THE PRESS AND THE PULPIT.

Grey River Argus, Volume XV, Issue 1899, 7 September 1874, Page 3

THE PRESS AND THE PULPIT.

An interesting lecture, of which the following is merely a sketch, was given in 25th August, at Emerald-hill, Melbourne, by the Rev. T. Bird :— Mr Bird, in commenting on the relationship between the press and the pulpit, stated that it was only simple justice to say that, as a rule, the modern press was an impartial tribunal, and as a quick detective of all social frauds. As guardians of tho morals and freedom of the community, the newspapers were co-worker 3 with the pulpit. The high character and tone of the English and colonial press of the present day fully justified the conclusion that the balance was largely in favor of the good. It must be admitted that the pulpit had looked with some jealousy on the advancing power of the press, but it was too often forgotten that its true force was the force of reason and perswasion, and there was little doubt that its criticism had upon the whole a healthy effect on the pulpit. The lecturer traced the history of the press from its earliest period, and gave a brief account of its marvelous growth and advancement in later years. In the time of the Stuarts, the new-bora press bore no insignificant part and exerted considerable influence on the public mind.- At the period of wars between Charles I. and his Parliament, some of the highest names that could be mentioned in English literature were those of men who spent a considerable part of their time in writing for the press. The press had its martyrs as well as the pulpit, and on some of the literary stars of the first magnitude the honor of suffering in the noble cause of liberty and truth had been bestowed. The pulpit, to most minds, seemed a subject so essentially different from the press that no link could be found between them, but a little reflection would show that their mission was harmonious. As an institution with a Divine origin the pulpit had no peer on earth. There was an impression abroad that the pulpit was losing its power, that its day had passed, that it had now become obselete, and that the pulpit was to be superseded by the press as the oracle of liberty, equality, and fraternity. He thought men generally were less religious than they were ; that the popular faith was more inquisitive and less subtle, and therefore had less vitality and force in daily life. But it was hardly to "be wondered at that, men whose energies were spent in the daily train of thought and work should be less disposed to bear tbe yoke of religious service. Relatively, j therefore, there was reason to believe that the pulpit had lost its power, but that it had been modified by the social temperament of the age. The claims of the pulpit had been widely questioned, and its dominion was said to be less comprehensive and less complete than before. He, however, firmly believed that the pulpit had a future in view. Whatever was stamped with Divine ordination men would not willingly let die. Moreover, it had been truly. said that the church jvss never richer in intellectual ability and wisdom than at the present day. In conclusion, he expressed a hope that the functions of the Press and the pulpit would become more allied to each other, and he longer! to see a Christian press, in which tho editorial authority should be the voice of the people and the voice of God. At the conclusion of the lecture a hearty vote of thanks was accorded to tho lecturer.