The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1909-07-22
LAY SERMON DISCUSSES
POWER OF The PRESS
KANSAS CITY BANKER SAYS
NEWSPAPER is THE WORLDS
GREATEST FACTOR FOR GOOD.

There has been no earthly power
so strong as the power of the de
cent press. in accomplishing right.
cous government and in destroying
the power Of evil. It has been a
mighty power in the eradication Of
evil in our city
In this and other expressions OF
like purport says the Kansas
City Journal, c. l.. Brokaw, cashier
Of the Commercial National bank,
Kansas city, Kas., last night in a
lay sermon at the Washington Ave
nuc Methodist Episcopal church,
voiced his sentiments regarding the
press OF the country.
Kansas City would be back
number today but for it's patriotic,
high.minded Independent. unfcttcrcd
and unsbsdized press" said the
speaker. Newspapers. he said,
"arc like men, both good and bad.
We deplorc the ways of a bad press
Just as We do those Of a bad per
SON"
Mr. Rrokaw then entered into a
lengthy discourse upon the press IN
general. it's opportunities for good
or for evil; its effect upon tn"
readers, and the motives which in
spirc its composition.
Every movement for righteous
ness" declared the speaker, "has
been champloned by the good press
aud fought by the bad. We hear
much about sensational news. II is
a wise reader who knows how TO
pass by the oXtrancous and silt
ont only the wholesome part OF n
newspaper or magazine. \ careful
reader. reading the right papers and
magazines. can almost secure a lib
eral education without going 20 col
logc We hardly realize what a
blessing good newspaper is. Daily
we find at our door history Of
the world for that date. and a toll
erably accurate history, too.
"Thc press has been powerfully
constructive. / should like TO take
time 10 tell Of the power of the
religious press. that mighty agent
Of the Lord The work of the church
could not have ~oGressed in any
measure as it has IA. Tor the print
cd page. II would D.. interesting in
deed to study what the press has
meant TO the cause OF education.
Newspapers have distinct char
acters. Some are bribe.taking. sub
sidi2ed, immoral selfish and scnsa-
tional. Others are honest. patriotic,
high-mindcd, moral. unsclfish and
truthful. The responsibility Of tlre
press Is like that of the individual,
only proportionately greater. We
might Justly say that many report
crs would rather write a good story
than 70 adhere strictly TO the pro
sale truth. But is 1t not the com
mon fault of humanity everywhere
and at all times, TO eXaggeratc and
TO tell a big yarn? My own expert
/ cnco with reporters has been gen
orally very satisfactory | think, as
rule. they desire TO get at the
facts. but at the same time they
enjoy a good story better than the
common everyday things of life. We
might Justly criticize the press for
printing only such news or report
ing only such items as suit it's own
special bias This, | think, is com
mon fault of the press, but do not
even all men the same?
I'm conclusion may say that
IT. is an honorable, great ambi
ton, most worthy ambition, for
any man or woman TO desire "a
influence as many others as pos
siblc for good, and to leave his
impress on the world for righteous
ness In this, the preacher has
big opportunity and responsibility
the writer OF books, a greater op
pOrtunity and esponsibility-th pub
Usher of a newspaper, the greatest
opportunity and responsibility o
all,