Page:History of Oregon Newspapers.pdf/134

Rh Appomattox was his victory. . . . The glory of Hamilton is the greatness of America.

Religion and theology, in their many phases, were, it is fairly generally agreed, Mr. Scott's favorite subject of thought and writing. (13).

This study, apparently, was not only an intellectual hobby but an outlet for the expression of his deeply religious nature. His first few years on the Oregonian's editorial tripod did not produce any great volume of this type of matter; but from 1875, when he was a fairly regular contributor to the Pacific Christian Advocate and the New Northwest, and 1877, when he resumed editorship of the Oregonian, after a five-year hiatus, and began his long series of many hundred editorials on matters of religious and theological thought, right through to 1910, when he laid down his pen, this type of matter loomed large in his thinking and writing.

Contrary to the attitude of the majority of editors, Mr. Scott believed matters of religion were fit subjects for discussion in the newspapers.

"Will you pardon me, he wrote a Portland pastor (14), when I say that I do not think that the pulpit has the sole right to present religious or theological opinions to the public? You must be aware of the tendency of modern critical thought, which studies religion from the standpoint of the universal history of man, and regards Christianity, not as the exclusive and absolute religion, nor as the final form and ultimate expression of all religious truth, but simply as one of the many religions of the world. Again, since this religion does not contain all truth for all men, still less can any one of the innumerable "doxies" into which it is subdivided.

As a general newspaper, taking note of the movement of the thought of the world, the Oregonian cannot ignore a subject which has so large a part of the progressive world's attention. . .."

In Christianity as a "revealed" religion he did not believe, yet he was steadfast in his advocacy of Christian ethics and principles. To him Christianity was not the religion but one of the religions. Religion to him was greater than Christianity—each great religion filling the particular need of its own time and race.

For materialism, irreligion, and scoffing he expressed deep dislike. This editor recognized the Roman Catholic church as probably the most comfortable church home for those who do not want to think about their religion but wish rather to "repose on authority."

As early as 1876 (February 8) Scott had expressed himself in terms unfavorable to Thomas Paine, the idol of so many so-called free thinkers in religion. In an article in the New Northwest, edited