Honolulu star-bulletin. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1912-2010, 1914-08-03
OF PRESS
SUBJECT OF REV.
William H, FRY
Church and Daily Newspapers
Not Rivals, Declares New
Methodist Pastor

The Rev. DR.. Fry of the Methodist
church preached the second sermon
in the present Sunday evening series
to a large congregation last night
His topic was The Relation of the
Church to the Secular Press" He
said in part:
Among the many departments OF
the average daily paper the business
and editorial departments are the
most important The former is usu-
ally superintended by a man with
great adaptability for his work. with
the skill of a general and the nerve
of a statesman. The editor is usually
a gifted writer who, by virtue Of his
office, is the scapegoat for the sins
and follies Of the whole institution.
He has unlimited power for good or
evil and assumes to do what another
persons would not dare to do without
danger to property and person. In
his hand the cold type becomes the
hammer than makes or breaks and
when he wills the editor lets it fall
upon the heads of governments, insti.
tutions, dignitaries and private citi-
zens both high and lowly. Hence no
man is more to be feared than the edi.
tor. But the originality and individU
atty of the old time editor is fast be.
coming a thing of the past, many OF
the large dailies are owned by stock
companies and corporations. the chief
concern of whose stockholders is
larger dividends. This has the ten.
dency to, change free press into
time-serving press and shift the re-
sponsibility from an individual to a
syndicate.
The reporter. though by no means
so conspicuous as the editor. Is none
the less very important factor in
the life and prosperity of the paper
Many of them write with great ability
and accuracy what they contribute
largely to the news columns. 1t is the
reporter with whom the church has
most to do and to him we are indebted
for thousand courtesies. During the
past II years I have been pastor OF
churches in large cities and the mem.
DRY of nv associations with newspa-
per reporters during that time is truly
delightful. Thew are genial. affable,
optimistic and interesting, but never
bashful.- - IHlt' p :. i
Upon one occasion when d. L.
Moody was holding revival service
a fine looking young man walked into
the inquiry room. Mr. Moody placed
his hand upon the young mans shout
der and asked: it'My young friend. are
YOU savedg With unaffected surprise
the Young man quickly. replied. Me
saved, not i; Why. I'm reporter
Among the Sons of men none really
know great eifysas do the reporters.
They have sounded its denth and know
the house of ctsme and the house IT
Worship. and the hobse Of festival.
They are familiar with the church and
with the neither, world. They have
seen the greater and lesser wheels
1T administrative machinery in mo-
ticn. They have learned how to reach
the notentate and Dolice sergeant be-.
hind his desk. and how to unravel and
knit together the VARYING tales of the
bystanders ! Tke streets of the city
are known to him as to no cher man.
He has seen them in the gray morn
while busy toifers converge toward the
market place: he has watched the ebb-
ing tide at evening when the working
dav is. done. He sees them empty
when the theater il full and full when
the theater Is empty. He knows the
streets of danger full of news and
the streets full Of newspaper readers
and safety. Hence no one knows
things better than the reporter Who
wouldn't he a reporter and know ev-
ervthing and everyone?
'Tt is said bv some that the church
and daily newspaper are rivals. Abb
surd mistake. When thew stand to
pether they are the miehtiest forces for
right that this old world knows any.
thing about. The responsibility IT re.
forming society cannot be left at the
door Of the church snv more than at
The door Of nublic nress. Both must |
share the responsibility. Can YOU i'm
agine what a3paradise some Of the cit. |
les Of America would he If. for the past
five years the church and the press
had stood side bv side in all
matters of reform? The hatch |
ways that cover smouldering vice
should be lifted: Wickedness in high |
places would BIZ dethroned and our
streets become like the streets of the
New Jerusalem through which the
redeemed might march ransomed and
free to their Fathers house."