Year: 1879

OPINIONS OF BAPTIST MINISTERS ON THE IN


FLUENcE OF NEWSPAPERS IN RELIGIOUS


AFFAIRS.


Tho long postponed and dreaded question Of the
exclusion of the press from the meetings Of the Bap.
tist Ministers Conference came up for discussion
and settlement yesterday. and was disposed Of al.
most unanimously in favor OF admitting the report
ers. During the progress Of the discussion many
complimentary truths were uttered by brethren cons
corning the secular press its fairness in the treat
ment of all great moral and religious questions its
decided stand in favor Of the Church. the American
Christian Sabbath temperance and other questions.
and readiness at all times to correct false in-
furious reports. This much could not be said 90
fully aud freely in behalf of the religious press and
hence, when DR.. Jeffrey moved amendment to the
original motion. to exclude the representatives OF
the religious press. that amendment carried
almost unanimously. but. being coupled thereafter
with the secular press. it saved from exclusion
by o similar vote.


CHRISTIANITY OPPOSED 10 SECRECY.


The discussion came up a motion by Dr. Danieli
Read, of Williamsburg. who. while moving to ex.
cude afterward expressed himself in favor of the
fullest representation OF the press DIR. Samson.
of Harlem struck the keynote of the discussion.
with exception. He showed that the genius OF
Christi nty well as OF the Baptist denomination.
Is opposed to star chamber meetings and gather
DE had some connection Win ana knowledge
Of the press for thirty years past and had in that
time received some very rough handling from tho
HERALD; but he gave it as his matured and delib-
opinion that there is not secular paper in
this city country that is not ready any time to
correct report if the editors be satisfied that
such report is unfair or false.


DIR. X. j. Hiscox opposed the exclusion Of the
press because it is not possible by such exclusion
to keep the proceedings OF the Conference out Of thu
papers


THE POWER PRESS


Dr. Evarts. of Jersey City, thought the trouble lay
~, ha not at tho do a1xvau
ligious men to report religious meetings. But when
arts SCIENCE commerce. &c., are to be reported they
send men to report who are versed in those mat
tiers. And many of the mistakes Of reporters
ligious and denominatonal questions arisc from
ignorance rather tnan from malice. He agreed with
DR.. Samson that the genius of Christianity and OF
the Baptist Church h is opposed to secrecy. and he
thought IL would be an anomaly that body OF 100
ministers of the Gospel like this should send out
voice over this land. Ii the resolution to exclude
should be adopted he was in favor of the body dis
solving, and let another hundred preachers who
should know and do better come together. Tho
press is power in the world, aud it can be made the
power OF God If IL is let alone.


But the crowning argument in favor of the press
was made by the Clerk of the Conference. Rev. D. O.
Potter, who has been several years connected with
the Conference in official position. He reminded the
brethren OF their sckly gatherings once month AZ
street Church. in the hope that the reporters would
attend their meetings and by their reports OF pro.
ceedings thrill the community. But the reporters
did not for long time and the thrill business
did rot work. But when and another began to
drop In write few lines the Conference thought
there possibility of success. And now after
the secular press has given position ana preshget to
the Conference IL was proposed to exclude 1t.


Drs. Hedden ana jeffrey also by word and vote
showed their disapproval of tho resolution to ex-
cude, and Dr. Read. who made the motion, thought
it had served it's purpose and he asked leave to
withdraw IL. But the Contcrcnce would not ALLOW
this but voted it down.