The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1895-01-21
FROM liz PULPIT.
Rev. Mr.. Roberts Delivers Sermon
Upon Tucsdty's Fatal Explosion.

Rev. Mr. Roberts Delivers Sermon
Upon Tucsd, y's Fatal Explosion.
BUTTE, Jan. 20.-Rev. l. Newton Rob-
erts, at the Presbyterian church this even
ing, preached on the subject, "Our
Sorrow" The text was XIV. 8, "A Horror
Stricken City" He said: Tho pen of
the ready writer has furnished us heart
rending and vivid portraiture of the fear
full calamity that befell the city Tuesday
evening last and day by day has depicted
to us IN words of keen felt sorrow that
awful grief of our city, and the intense
suffering of the victims of this enormous
disaster"
He did not intend TO eulogizc the heroic
dead. His intention was rather TO bring
before the notice of his hearers a few les
sons that forcibly claim attention and
consideration at this time. lie said:
First a better respect for law is de-
manded of us as citizens of this common
wealth. We have the reputation all the
world over as law makers and also as law
breakers. II seems to me that If a man,
or corporation has the required amount
OF money, he is exempt from the eXac-
tons OF the law. There is no doubt but
that the ordinance regulating the guam
tity of the dangerous explosive that
caused this recent catastrophe that should
be allowed within the limits of orr
city has been ignored right
along, and probably is ignored this
very hour. Added law is of no earthly adj
vantage TO us. 1t would be better for us
If it had not existed for in this case the
fire Tuesday evening would have been
severely avoided by everybody. But our
brave and heroic firemen, not knowing
that our merchants dlsregarde1 this law,
flew to their duty and to their sad and
sorrowful death. The time has now
come, however, for reformation in this
respect. We have officers whose duty it
is to see to it that laws are respected and
enforced.
Il don't wish to be understood as cast
ing any reflections whatsoever upon our
officials, either high or low. But l am
bound TO say this that if the officers who
eXerted themselves SO nobly Tuesday
evening, and are still continuing to do so.
had simply performed their duty as the
clty's guardians before hand, our daily
newspapers would have not had this awful
and distressing subject to write about.
Another thing claiming our attention is
the investigation that has been inaugur-
ated in our midst. As citizens of this
commonwealth it is our bounden duty to
see TO 1t that it shall be thorough, just
and impartial. Let the blame be cast
upon HIM who is guilty. Let neither fear
or favor influence those chosen to prose-
cute this work, and If any citizen is in
possession of knowledge concerning the
condition of those fatal warehouses and
railroad cars that will facilitate these
men in the performance of their
duty. let them come forward
and give their testimony like men; fear
ing no one; favoring no one. And when
the jury arrives at satisfactory con-
cluson as to whom the responsible per-
sons are, then let the law be meted out to
him or them as the case may be, in such
n manner as shall teach them that even
in Butte, the time has come when the law
must be supreme and its infraction pun
ished.
"The lesson which this dire disaster
conveys to us very forcibly indeed is the
great evil of regarding the violation of our
laws lightly. No doubt, my friends,
vIolators of the law have been condoned
and set at liberty in our county of late.
tell you that the laws of a country, prop
erly enforced, are a better protection for
II against its foes than a standing army
of million strong. because the laws,
when properly administered and en-
forced, form an effectual preventive
against internal foes who, like that insili-
GUS disease cancer, undermine the very
foundation of our commonwealth"
The speaker said that other lessons are
taught by this catastrophe, and one of
them Is that life here OH earth is uncer-
tain, il also reminds us of the frailty and
hrsvity of life. Mans life is like win
ter's day; the necessity of making the
best of our short period of existence in this
life is very wildly and forcibly brought
before us by this disaster. Tho RESPONSE
bility of getting in readiness for the last
call depends very largely upon ourselves.
Nothing can compensate for a lack of
preparation, Only those who shall be
ready shall enter the gate of life.