New-York tribune., 1918-06-17
Hearst Papers
Are Denounced i'm
Flag Day Sermon
DR.. Macleod Delivers In
dictment From Pulpit of
Collegiate Church
Makes Plea for Loyalty
Publication That Eliminated
Victory Prayer Does Not
Ring True, He Says

Hearst newspapers were scathingy
denounced yesterday morning from the
pulpit of the Collegiate Church of st.
Nicholas, Fifth Avenue and Forty
eighth Street. This Dutch Reformed
congregation is the oldest in the city,
having been founded when New York
was New Amsterdam.
The Rev. DR.. Malcolm James Mac
Leod, preaching his Flag Day sermon,
declared that "any newspaper that will
take the Presidents Memorial Day proc
lamation and cut out the passage pray.
ing for victory does not ring true.
He said that if the American people
cannot ask God to help us win this war
our cause is not just and the Onlteo
States ought to lose.
Then the Rev. DR.. Macleod put this
question squarely to the congregation:
"Our lads are facing the daggers of
the enemy; that's enough. Are we 60
ing to stand silently by and see them
stabbed in the back?"
Past Record Not Good
The Rev. DR.. Macleod stated that the
newspapers published by William Ran
dolph Hearst if their past record had
been good. "But their past record is
not good--they have always had bad
odor," he added.
The subject of his sermon was "The
Stars and Stripes" 1t follows in part:
"No one can be loyal to two countries
at the same time. But all men can be
loyal to principle, to truth, to honor, to
justice, to love, to liberty, no matter
in what country they live.
bo r6 n
anything to-day that is disloyal. l
doubt if any nation ever entered a con-
flict with greater reluctance and
patience. We waited until it seemed
beyond endurance. We put up with in
suit and trickery and injury. We were
the laughing stock of the world. We
endured spies and plots and conspiracy.
Our women and children were drowned
without mercy. Slowly it dawned upon
US that we were dealing with blacklegs
We were told Of atrocities that sur
nibals. 1t became plain that the fight
was being waged against the elemental
principles on which this nation was
founded. And at last our President
said: We'll, there's nothing else to do;
these things cut the roots of human
life
Audience Is Stirred
"And now there's nothing left for
you and me to do but to be absolutely
loyal to that decision. We're in the
grim business now to win the war,
not to lose it. We're not trying for
a stalemate, but for checkmate. I'm
down on some newspapers because
they arc yellow and always have been
yellow
"If their past record had been good
,rph+ Co I,,x
record is not good; they have a bad
odor and they always have had a bad
odor.
Sometimes I purchase one of these
papers just to see what it says, but
I'm always ashamed to be seen reading
it on the car. Among the best class Of
our citizens all over the country these
sheets have shady reputation.
II claim that any paper that will
take the Presidents proclamation and
cut out the passage praying for vic
tory does not ring true. If we are
not fighting for victory, what in the
name of kingdom come are we fighting
for? If we cannot ask Almighty God
to help us win this war, then l claim
our cause is not just, and if our cause
is not just then we ought to lose.
"Our lads are facing the daggers of
the enemy; that's enough Are we 90
inc, to stand silently by and see them
stabbed in the back?'
The st. Nicholas Church service flag
has seventyfve stars. When the Rev,
DR.. Macleod put his question as to
whether we weren't fighting for victory
to the audience the mothers and fathers
of the boys stirred in their seats and
soldiers and sailors who were in the
congregation became the subjects of
many fixed gazes.
Members CT the congregation gave
their pastor their verbal replies after
the services. The last man and woman
to give their answer-a couple whose
son is now somewhere on the Atlantic
! headed toward France - had to wait
over forty minutes for a chance ia
clasp the hand of the Rev. DR.. Mac
! Leod.