1t believes that
good faith chara cterized the campaign con-
Quoted at the capital In other words, it
believes that each party to the controversy
had at heart the welfare Of the men direct
ly concerned Believing this, IL refraned
from impeaching motives Tt withheld ac-
cusations of any and every description,
though If may have intimated that some
where Judgment was at fault. Pastor Par
sons pursues another course. He infers
that the Eagle was not conscientious. He
infers surrender to pressure the liquor pow
er did not seek TO exert In short, he infers
the unworthiest of motives.
Instructions have been carried out. The
Eagle of Monday will no longer be mailed
to the pastor Of the First Congregational
Church at Byron. Ill. Some motives are
legitimate subjects of discussion. Mr.. Par
sons had motive in subscribing for
Mondays Eagle He will not resent the
list of contributors?" Nor will he resent
the liberty taken when the Eagle eX-
plains what his purpose was. This paper,
on the second day of the week, contains
full reports OF sermons delivered on the
first. IL is sent 20 many ministers and
the demand for ii is constantly increas-
ing. There are the best of reasons why a
clergyman should add Ii to his list Of
mail matter. Most of the reports are
full. All of them are reasonably accu-
rate. II is not too much TO say of many
of them that they place splendid material
at the disposal of prea cheers of every de-
nomination. This is throwing sufficient light
on the motive of Pastor Parsons. 1t was
anything but unworthy. 1t proves that
there is in Byron ILL., clergyman who is
not so much enamored Of his own powers OF
production to rely upon them exclusive
ly. And ii is certain that he did not get the
worst OF the bargain, cents being none too
much 10 pay for many columns of pulpit
wisdom That there was any. improve
ment in the quality of the sermons
preached by Pastor Parsons as the result
of his investment the Eagle cannot. of
course undertake to say. 1t may, how
ever. venture the assertion that others
have found the investment profitable out
of all proportion to the amount of money
spent. The increasing demand makes this
reasonably clear.
The discontinuance is not altogether a
matter personal 70 Mr.. Parsons. He is
paid by the First Congregational Church
for the performance of certain functions.
The preparation and delivery of sermons
is part of the work for which he receives
compensation. For both he may be law
ishly endowed but. no matter how gen
erous his equipment. there is little doubt
that Eagle reports contributed to his pull
pit resources 1t may be urged that these
reports did not and, in the nature OF
things. could not influence delivery. but
the discourse that is fat is almost neces-
sarily delivered witt a corresponding dearth
of fervor Clearly enough. this is not alto
/ gether personal-it affects the congregation,
! which certainly should not suffer for the
Eagles partiality 10 the canteen. For the
sake of the parishiOners the subscription
should have been renewed. Discontinuance
/ will diminish Eagle receipts by y cents a
month. a somewhat inconsequential sum
! of money. By no means OF small conse-
/ quence. however. are the obligations i'm
/ posed upon Pastor Parsons. They die
/ tate that he shall in the effort 10 fulfill
/ them. keep on even terms with the best
| pulpit thoughts of his time. This he owes
/ to himself. 10 his church. to the cause
/ Above all is IL essential that he should
4 travel on a broad gauge. arrogating unite
himself no monopoly Of good motive, de-
/ Tending character rather than assailing IT,
\ rebuking calumny rather than resortine
\ thereto There Is that In the letter which
! is not creditable 10 the writer. There was
! One who said Judge not lest we bC
/ judged"