see a man engaged in such a harmless pursuit. Happy, indeed, would we
all be if the---"
The two companions passed on and heard no more, until they left this
hall and paid a brief visit to Hall No. 38 devoted to "_The Best Way
of Conducting a Religious Newspaper_."
There were very few editors present, but the debate amongst them was
vigorous and, at times, very contentious, much to the interest and
enjoyment of the spectators.
The question being discussed was: "_How Can We Best Increase the
Circulation of the Church Paper?_"
After a few exchanges of opinions, the chairman of the meeting
advocated, with grave dignity, that all religious newspapers should
be more conformed to the tastes and the level of a hungry world. "There
is too great a contrast," said he, "between the mental condition of
the laymen and the high, cold tone of the average religious paper. Let
the editor of a church paper do as did his Master Jesus Christ,--come
down to the level of the world, where he can reach the heart and the
ear of the common people of whom the masses are composed. No paper
should be so holy that it cannot adapt itself to the development of
the natural as well as the spiritual part of man."
These remarks were warmly applauded.
Next an editor of a religious paper arose, and spoke with decision:
"I want to be as liberal and broad-minded as God would have me be. I
came to this hall with doubtful steps. I cannot say that I have profited
thereby. My mind is at variance with the chairman of this meeting. He
says: 'All religious papers should be more conformed to the tastes of
the hungry world.' Let me ask, with all honesty, what is the taste of
the hungry world? Is it not a terribly perverted taste, a hungering
for the black sins of death? I contend that it is the work of a good
paper to be a beacon light, even though it shines from a lofty
light-house. It may thereby shine out farther and wider. Away with the
doctrine of devils that would pervert the truth and send with merciless
fling----"
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