The theocrat. [volume] (Zion City [i.e. Zion], Ill.) 1914-1949, 1919-02-15
A ZION NEWSPAPER
Pa rposes, Character
and Ideals
&C. B. W.
C. B. W.

The Creator provided for an infinite variety
of temperaments as we'll as faces There are no
two people exactly alike in taste, disposition, ap-
pearance character, capacity or general make up.
= We are often impressed with this fact in look
ing over Our correspondence and in convers1ng
with individuals. That which appeals to one per
son may not particularly interest another.
In reading The Theocrat, some people turn
first of all to the sermon, others to the local news
some to the worlds events and some TO other
portions.
Letters frequently express appreciation Of the
Tabernacle addresses. That is feature which
catches the attention of strangers taking up
copy of the paper for the first time; and this IS
one of the things which make it distinctively
Zion publication.
We believe that every issue of a Zion news
paper should contain some spiritual food We
would feel no interest in toiling day and night
in paper which did not exercise an influence to
elevate and uplift humanity - which did not seek
TO bring people to realization of the fact that it
is not the things Of this world which count but
those which make for Eternity.
Every issue of The Theocrat should possess
something of more than mere ephemeral value.
While the very tone and character of the news
columns are as different from those Of the aver
age paper as day issfrom night, it should contain
a message which would make it worth while to
hand out as free literature in Seventy Work
month, year, or three years after date OF publ
cation
Many people are interested in the local news
People on the outside especially appreciate this
feature for they are eager to know what is going
on at headquarters.
We find that almost everyone reads the local
items While we believe it is well to mention
visitors to the city, the names of families moving
here and various other matters of local interest
it has been our aim to lift this column above the
level of mere personal MENTION so far as prac-
tical, by bringing into it many matters of broad
general interest especially in connection with the
growth and development of Zion commercially.
The Theocrat in its present form may fall far
short of its possibilities; but beginning has
been made. 1t has the conception and the ideal.
We long for paper containing space enough for
everything that is helpful, practical and uplift-
ing-for addresses for the news of Zion in gen
eral, covering the ecclesiastical commercial, edu-
Cational and political departments, with room for
a complete review each week of the events of the
world worth knowing and various articles on
helpful and timely topics
We regret that at the present time owing to
the soaring cost of publication, space is some
what limited and are continually forced to
leave out matters of value. What a grand thing
some one, blessed with an abundance of this
worlds goods, could do by endowing Leaves of
Healing The Tbeocrdt and other Zion literature.
What glorious heritage to leave behind
We always have felt that in this age of frivol-
ity, worldliness and godliness there is special
need for clean Zion newspaper in which facts
are separated from all the muck and rubbish of
the daily press so far as it is possible for human
judgment, governed by Christian principles and
ideals, to distinguish and separate them.
John Alexander Dowie, lions founder, under
God, saw the crying need of a clean press, and
one of his chief aspirations was some day to es-
tablish daily newspaper devoted to truthfulness
and Christian ideals-a paper which God could
bless and sanction. We believe that during the
millennial age, under the rule of Christ, great
daily newspapers will be published.
No one fought the daily press, with all its ly
ing, corruption and servility to ruling interests,
more than Dr. Dowie. No one denounced it in
more scathing terms. Yet he saw the possibilities
of its power for good. In the course of an ad-
dress, delivered in Chicago, on December 19,
1897, before the site of the City of Zion was pur
chased he said: