The herald., 1895-04-10

! Congregational church, San Francisco
read a paper before the Congregations
club of that city on Monday, March 25th
| in which the absence of the Christ-spiri
| and the presence of economic and socio
| logical ignorance are equally apparent
| Rev. Brown does not hesitate to say some
very severe ana sarcastic things of hi.
! brother in the Lord, but he is evidently
very much opposed to giving DIR. Heron
| an opportunity to use the same free
speech before the same audience in de-
| fense of his motives and the course he sc
i ably represents.
! OF course DR.. Brown accuses DR.. Her
ron of socialism and anarchism' in the
same phrase. showing that he is ignorant
of the real meaning OF either term, as {.
man can no more be both socialist and
anarchist than he can simultaneously
ride two horses running in opposite dl-
| rections.
The following verbatim quotations will
give the reader a fair idea OF DIR. Brown
if not of DR.. Heron: "ln his apology it
is said that his rhetoric is accountable for
books. MOI When be pleads tor the
overthrow of institutions. that is what he
means. When he says that possessors of
wealth prey upon society, that is what
he means When he says the people
ought to assume control of the instru-
menus OF prouuctlon, tnaJ is What He
means.
"He is an anarchist. but he does not
believe in dynamite. Yet his teachings
have great weight. He has but to touch
the button and the will do the rest.
Judged by the ordinary laws of human
speech, the man who says such things
who repeats them in lectures and prints
order. The danger of such morals
is not lessened by the pious cant of the
drama or the solemn role of the prophet.
(Why not stone him, Brother Brown
as your class used to do in the days of the
martyr. stephen? Or perhaps you would
prefer that the federal judges should
sentence him for contempt or the Pin
kertons or militia shoot HIM, and in that
case you might do your part by holding
the clothes of the champions OF Law
and order.'o
But listen once more to Rev. Brown:
The sand lots and the wild mouthings
of Dennis Kearny are well remem pered.
But Dennis kearny never said anything
worse than that interest is robbery, that
institutions are despots. that property
owners prey upon society and that the
people ought Immediately to assume con-
troll of the instruments of production.
Dennis Kearny is still here to give
hearty welcome to the nam who comes
with such words. "
~ iilt Cltilb VI tDt CluD ~ HAY Dc Sulu
that Rev Brown did not have things all
his own way. Among those who anwered
the divine pugilist-who closed by
threat to secede from the club rather
than seem to endorse George ID. Heron
-were Rev. DR.. Cole, Rev. Joseph Rollins
and Rev. Mr.. Rominger who secuted the
idea of CHASING Dr. Heron with anarch-
ISIS. and added; If the church is on the |
wrong basis let heaven shake it down. !
Beecher, Briggs and Brooks all underwent /
criticism. Tne spirit manifested in the |
paper today is playing into the hands of !
lniidels. The treatment of Briggs by the
Presbyterians made more intidels than
hundred Ingersolls would have done"
Rev. DR.. Gilbert Dexter very sensibly
Are we afraid of the shadow
of Heron? Mercy. give the man a chance
to speak and if he is wrong try to correct
him.
Rev. John Kimball was evidently non
for he simply said ~ have
nothing further to say than this, that
young Professor Heron is getting vast
amount of advertising.
Rev. Dr.. French said: II have read
Herron's IS works and have been helped by
them, and consider DR.. Brown S criticism |
unjust and untalled for and unchristian."
DIR. Mclean was not inclined to ndorse
Heron but regarded pr. Browns paper
a tritle too pronounced" and expressed
SUI PRISE AT IcdlIllS IleJIOIl dS /
the embodiment of conceit.
Rev. Mr.. Henderson said
As piece of satire the paper is de-
clded success. If He ron is unreliable as
DR.. Brown has been unfair | will take to
the woods.
Rev. Mr.. Fuller regretted that Dr.
Brown did not understand the spirit of
DR.. Heron' At the Inclusion of the
discussion the question whether the club
would indorse Dr. Heron came up but
action was deferred until after the next |
meeting, when the Rev. f. Pullen was
to give paper on the True View of DR.. !
Heron. Then Brown arose and said |
that the discussion had been lively but
he thought the brethren loved one an
but impelled by a sudden impulse sprang
to his feet and eXcll:med heartily: Il
never loved the brethren as much as | do |
today. You have all the courage of your
and did not hesitate to ex-
press your opinions. | love you lots" | |
presume if DIR. Heron had appeared Just
ut that moment the enthusiastic Brown
would have hugged the expounder of ap-
piled Christianity TO his bosom and said |
Almost thou persuadest me to be an
applied Christian
Brother Brown is not unlike tie be
wldered Indian who when hunting for
his wigwam, fancied that it was mot
lnuldn Dut tetpec tUdJ WAS lOSt. lie |
has become so lost in the midst of mann |
mon and the jungle OF theology that he |
he regards Christ. Heron. scripture and |
common sense and not Brown "ost in |
ths discussion over the advent of applied |
OF course. as he says, DR.. Heron does |
mean that the existing order must be |
either overthrown or exchanged to give |
room for one in harmony with the spirit |
IF Him for whom our civilization it |
rather misnamed. And what |
sane person-especially gospel minister |
in view of economic conditions which |
nave forced no less than 5000, 900 men |
md women to the verge of paupersm |
md starvation, does not indorse the |
,
OF course he means that. as a rule. |
the ich prey upon society," Otherwise |
heir possessions would correspond nearer |
10 what they save. They prey upon So
:iety in various ways-by appropriating, |
and manipulating surplus |
ands and means which the community |
oilers, an not the rich idlers, have earned !
,y unrequited labor They prey upon
society by Sinking taxes. which are
yrune to the uttermost farthing from the |
poorer classes. That the rich do this in |
arge measure thoughtlessy, unitention-
lily and through the binding and decep-
live trend and fog of competitive habit |
md usage, rather than criminal design, |
IS no doubt true, but that it is done. and |
constantly becoming more and more ap-
parent to the common mind is not less |
rue. Hear what Dr. w. $. Rainsford, |
D. D., not a crank nor an anarchist. but |
the distinguished rector OF st. Ge. fge's