New York, 1895
Wilson Palmer's Sunday Mail Service Raises an Objection.
To the Editor of the Long Island Farmer:
I notice that Wilson Palmer, of Floral Park, who used to write editorials in the Standard telling Jamaica people that they should be alive, has at last personally begun the work of reform. His first move is directed toward the establishment of a Sunday incoming and outgoing mail; but this is understood to be only an initiatory step, his intention being ultimately to make the reform sweeping and radical.
Being, I regret to say, personally unacquainted with Mr. Palmer, I take this means of offering a suggestion. I think he has started the reform in an unfortunately unwise manner. In my opinion, Mr. Palmer will clash with Jamaica's time-established and deep rooted reverence for the sanctity of the Lord's day when he attempts to institute any reform necessitating labor on that day. Moreover, I would like to ask Mr. Palmer, who, I understand, is a great admirer of the good old New England customs, if such a reform as he suggests would not tend to relegate the Bible and other sacred literature to a back shelf to make room for the letter-pad and Saturday weekly newspaper.
No doubt Mr. Palmer has personal reasons in this line. He has, if I have been correctly informed, a large correspondence, in addition to numerous newspapers which arrive each week containing complimentary references to himself I therefore appreciate his anxiety to be able to take this interesting literature to the cosey retirement of his study on Sunday. We admit the temptation is great, but in the interest of Jamaica's staid old family customs, which make the Scriptures the dominant, and sacred writings the only, Sunday literature, I would ask Mr. Palmer to reconsider the order in which he takes up his reforms, and leave the one in question until some future date. — PURITANICUS.
—The Long Island Farmer, Jamaica, NY, Feb. 22, 1895, p. 12.
Showing posts with label newspapers. Show all posts
Showing posts with label newspapers. Show all posts
Wednesday, May 28, 2008
Friday, May 23, 2008
The Age of Tidbits
1895
This is the age of tidbits. People are content to be fed by literary cat's meat men on "scraps" and to nourish the soul on journalistic essences. Such a state of things is the Nemesis of the printing press. It is so much simpler to glance at the newspaper review of books than to read the books for ourselves. As a rule, too, we merely read the startling or spicy extracts which the reviewer is compelled to tear from the context.
The result is that the ordinary person who passes some glib judgment on such a work as the "Thomas Carlyle" of Mr. Froude knows as much of its actual contents as the fashionable idiot in Dickens knew about Shakespeare's sublime tragedy of "Macbeth." To that gentleman "Macbeth" was the play in which there was "a dem'd uncomfortable woman who insists on getting up in the middle of the might and walking about the room with a lighted candle." — National Review.
This is the age of tidbits. People are content to be fed by literary cat's meat men on "scraps" and to nourish the soul on journalistic essences. Such a state of things is the Nemesis of the printing press. It is so much simpler to glance at the newspaper review of books than to read the books for ourselves. As a rule, too, we merely read the startling or spicy extracts which the reviewer is compelled to tear from the context.
The result is that the ordinary person who passes some glib judgment on such a work as the "Thomas Carlyle" of Mr. Froude knows as much of its actual contents as the fashionable idiot in Dickens knew about Shakespeare's sublime tragedy of "Macbeth." To that gentleman "Macbeth" was the play in which there was "a dem'd uncomfortable woman who insists on getting up in the middle of the might and walking about the room with a lighted candle." — National Review.
Friday, March 14, 2008
Talks on American Sunday
1902
Cardinal Gibbons Declares That the Rich Man Desecrates the Day by Newspaper Reading
In his sermon on the American Sunday at the cathedral at Baltimore, Cardinal Gibbons, among other things, said:
"It has been the boast of our country that in no nation of the world was the Christian Sabbath better respected than in the United States, but a close observer cannot fail to note the dangerous inroads that have been made on the Lord's day in this country during the last 30 years.
"The average business man of America is in a state of habitual feverish activity. He rushes through life at full steam. The one aim of his existence is to become rich. Money making is not the means, but the end, of his life. He increases his wealth, not so much for the love of it as from the fascination attached to the accumulation of a fortune.
"On Sunday mornings, as he is debarred from the conventionalities of life in going to his place of business, he seizes the morning paper and devours its contents of 20 or 30 pages, its news of stocks and bonds, or pleasures and amusements, of crime and scandal, until his whole being is saturated with this unhealthy diet. Like animals gorged with food, he spends the morning in a comatose condition."
—The Indiana Democrat, Indiana, PA, Nov. 26, 1902, p. 5.
Cardinal Gibbons Declares That the Rich Man Desecrates the Day by Newspaper Reading
In his sermon on the American Sunday at the cathedral at Baltimore, Cardinal Gibbons, among other things, said:
"It has been the boast of our country that in no nation of the world was the Christian Sabbath better respected than in the United States, but a close observer cannot fail to note the dangerous inroads that have been made on the Lord's day in this country during the last 30 years.
"The average business man of America is in a state of habitual feverish activity. He rushes through life at full steam. The one aim of his existence is to become rich. Money making is not the means, but the end, of his life. He increases his wealth, not so much for the love of it as from the fascination attached to the accumulation of a fortune.
"On Sunday mornings, as he is debarred from the conventionalities of life in going to his place of business, he seizes the morning paper and devours its contents of 20 or 30 pages, its news of stocks and bonds, or pleasures and amusements, of crime and scandal, until his whole being is saturated with this unhealthy diet. Like animals gorged with food, he spends the morning in a comatose condition."
—The Indiana Democrat, Indiana, PA, Nov. 26, 1902, p. 5.
Wednesday, June 20, 2007
He's Still Active At 88 As Editor
Iowa, 1909
D. N. Harris, editor of the Missouri Valley Times, is 88 years old and active and vigorous in his work. All his life he has remained in the work, and he shows no signs of wearing out.
In a recent issue of his paper he gives a few words in explanation of why he is still with us. They are modestly uttered, but nevertheless filled with valuable information. He remembered his creator in the days of his youth and has kept right along at it and so, according to the promise, he is living long in "the land which the Lord the God giveth."
This is the way Mr. Harris says it: "We are asked, almost daily, how we manage to retain our good health and apparent youth to the good old age of 88 years. We have no particular formula for extending life, but think it is more the goodness of God than any effort of ours. We recognize the law that gives the life of man to three score years and ten (70 years), but for cause may be extended.
"We have always taken good care of No. 1. Have lived temperate, having been a member of every temperance organization from the Washingtonians way back in the '40s down to the Good Templars, so you see that excluded intoxicating liquor from our use. We neither smoke nor chew tobacco and for many years, just before retiring at night, we drink a bowl of hot lemonade and go to bed and sleep as soundly as an innocent babe. We have never had a rheumatic pain, and while it may not be from our way of living, is certainly worth a trial. We divide our time into three equal parts, going to bed at 10 p.m., and rising at 7 a.m., and attend to business during the balance of the time. We married at 23 years of age, raising ten children, all now living.
"This is our life, good or bad as it may be, and if worthy of trial, try it. Remember, we do not say this manner of life will prolong your life, but we do say we are 88 years old, well and hearty, and willing to try it for 40 years longer."
D. N. Harris, editor of the Missouri Valley Times, is 88 years old and active and vigorous in his work. All his life he has remained in the work, and he shows no signs of wearing out.
In a recent issue of his paper he gives a few words in explanation of why he is still with us. They are modestly uttered, but nevertheless filled with valuable information. He remembered his creator in the days of his youth and has kept right along at it and so, according to the promise, he is living long in "the land which the Lord the God giveth."
This is the way Mr. Harris says it: "We are asked, almost daily, how we manage to retain our good health and apparent youth to the good old age of 88 years. We have no particular formula for extending life, but think it is more the goodness of God than any effort of ours. We recognize the law that gives the life of man to three score years and ten (70 years), but for cause may be extended.
"We have always taken good care of No. 1. Have lived temperate, having been a member of every temperance organization from the Washingtonians way back in the '40s down to the Good Templars, so you see that excluded intoxicating liquor from our use. We neither smoke nor chew tobacco and for many years, just before retiring at night, we drink a bowl of hot lemonade and go to bed and sleep as soundly as an innocent babe. We have never had a rheumatic pain, and while it may not be from our way of living, is certainly worth a trial. We divide our time into three equal parts, going to bed at 10 p.m., and rising at 7 a.m., and attend to business during the balance of the time. We married at 23 years of age, raising ten children, all now living.
"This is our life, good or bad as it may be, and if worthy of trial, try it. Remember, we do not say this manner of life will prolong your life, but we do say we are 88 years old, well and hearty, and willing to try it for 40 years longer."
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Christian Scientists to Publish Daily Paper — The Monitor
1909
Paper Devoid of Crime
It Will Be Published by the Christian Scientists in Boston
The Christian Science Sentinel of Boston announces the establishment by the church's publishing society of a new daily paper to be known as the Christian Science Monitor. The announcement in part is as follows:
"The current of human thought is setting in the direction of that which alone is real — the good that men do, not the evil. It will be the mission of the Monitor to publish the real news of the world in a clean, wholesome manner, devoid of all the sensational methods employed by so many papers. There will be no exploitation of illustration.
"The aim of the editors will be to issue a paper which will be welcome in every home where purity and refinement are cherished ideals."
Paper Devoid of Crime
It Will Be Published by the Christian Scientists in Boston
The Christian Science Sentinel of Boston announces the establishment by the church's publishing society of a new daily paper to be known as the Christian Science Monitor. The announcement in part is as follows:
"The current of human thought is setting in the direction of that which alone is real — the good that men do, not the evil. It will be the mission of the Monitor to publish the real news of the world in a clean, wholesome manner, devoid of all the sensational methods employed by so many papers. There will be no exploitation of illustration.
"The aim of the editors will be to issue a paper which will be welcome in every home where purity and refinement are cherished ideals."
Monday, May 7, 2007
Chicago Evangelist Assails Church Socials
1897
Causes a Commotion at Kewanee
Not for years have religious circles at Kewanee, Ill., been so agitated as they were the other day because of an address delivered in the M. E. church by Evangelist Lindfield, of Chicago.
Church socials and entertainments have been given by the religious organizations of the city, so many, in fact, that the evangelistic services held by Mr. Lindfield have not been well attended. In the pulpit he took clippings from the local newspapers giving the reports of such social's and read them aloud to the congregation, after which he made most scathing remarks about the Christianity which tolerated them. In the newspaper-reports there were the names of many prominent ladies of the various churches, and their sincerity was questioned by the speaker, with the result that the address has aroused much feeling and antagonism.
"When a real Christian wishes to give 25 cents to the cause of the Lord," said Mr. Lindfield, "he has no right to demand that an oyster supper be thrown in. The church social and kindred entertainments are only means of extorting money from unwilling people, and I put them in a class with the saloon and the gambling den. They are a form of robbery, and the church which accepts money from such sources is full of the works of the devil."
Especially bitter was the speaker against a Klondike social to be given the coming week at one of the large churches, and he openly ridiculed the promoters, who are among the most prominent people of the city.
—Dubuque Daily Herald, Dubuque, IA, Dec. 4, 1897, p. 3.
Causes a Commotion at Kewanee
Not for years have religious circles at Kewanee, Ill., been so agitated as they were the other day because of an address delivered in the M. E. church by Evangelist Lindfield, of Chicago.
Church socials and entertainments have been given by the religious organizations of the city, so many, in fact, that the evangelistic services held by Mr. Lindfield have not been well attended. In the pulpit he took clippings from the local newspapers giving the reports of such social's and read them aloud to the congregation, after which he made most scathing remarks about the Christianity which tolerated them. In the newspaper-reports there were the names of many prominent ladies of the various churches, and their sincerity was questioned by the speaker, with the result that the address has aroused much feeling and antagonism.
"When a real Christian wishes to give 25 cents to the cause of the Lord," said Mr. Lindfield, "he has no right to demand that an oyster supper be thrown in. The church social and kindred entertainments are only means of extorting money from unwilling people, and I put them in a class with the saloon and the gambling den. They are a form of robbery, and the church which accepts money from such sources is full of the works of the devil."
Especially bitter was the speaker against a Klondike social to be given the coming week at one of the large churches, and he openly ridiculed the promoters, who are among the most prominent people of the city.
—Dubuque Daily Herald, Dubuque, IA, Dec. 4, 1897, p. 3.
Friday, May 4, 2007
Evangelist Makes The Air Tingle: Takes On Sin, Churches, Pastors, Newspaper
Van Wert, Ohio, 1912
STIGMATIZING SHAFTS
Promise of Fur Laden Atmosphere Fully Realized Upon by Large Audience.
Evangelist Makes the Air Tingle — Critics Held Up to Shame for Adverse Comment.
By CAPLES FOSTER
The official promise issued from the platform of The Tabernacle, carrying notice that a fur-laden atmosphere would prevail at the service of last night, breaking the complacency which existed on the preceding days of the week, brought out an increased attendance and was realized upon to the fullest, the utterances of The Evangelist extending in their scope to that carnivore of the weasel family whom the experienced and informed always flee in mad haste.
Oliver spoke from the text "Turn Ye to the Stronghold," found in the book of Zechariah, in reference to protection found only in The Jehovah or in The Savior. He dealt with the subject in three divisions — The Absence of Hope, embracing the people who have no expectation of the Heavenly reward in the great hereafter, persons whose physical being is completely burned out by the disease and plague of sin and exist merely because God, in His mercy, has not struck them down; people who are confined in the prison house of condemnation, upon whom the sentence of death has already passed because they believeth not; people who are caught in the tremendous speed of the age and are rushing with the currents, unmindful of their soul's salvation because they can not extract themselves from the every day affairs of this despicable age, this shallow age, this superficial age, this age merely living on the surface; this age in which the weightier matters of the law of God and the law of home are lost sight of; this age where the dizzy rush makes life take on the appearance of a dish of succotash for the posers of piety in the church who attempt to mix religion and amusements.
Branching out into the text, Dr. Oliver spoke at length upon three phases of his subject, setting forth that certain highways lead unerringly to that blessed stronghold — The City of God. First, the Highway of Bible Study. There are too many Bibles in Van Wert considering the number that are reverently and daily read. It would be better that many never heard of the Bible than to sell the soul as Faust of old. Gen. Lew Wallace walked down the highway of Bible Study when he wrote that masterpiece Ben Hur. The highway of Bible Study is the highway to repentance, the highway of hope; it establishes the standard for living by all classes both the old and the young.
Second, the Highway of Confession. Confess your faults one to another, your sins, your transgressions. There are some who would rather go to hell than to expose their wickedness of the past; some who would rather go to Hell than tell their wives of the sins of the years gone by; some who would rather go to hell than confess that they Have lied about meetings like this; some who would rather go to hell than to have the manhood of confessing that they have lied about the ministers of the gospel. You don't have to leave Van Wert to find a great bunch of that kind. At this juncture The Evangelist gave vent to his deepest feelings and broke into the most thunderous burst of oratory ever heard in a Van Wert pulpit, in which he took recognition of contributed articles printed in The Van Wert Daily Times, under the head of "The Forum," accompanied by the explanation that the matter is the personal opinions of its readers whose names are affixed to the article. In this connection Dr. Oliver said in part:
Do you know why some men hate me in this town? Do you know why they write polecat letters for one of your newspapers in this town, which doesn't have character enough to come out boldly and attack these meetings and openly express its own opinions? It is because I have advocated that these men should clean up and confess their dirty sins, their dirty lives before God and before men. I have not read the letters to which I refer. I am a gentleman. But my attention has been called to them by prominent citizens who are sick and tired of the whole matter. I have less respect for any editor who will print such dirty stuff in his paper than I have for the polecat who will write it. There are people in this town who can never enjoy the respect of the community until they clean up in regard to moral rottenness. The pure men and the pure women are with us.
Dr. Oliver continued his remarks with a special address to husbands and wives in which it was declared with emphasis that any and all who live in adultery or are guilty of adulterous acts can not enter the Kingdom of God until they confess their sins. This section of the sermon was illustrated with a number of pointed stories touching upon disregard of the binding vows of the marriage ceremony and with the further declaration that "I have no desire to bear the story of your sins, the ministers don't want to hear these stories of your sins, but public confession of Christ is commanded by the Creator Himself.
There are people who put off decisions in this campaign in the expectation that they will slip into church after the fight is over, flip into church where a backbonelesss puppet occupies the pulpit. The man or the woman who is staying away from this meeting and fails to clean up does so because they expect to get into church on a compromise. The real soldier does not enlist after the war is over. The real soldier stands for and comes out foursquare for God and purity, for public decency, for civic righteousness and all kinds of decency. This thing of slinking around with a lot of dirty, drunken reprobates should be made a thing of the past; the floors of decent homes should be closed against the dirty bums who fight religion. The fight is on. Do you want to get on God's side or do you want to go to hell? You can draw your own conclusions about the fellows who haven't the character to come out when the fight it on.
Third, the Highway of the Church of The Lord, of Jesus Christ. It getting hard enough to find Christians within the church. There are too many who proclaim "I go to all of them." They constitute a sort of religious hobo. They go to all of them get a hand-out without paying any them. The church is the only organization on the face of the earth which is authorized to administer the sacred rights of baptism. The Bible mentions it specifically. The sweetest time the child of God has this side of Heaven is there where be has before him the emblems of the suffering of the Savior. We need the church and we need active, consecrated members. Convert, join the church and live up to, the rules. If the preacher doesn't preach to suit you tell him to shoot bigger shells. If it hurts you, go the preacher and thank him for having the backbone to preach the truth.
In closing Dr. Oliver related the story of the heart-broken soldier of the Civil War who sought an audience with the President in order that he might procure leave to go to the bedside of his dying wife, but was denied admission to the White House by the sentry, but, later, through the kind-hearted little Tad Lincoln was led into the executive mansion and was handed the much-sought for furlough, accompanied with the blessing of that great man of God, the greatest of our presidents. You can search in vain for a more beautiful story of intercession on earth without avail, until you turn to nineteen hundred years ago when one walked out, following sin-burdened, weeping humanity and said: I am the way, the salvation.
—The Van Wert Daily Bulletin, Van Wert, OH, April 5, 1912, p. 2.
STIGMATIZING SHAFTS
Promise of Fur Laden Atmosphere Fully Realized Upon by Large Audience.
Evangelist Makes the Air Tingle — Critics Held Up to Shame for Adverse Comment.
By CAPLES FOSTER
The official promise issued from the platform of The Tabernacle, carrying notice that a fur-laden atmosphere would prevail at the service of last night, breaking the complacency which existed on the preceding days of the week, brought out an increased attendance and was realized upon to the fullest, the utterances of The Evangelist extending in their scope to that carnivore of the weasel family whom the experienced and informed always flee in mad haste.
Oliver spoke from the text "Turn Ye to the Stronghold," found in the book of Zechariah, in reference to protection found only in The Jehovah or in The Savior. He dealt with the subject in three divisions — The Absence of Hope, embracing the people who have no expectation of the Heavenly reward in the great hereafter, persons whose physical being is completely burned out by the disease and plague of sin and exist merely because God, in His mercy, has not struck them down; people who are confined in the prison house of condemnation, upon whom the sentence of death has already passed because they believeth not; people who are caught in the tremendous speed of the age and are rushing with the currents, unmindful of their soul's salvation because they can not extract themselves from the every day affairs of this despicable age, this shallow age, this superficial age, this age merely living on the surface; this age in which the weightier matters of the law of God and the law of home are lost sight of; this age where the dizzy rush makes life take on the appearance of a dish of succotash for the posers of piety in the church who attempt to mix religion and amusements.
Branching out into the text, Dr. Oliver spoke at length upon three phases of his subject, setting forth that certain highways lead unerringly to that blessed stronghold — The City of God. First, the Highway of Bible Study. There are too many Bibles in Van Wert considering the number that are reverently and daily read. It would be better that many never heard of the Bible than to sell the soul as Faust of old. Gen. Lew Wallace walked down the highway of Bible Study when he wrote that masterpiece Ben Hur. The highway of Bible Study is the highway to repentance, the highway of hope; it establishes the standard for living by all classes both the old and the young.
Second, the Highway of Confession. Confess your faults one to another, your sins, your transgressions. There are some who would rather go to hell than to expose their wickedness of the past; some who would rather go to Hell than tell their wives of the sins of the years gone by; some who would rather go to hell than confess that they Have lied about meetings like this; some who would rather go to hell than to have the manhood of confessing that they have lied about the ministers of the gospel. You don't have to leave Van Wert to find a great bunch of that kind. At this juncture The Evangelist gave vent to his deepest feelings and broke into the most thunderous burst of oratory ever heard in a Van Wert pulpit, in which he took recognition of contributed articles printed in The Van Wert Daily Times, under the head of "The Forum," accompanied by the explanation that the matter is the personal opinions of its readers whose names are affixed to the article. In this connection Dr. Oliver said in part:
Do you know why some men hate me in this town? Do you know why they write polecat letters for one of your newspapers in this town, which doesn't have character enough to come out boldly and attack these meetings and openly express its own opinions? It is because I have advocated that these men should clean up and confess their dirty sins, their dirty lives before God and before men. I have not read the letters to which I refer. I am a gentleman. But my attention has been called to them by prominent citizens who are sick and tired of the whole matter. I have less respect for any editor who will print such dirty stuff in his paper than I have for the polecat who will write it. There are people in this town who can never enjoy the respect of the community until they clean up in regard to moral rottenness. The pure men and the pure women are with us.
Dr. Oliver continued his remarks with a special address to husbands and wives in which it was declared with emphasis that any and all who live in adultery or are guilty of adulterous acts can not enter the Kingdom of God until they confess their sins. This section of the sermon was illustrated with a number of pointed stories touching upon disregard of the binding vows of the marriage ceremony and with the further declaration that "I have no desire to bear the story of your sins, the ministers don't want to hear these stories of your sins, but public confession of Christ is commanded by the Creator Himself.
There are people who put off decisions in this campaign in the expectation that they will slip into church after the fight is over, flip into church where a backbonelesss puppet occupies the pulpit. The man or the woman who is staying away from this meeting and fails to clean up does so because they expect to get into church on a compromise. The real soldier does not enlist after the war is over. The real soldier stands for and comes out foursquare for God and purity, for public decency, for civic righteousness and all kinds of decency. This thing of slinking around with a lot of dirty, drunken reprobates should be made a thing of the past; the floors of decent homes should be closed against the dirty bums who fight religion. The fight is on. Do you want to get on God's side or do you want to go to hell? You can draw your own conclusions about the fellows who haven't the character to come out when the fight it on.
Third, the Highway of the Church of The Lord, of Jesus Christ. It getting hard enough to find Christians within the church. There are too many who proclaim "I go to all of them." They constitute a sort of religious hobo. They go to all of them get a hand-out without paying any them. The church is the only organization on the face of the earth which is authorized to administer the sacred rights of baptism. The Bible mentions it specifically. The sweetest time the child of God has this side of Heaven is there where be has before him the emblems of the suffering of the Savior. We need the church and we need active, consecrated members. Convert, join the church and live up to, the rules. If the preacher doesn't preach to suit you tell him to shoot bigger shells. If it hurts you, go the preacher and thank him for having the backbone to preach the truth.
In closing Dr. Oliver related the story of the heart-broken soldier of the Civil War who sought an audience with the President in order that he might procure leave to go to the bedside of his dying wife, but was denied admission to the White House by the sentry, but, later, through the kind-hearted little Tad Lincoln was led into the executive mansion and was handed the much-sought for furlough, accompanied with the blessing of that great man of God, the greatest of our presidents. You can search in vain for a more beautiful story of intercession on earth without avail, until you turn to nineteen hundred years ago when one walked out, following sin-burdened, weeping humanity and said: I am the way, the salvation.
—The Van Wert Daily Bulletin, Van Wert, OH, April 5, 1912, p. 2.
Friday, April 20, 2007
Topeka Minister's Prayer: Kill or Convert Mayor
1903
SECULAR SHOTS AT THE PULPIT
Chicago Record-Herald: A Topeka minister recently prayed that the mayor of that town might either be converted or killed, as the Lord might see fit. It is always well to give the Lord a choice in these matters.
Washington Post: The Americans who are engaged in manufacturing idols for Korea have no objections whatever to our sending missionaries to that country, as they claim they do not injure the idol business the least bit And this a cold-blooded commercial view of the missionary business.
Baltimore American: A Chicago minister preaching on pride, exhibited a dollar and said he would give it to anyone whose pride would allow him or her to admit it was needed. To his surprise it was claimed promptly. This is a business age, and the times are too busy to dally with sentiment when cash is in sight.
Chicago Post: The Methodists propose to issue a "secular" paper that will have no sporting news. Presumably, and for the same broad and intelligent reason, it will also be shy a dramatic department. Yet there are sports and sports; there are plays and plays. Clean, wholesome, unmercenary sport, the sort that makes men and women with red blood and buoyant spirits, is as essential to our everyday life and to our well being as is the gospel or the pulpit. A secular newspaper without news of such sports and pastimes will leave something sadly wanting even to the majority of Methodists.
Milwaukee Free Press: Another reason why the Episcopalians should think at least once more before changing their name to American Catholic is that the word "Catholic" is likely to be overworked. "Dr." Dowie, sometimes called Elijah II, adopted it as the name of his "church" some years ago, and has that much priority of claim — if any sect or individual has any claim to it; for there was another church with something of a claim, reaching far back. Three distinctive "Catholic" churches are too many. They would be the Catholic, or the Roman Catholic, the Christian Catholic, and the American Catholic.
—Davenport Daily Republican, Davenport, Iowa, March 5, 1903, page 4.
SECULAR SHOTS AT THE PULPIT
Chicago Record-Herald: A Topeka minister recently prayed that the mayor of that town might either be converted or killed, as the Lord might see fit. It is always well to give the Lord a choice in these matters.
Washington Post: The Americans who are engaged in manufacturing idols for Korea have no objections whatever to our sending missionaries to that country, as they claim they do not injure the idol business the least bit And this a cold-blooded commercial view of the missionary business.
Baltimore American: A Chicago minister preaching on pride, exhibited a dollar and said he would give it to anyone whose pride would allow him or her to admit it was needed. To his surprise it was claimed promptly. This is a business age, and the times are too busy to dally with sentiment when cash is in sight.
Chicago Post: The Methodists propose to issue a "secular" paper that will have no sporting news. Presumably, and for the same broad and intelligent reason, it will also be shy a dramatic department. Yet there are sports and sports; there are plays and plays. Clean, wholesome, unmercenary sport, the sort that makes men and women with red blood and buoyant spirits, is as essential to our everyday life and to our well being as is the gospel or the pulpit. A secular newspaper without news of such sports and pastimes will leave something sadly wanting even to the majority of Methodists.
Milwaukee Free Press: Another reason why the Episcopalians should think at least once more before changing their name to American Catholic is that the word "Catholic" is likely to be overworked. "Dr." Dowie, sometimes called Elijah II, adopted it as the name of his "church" some years ago, and has that much priority of claim — if any sect or individual has any claim to it; for there was another church with something of a claim, reaching far back. Three distinctive "Catholic" churches are too many. They would be the Catholic, or the Roman Catholic, the Christian Catholic, and the American Catholic.
—Davenport Daily Republican, Davenport, Iowa, March 5, 1903, page 4.
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Philosophical View of Death Taken by Lane
1921
Writes Before Operation That "Lead Kindly Light" is His Gospel
SAN FRANCISCO, May 18. — Franklin K. Lane viewed death philosophically, and during the period of his apparent convalescence he embodied his thoughts on the subject in a letter he wrote to a few personal friends, among them being Isadore Dockweiller of Los Angeles, Democratic national committeeman. Before going on the operating table at Rochester, Lane said in his letter, he had "come to the conclusion that perhaps the best statement of my creed could be fitted into the words, 'I accept,' which to me meant that if in the law of nature my individual spirit was to go back into the great ocean of spirits, my one duty was to conform. 'Lead, kindly light,' was all the gospel I had. I accepted. I made pretense to put out my hand in submission and lay there."
"I need not tell you that the whole performance was managed with considerable eclat," his letter continued, "and Dr. Will Mayo was to use the knife. * * * On the whole, it was what the society reporter would call a 'recherche' affair. * * *
"I have seen death come to men in various ways, some rather novel and western. I once saw a man hanged. And I have seen several men shot, and came very near going out that way myself two or three times, but always the other fellow aimed poorly. I was being shot at because I was a newspaperman, and I should have been shot at. There must be public be concern in what is printed, as well as its truth to justify it. That is something that newspapers should get to know in this country. After the earthquake in San Francisco, I saw walls topple out upon a man, and I have more intimate glimpses still of the picturesque and of the prosaic ways by which men come to their taking off.
"But never before have I been called upon to deliberately walk into the valley of the shadow, and, say what you will, it is a great act. * * *
"There was a long ray of light leading from my bed to my door. I had opened my eyes. I had not died — I had come through the valley. In the broad part of the ray was my wife smiling, and stretching out to that unreachable door were others whom I recognized, all smiling. Things were dim, but the mind seemed definite."
—Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California, May 18, 1921, page 2.
Writes Before Operation That "Lead Kindly Light" is His Gospel
SAN FRANCISCO, May 18. — Franklin K. Lane viewed death philosophically, and during the period of his apparent convalescence he embodied his thoughts on the subject in a letter he wrote to a few personal friends, among them being Isadore Dockweiller of Los Angeles, Democratic national committeeman. Before going on the operating table at Rochester, Lane said in his letter, he had "come to the conclusion that perhaps the best statement of my creed could be fitted into the words, 'I accept,' which to me meant that if in the law of nature my individual spirit was to go back into the great ocean of spirits, my one duty was to conform. 'Lead, kindly light,' was all the gospel I had. I accepted. I made pretense to put out my hand in submission and lay there."
"I need not tell you that the whole performance was managed with considerable eclat," his letter continued, "and Dr. Will Mayo was to use the knife. * * * On the whole, it was what the society reporter would call a 'recherche' affair. * * *
"I have seen death come to men in various ways, some rather novel and western. I once saw a man hanged. And I have seen several men shot, and came very near going out that way myself two or three times, but always the other fellow aimed poorly. I was being shot at because I was a newspaperman, and I should have been shot at. There must be public be concern in what is printed, as well as its truth to justify it. That is something that newspapers should get to know in this country. After the earthquake in San Francisco, I saw walls topple out upon a man, and I have more intimate glimpses still of the picturesque and of the prosaic ways by which men come to their taking off.
"But never before have I been called upon to deliberately walk into the valley of the shadow, and, say what you will, it is a great act. * * *
"There was a long ray of light leading from my bed to my door. I had opened my eyes. I had not died — I had come through the valley. In the broad part of the ray was my wife smiling, and stretching out to that unreachable door were others whom I recognized, all smiling. Things were dim, but the mind seemed definite."
—Oakland Tribune, Oakland, California, May 18, 1921, page 2.
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