The San Francisco call., 1895-11-25
The Junior Order of American
Mechanics Attend Divine
Service.
SERMON BY REV. w. w. CASE.
His Theme Was on Political and Re.
ligious Liberty-Good Citizen.
ship Meeting.

The members of the Junior Order of
American Mechanics on the Sunday before
Thanksgiving attend divine worship either
as individuals or as councils. Last even
ing large number of the members of the
various councils in this City met in Shiels
Hall on O'Farrell street, where they organ.
lied and each pinning the tri-colored badge
of the order on the left lapel of his coat,
formed in double file and marched to the
Howard street Methodist Episcopal
Church, Rev. Westwood w. Case pastor.
The rail in front of the organ was taste
fully draped with the stars and stripes and
the pastors desk was also decorated with
the flag of the country, while in front was
liberal display of flowers. The members
of the order were assigned to seats re-
served for them in the front of the auditor
ium, and the remainder of the pews were
filled.
The service commenced with an organ
voluntary, which was followed by the
singing of "John Browns Body" bv the
choir, the congregation joining in the
chorus.
After a prayer the Rev. Mr.. Case
preached a sermon on Democratic, Re-
publican, Popular, Civil and Religious
| Liberty"
| The Junior Order of American
| Mechanics was not so named because
! the members are workers in the various
| trades, but because they are the vigorous
| builders of the Nation, not only the build
ers but its defenders.
The purpose of the founders of this coun-
| try, he said, was to establish democratic,
republican, popular, civil and religious
/ liberty, to make il a land of democratic
| liberty, not monarchy, but one ruled by
| the people. He then gave definition of
Democracy and Republicanism and added
that there is in this City not only popular
| freedom, but civil freedom under the rule
of the people and religious freedom which
gives every one the right to worship as his
conscience dictates, providing he does not
disturb the peace of the community in
which he lives, nor interfere with the
rights of others. Religion is purely
individual matter. This Government, he
said, is the only one in which religion is
severed from the State, not as matter of
tolerat1on, but as an inalienabe right
which has descended from the earliest
times.
| He asked if there is cause for alarm in
this country at this time; if there is anv
danger and added that any nation that
sets itself against the Lord cannot survive.
The young men who belong to the organi-
zation that had come to worship will in
energy for good or evil.
The country, he said, is in danger from
| three causes-atheism, Mormonism and
Roman Catholicism. At this time, he
said, there is no philosophical nor theo-
retical atheism, but practical atheism and
if this prevail the Nation will become one
without hope.
He did not go to football games,
where there is a rush and crush, where
| one player has his head broken, another
! his arm broken, another his back broken
tries to get ahead. This, he said, was a
good illustration of the world of business,
which is rough and tumble, in which, by
deception, fraud and dishonesty each tries
| to advance.
He then devoted himself to Romanism
and charged that the hierarchy is seeking
to gain control of the country. He de-
nounced the principle of church seeking
to gain political supremacy, and declared
that if the Methodist church attempted to
gain such political power it should be
driven out. He did not oppose any indi-
vidual doing as he pleased in political
sense, but was opposed to any church
gaining control of any nation. For the
| hierarchy to gain control of this country he
said would mean farewell to principles of
liberty, and asked if the people of the
| United States deserved such reign.
| He spoke of the public school system
and concluded by asking the Junior Me-
chanics to lift their voices against the
encroachment of any religious sect upon
the Government and the schools.
Several times during his address the
speaker was loudly applauded. The ser
vice closed by the singing of America"
followed by the benedicrion.