The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-01-20
CASE W|THDRAWS CENSURE
He Transfers the Blame From
the Supervisors to the
People.
The Reverend Doctor Says Too Much
Apathy Exists Toward Dives
and Other Evils.

The Rev. DR.. w. w. Case submits the
following in regard to a prelude deliv-
cred by him some time ago from his
pulpit concerning the lawlessness in the
City:
When have to speak strongly against sin
and wickedness John the Baptist and Savona-
righteousness by the Grace of God. But how
did they preach? Not in general distractions,
but concretely, wildly, really. John rebuked
the various classes and told them the truth in
detail, the publicans, soldiers, etc. SavonaroIa
did not stop at colorless talk about things in
general but attacked definite, popular sins,
and was not afraid of exposing the connection
OF sin with Church and State.
How Luther preached RICH teousness is shown
among much else by his work on trade and
usury. This is just what we all need for our
selves and for all; concrete. straight, plain
preaching OF righteousness. Sin has crept into
laws and principles and lives in business
methods and IN social customs. 1t must be
sought out and followed up there.
The divine law, Glove thy neighbor as thy
self" has not been repealed or modified by its
author, nor has the Golden Rule become obso-
lete in theory, though nearly SO in practice. /
seem to hear the voice of God speaking to US in
tones of thunder as in the olden time, saying,
"Cry aloud, spare not, show my people their
transgressionsP
Two weeks ago, in a short prelude from this
platform, reference was made to the disgusting
billboards and open dives and other abomina.
with some warm tn, for these places where vice
vulgarity and immortality of every sort run riot
without let or hiadrance confront us on al
most every street downtown and fire our
righteous Indignation whenever we are COM
PEELED to pass that way. 1t is well known that
these places are disgrace to civilization,
cancerous tumor on the face of civilized soci-
ETY., loathsome carbuncle on the neck of the
body polite.
In an off-hand way, in the prelude referred
to, the Supervisors were blamed for this
wretched state of things. In reply to the pub
Ished report of the remarks, one of the Super
visors offered last week series of resolutions
in which the speaker was dealt with in lively
and most classical style. An editor has kindly
said the resolutions were unbecoming the dig
nifty of public officer, and that itwas in bad
taste to treat preacher of the gospel so
rudely.
AS to the good or bad taste in the matter the
public will decide. But so far as respect for
the cloth is concerned, speaking for myself, l
ask for no quarter, no favor on account of my
profession or calling. One who enters the field
OF controversy and attacks the administration
of men in Office must not expect to hide him
self beneath the cloak of his calling, however
high that calling may be. and demand or ex-
pect mercy or leniency from those whom he
criticiZes. / am set in defense of truth and
righteousness, and intend to strike vice and
wickedness of every sort with the heaviest
possible blows wherever opportunity is given,
or occasion calls for 1t.
When find myself in the wrong, or discover
that have been unjust to another, hasten to
make amends 1t is always my purpose to
treat men anu M6HSuTcS IhlTly. IN the llRnt
now have it is evident criticized the wrong
parties when / laid the blame for the non-exe-
cution of the laws to the Supervisors. ! find
the anti-diye Jaw in most respects all that could
be desired. There is an ordinance against in
decent acts, which is probably all that is neceS.
sary to outlaw the obscene billboards, though
am told it has never been tested.
There is no head-no executive head-to our
City Government. The Mayor has no author
ity, the Supervisors have none, and 1t seems
that no one feels himself at all responsible for
he inn nf he do In it1fa
OF good City government Since it is clear that
the Supervisors have no power to execute laws,
here and now withdraw the censure passed
upon them, as publicly as uttered it, and ac-
knowledge the injustice done them uninten-
tionally in these TWO particulars and l thank
them for gently calling my attention to the
error, SO that they may be in this public man.
ner exOnerated from all blame in those matters.
The difficulty in the way of the execution of
the law not being chargeable to the Supervis-
ors the question arises, Who is to blame2
What about the police department? Are they
doing all within their powerr What about
the police judges2 Are they doing all that can
be done to bring law-breakers to grief? What
OF the people who clamor for the suppression
of the dives and gambling hells? Are we do
ing our duty?
Without doubt the greatest condemnation
should be heaped upon the heads of the people
SO apathetic that no effort is being made to Sc
cure reign of law in this City. We have
who know the facts that no law is so fiagrantly
and constantly violated as the one prohibiting
low concert halls and dives.
Where is the reform movement so vigorous q
little while ago? Is the anti-dive sentiment
only passing emotion, mere ripple on the
surface of society? Was it nothing more than
political pony few months ago? Where are
the people who will stand together to see
better state of things brought about in the
City? These Augean stables must be cleaned
out These resorts, defiled by Glasses and
Lasses and Asses. are as filthy as the gutter
and as deadly as the sewer gas.
Any one of you has the right to lodge COM
plant and the prosecuting attorney will be
compelled to bring the offender to trial Who
will take the initiative in inaugurating this
new crusade against iniquities as old as Sodom
and as corrup: as hell?
The Christian Association.