Semi-weekly herald., 1910-03-31
rAx pssss AND the CHURCH.

lSeo. ~ my inuuo " tit tohSt n'
Press and the Church" at the banquet
OF the Presbyterian brotherhood al the
Sirafer hotel last week. responded as
follows, which Is published by re
quesi OF several present, although we
do so with considerable hesitancy.)
This H. big subject. and must
express grateful appreciation al being
thus honored, although am somewhat
at loss 10 know why some one bet
ter qualified. some one with u flow oi
oratory. was NOT selected. | accepted
moi as personal tribute TO myself
but rather 10 The honorcd profession
10 which ! belong. | have been al
lotted five minutes To you 1t may be
altogether too long. but to do half
way Justice to the subject the time is
too short
The press and the church. l pre-
sumo. | am expected TO make some
comparisons. and 10 start with am
reminded of story:
IcH, Sdiu tilt shIltti Doy 10 uis
father, the editor. what's the differ.
ence between printing office and a
church,"
We'll. don't know the editor re.
piled, unless it's because the church
is bnsy trying to keep the devil out,
while the printer is busy trying 10
keep the devil in"
The press and the church have much
IN common. The editor and the min.
ister, unconsciously possibly. are link.
ed together in many ways and have
an allied work to perform. First, when
the etork drops sweet cherub into
our midst the editor is called upon
TO announce It; then in a short time
the minister plays his part by christen.
ing the child; then as the mating sea.
son comes around the editor makes
the announcement, then comes the
minister and Ties the knot. and when
death comes the newspaperchronicles
the fact and then comes the minister
to perform the last sad rites. Thus we
have The press and the church direct
ly connected and working in harmony
with the three important events of
everyone--Dirth. marriage and death
Another comparison: The editor and
the minister are often regarded as
objects OF charity. Some contribute
to the miuister as a necessary evil,
not because they owe 1t to themselves
to support a church. They regard the
minister rs leech upon the commu-
nifty. There is also a class who Nok
upon the newspaper as charity propo
siiion along the same lines as the
church. taking the paper, not because
they feel they are receiving the worth
of their money, but just TO keep the
editor out of the poor house. Neither
are or should be considered objects OF
charity. Above everything else the
first duty OF man is to the Lord, and
the Bible tells us that the tenth OF our
Income should be devoted to the ex.
tension of the kingdom OF God Then
Wy 'h'ha' INC thutCu VI Nuc lululettf
be an object of charity. It is time
people stopped talking charity in this
connection, especially Christian peo-
pie. So far as ] am concerned do
not think any one should feel they
ought 10 take paper ms charity
proposition If the paper is not rep.
resentative of the community in which
1t is published and worthy of support,
then cut 1t out.
Again: The life of the minister is
regarded by many as a "snap''-noth.
ing to do but preach twice on Sunday
with a midweek prayer meeting. With
this the minister's duties end, say
some. Far from II. II is only a small
part Of the conscientious spiritual di.
rector. If those who say the preach.
ers work is easy. were to follow his
footsteps they would not last month
Tie same holds true of the editor.
Many think that 1t Is the easiest thing
in the world to reel off n few columns
and that as soon as the paper goes to
press he bids farewell to dull care
with never thought until the morrow.
The successful editor or reporter is
ever alert. When engaged in conver-
sation with his friends or business as.
sociates his mind may be miles away
coniuring up some bit of news. some
story, or he may be putting this or
that together while his friend talks
merrily. The newspaper man must
not only plan to please and entertain
his readers but he must be prepared
10 assume dozen roles within few
hours. II II is general newspaper
he must be prepared to visit the house
OF death. ask questions and extend
sympathy: then the next minute step
in and listen to wedding strains and
take on joyous attitude. Five min.
utes later he may be called to the
sporting ringside and be greeted with
some second saying: Give him one
In the stats" Then TO the political
convention, possibly church sociable
OF two, then dance, and he must
have an appropriate word for each
function. Then to the sanctum where
he. must assume all the different emo