The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-11
FATHER YORKE'S
LATEST LECTURE
+" Figs of Thistles, or the
Preachers in the
Pacific
Some Humorous References to
His Connection With a
Libel Suit.
Caustic Charges Against Protestant
Missionaries in New z aland
and Hawaii.

Rev. P. c. Yorke lectured to crowded
house at Metropolitan Temple last nilht
on Figs of Thisties, or the Preachers in
the Pacific" The enthusiasm of the audi
ence at times vented itself in frequent
applause.
The platform was filed with church dig
nitaries and laymen of note. f. ]. Kierce
acted as chairman and introduced the
speaker.
The chairman paid a feeling tribute to
Father O'Neill and specified that the iec-
ture was in behalf of the Church of Our
Lady of the Loretto, situated at Noyato.
In effect Father Yorke spoke as follows:
"Mr. Chairman and ladies and gentle
men: Here l am by the grace of God
and the favor of the Police Court. You
have all no doubt heard OF the grave
charge preferred against me.
II am accused of libeling man who is
as far removed from libel as he is beneath
contempt. However l don't profess to be
able to tell one bad egg from another.
Hudeison was bad enough for leader,
but it is awful to think OF Thistleton.
did you ever hear of the Irishman who
wanted q soft snap on board ship, and who
chose to take his place at the wheel be-
cause he could sit down? Well, he was
told to keep his eye on the north star and
steer directly for it.
"He did till he fell asleep. and when he
awoke found that the north star was be-
hind the vessel. The ship had turned
round. Calling for the captain in loud
tones, he said: Captain, we have passed
the north star. What shall we steer by
now?'
THAT is the way with the beetle proved.
hau hau Hud
ing new leader 10 steer by. If Thistle
ton is their choice they seem to have Sc
lected one whom they can follow by the
smell.
''In last July-to return to ancient his
tory-a man named J. NJ. Alexander, re-
siding in Oakland, which fact in itself is
an excuse for multitude of sins, took it
upon himself to take up the gauntlet with
regard to some remarks anent the mis-
sionaries in the Pacific.
II was out of town at the time, and be-
sides had my hands full attending to
larger game. That game is bagged, and
may be pardoned for returning 10 con-
sderation of the smaller fry.
What l intend TO say TO you tonight
about those missionaries shall be entirely
on the authority of Protestant authors.
and from them / am justified in saying
that the word missionary is stencil in
the nostrils of civilization. This language
may seem harsh, but see if the facts do
not warrant it.
in 1914 Rev. Mr.. Marsden of the Eng
lish church and the Wesleyan convention
went to New Zealand. There he pur-
chased 200 acres from the natives for a
dozen axes. The secret OF the new coun-
try was too good TO keep, so he sent the
blessed news to the others. They came
and systema tically went to work at land.
grabbing.
I'VE have a record of 14OO acres being
bought for forty-eight axes, and from
1880 to 1885 the missionaries acquired
possession of twenty-nIne square miles of
territory. The annals show that among
others one Kemp secured $4,000 acres, one
King 0,300 one Shepard 1850 and H.
Williams, who at first got hold of II 900
acres and found he had soft thing, finally
ended by laying his clutches on $1,000
acres.
THE scandal finally became so great
that 1t reached England. and though