Year: 1878

Is IL Wicked TO Edi; Monday Papcrl


good many church members have been
much troubled in mind in tines past because
the newspapers arc published on Sunday rs
well as on other days; but lattcrly the prciu-
dice against Sunday papers has pretty well
died out, so that they are now regularly
taken in the strctcst families. We doubt
not that the readers Of the Sunday Sun, for
instance, comprise as religious and serious
minded n class Of people as the city con-
tnins The clergy generally enjoy its peru
sal, and If modcsty didn't prevent us we
should say confidently that no one, young
or Old can study the columns of that very
instructive paper without gaining much
moral and intellectual benefit.


1t will he observed from our weekly bull
lctin of TIE suns circulation that Of the
Sunday edition larger number Of copies,
by several thousand, are sold than of the
editions ISSUED on the secular days The
reason of this is obvious. People have moro
leisure for reading on Sunday than on week
days. and the Sunday Sun presents n mass
Of matter which keeps u man in reading not
only for one day but for several days, and
all for the trining sum of three cents


As everybody knows. the work done on
Sunday paper Is almost altogether done on
Saturday, and It * the Mondays paper
which requires Sunday labor. The preach
crs could not get along without their Mon
days SUN, for they wish to see how their
sermons look in print, and therefore Sunday
is n busy day in newspaper Offices; but so Is
il busy day with the preachers, and the
sections. and the ear drivers, and the coach
men. But the rule Of THE Sun Is to give
everybody In its employment one day of
rest out of the seven. II wishes nobody to
work for It more than six days week.
though one Of those days may be Sunday.


But there are some people whose con-
sciences are very tender for their ncighbors,
people whose feelings suffer when they see
their friends not doing just as they do them
selves, and who regard it as their duty to
set them right. The Boston Young Mems
Christian Association contains a supply Of
these supcrserviccable persons. who are
now in much trouble because an editor of
one Of the daily papers, who is n member Of
church, is obliged to work during part
of Sunday. We do not learn that they pro-
pose to give up reading the Monday jour
nails out OF conscientious scruplcs, but they
do wish to deprive the editor of his religious
privileges because he writes on Sunday
what they are eager TO get on Monday


II seems that this pious newspaper man,
having moved out Of the ncighborhood OF
the church to which he belonged. took "A let
ter 10 n church Of the same denomination,
and asked to be admitted. His application
was refused on the ground that he was a
sabbath breaker" Some brother inquired
at a meeting Of the Young Mems Christian
Association whether that was fair, and he
was advised to "vute no every time" on
| such applications for church fellowship,
and the advice was received with hearty
applause by the Christian young men.


There are good many journalists in Bos-
ton who belong to churches. and the Adrtr-
tiser Of our distinguished friend WATERS
says they ARE asking, with much natural
| feeling. II the church wants the sympathy
| ana Influence Of the secular press. and yet
none Of its brotherhood = They might
also ask whether in the opinion Of the
churches it Is best TO stop the printing of
Monday papers or 10 turn them over to be
edited by men who are not Christians.


The newspapers are doing great work
for religion. and it would be unfortunate II IL
should be made impossible for Christians to
work on them Iithere is any place more than
another where true. practical Christianity


Is impcrativcly needed, it is in the Office of a
daily newspaper. But it must have no tingc
of Phariseeism about it like the religion OF
these Boston Christians, who will read Mon
day papers, though they profess to think it


is wicked 10 edit them.