The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-05-18
Denounces the Claim That Il
Sprang Full Pledged Into
Existence.
RESPECTS TO FATHER YORKE.
That Gentleman Taken to Task for
His Remarks Concerning the
Protestant Clergymen.

Rev. A. NJ. Russell of the Hamilton
square Baptist Church was the drawing
card at the Good Citizenship meeting at
Metropolitan Hall yesterday. His address
was preceded by the customary prelimi-
naries and patriotic vocal solo by Miss
Emma Russell.
Zow said:
We are pleased to welcome you here again
to-day. We realize the fact that our growing
strength is creating alarm among the enemy
to free thought, enlightenment, patriotism
and broad Americanism.
Somebody's bull has been gored, judging
from the believing OF some obscure advocates
OF superstition and enemies OF progression.
They cannot bear the searchlight OF intelli-
gence turned upon them, and their malicious
spirit is aroused when the truth is spoken of
them. They are constrained TO acknowledge
our success and that the masses OF the intelli-
gent people are being convinced of the jus tice
OF our principles, and that in aiding us to sus-
tain our humanitarian teaching they are as
sisting in the furtherance of the greatest good
TO the greatest number.
This is movement OF the people-one that
will relieve them OF the oppression OF design
ing ecclesiastical and political slavery, and
which will secure to all the right to eXer-
else and follow the dictates of their own con-
science.
The opponent, who can only resort to Wifi
cation, TO the use OF filthy epithets, and who
stigmatizes all that is said as lie, because he
cannot meet his antagonist with sound argu-
ment, will be compelled to receive the just
censure OF his fellow-man.
Why are the advocates OF lost cause so
incensed al the advancement of the right, so
agitated at the present time? 1t is because
they read the writings on the wall; they real
ize that they can no longer deprive the people
of their just rights; that the people will
think, and that by thinking they will recog-
nize who are their true and unselish friends.
The present political enlightenment of the
people is thorn in the side of those who have
so long deceived them, and have reaped a
golden harvest as the fruits of their deceit.
They realize that the day of retribution is at
hand and that they can no longer thrive on
their lll-gotten gains.
When the source of their vast revenue is cut
off you will see the dishonest deceivers of the
masses leaving the monasteries, parochial
schools and pretended places of worship and
turning States evidence, resulting in full
presentation OF the evidence on the part OF
honesty and goodwill to man, and bringing
with il the restoration OF the free and untram-
meled enjoyment of all the benefits secured to
the American people by the Constitution OF
our country.
Another cause of congratulation is that we
have actually captured the Catholic Church.
1t was not so long ago that they refused to
permit the remains OF en- old soldier to be car
ried into their church because IL was wrapped
in the American flag, but now they are beg
ging to have our old veterans taken into their
ediices, and even ask them to bring along
their ffe and drums, and insist upon the
American flag being used 10 enwrap the cas-
ket. To this change of heart we have con-
verted them by sound argument.
Rev. A NJ. Russell was then introduced,
and began by saying:
Before taking up the, subject proper of my
Yorke has been and first pay my respects to
him.
He says am utterly unknown and very
self TO do me the service of making me
known.
Now, if am such a poor, little, weak thing
wouldn't the great giant crush me under his
paw, or is he masquerading under lambs
skin, and when he opens his mouth does he
not betray what he really is?
For his high talents ! have the greatest re-
spect; for his billingsgate / have the most
| supreme contempt. 1t smells OF the fish
market.
About three weeks ago l came here to try
and help the Catholics. Wouldn't he now
give one Sunday afternoon TO help the cause
OF the A. P. A. by coming here and speaking
to you? am sure he ought TO and / am sure,
too, that he could tell you many things of which
neither you nor have at present any knowl
edge. He could bring many things out of the
dark and into the light which would en-
tighten US.
1t is dastardly thing to have secret So
cieties, such the A. 2. A, but it is all right
in the case OF the Y. NJ. l.
He then threw up to me my poverty. In
this connection l cannot help thinking that
he and his kind would not be so rich If they
had not so many dextrous-what shall call
it (sppealing to the audience)?
Highway robbery" shouted voice in
the gallery.
twill take the words suggested" said
the speaker, and then continued after a
pause, 'of the living and the dead"
He then referred to published report
that Bishop Ireland had lost 81, COO, 900 in
land speculation as substantiating his
claim that the priesthood of the Catholic
church were seeking to enrich themselves
at the expense of their Pensioners. He
continued:
My lecture is simply on this topic, "Where
did Romanism come from; or the history of
the great Roman Hierarchy"
The Roman Catholic church stands today
about the best organized body in the world
and she has any amount of wealth. but it does
not belong to the common people. The idea
that q Bishop should lose $1,O0OOO0 in q
land deal shows how well they are intrenched.
They have millions and millions stored away,
and all in the hands of the priets and higher
church officials.
The Roman Catholic church is not the
church of the New Testament. The church of
the New Testament has no head except Jesus
Christ The church of the New Testament has
no rites of a spectacular nature: has no bowling
TO images has no confession except to God.
Neither has it any purge torial fire. 1t has hell
fire, but the Catholics have added an extra
furnace.
There is no temporal power or authorityvested
in any one by the New Testament, and if Rome
were religiously right she would not be politi-
cally wrong.
When you hear any man say that the Roman
Catholic church came fuil-fedged from Jesus
Christ you may put him down as fool or q
knaye Romanism is the result of vast
aggregation of circumstances extending
through many centuries.
The speaker then described in detail the
evolution of the Roman Catholic church
and the priesthood in connection there
with. He declared that priests were made
part of the machinery OF the Roman
Cotholic church to conciliate and attract
the Jews and pagans, and that patronage,
power and persecution" have been the in
spring motives of the church and its adj
herents.
Rev. Mr.. Russell then denounced as in
excusaple and unchristian the practice IL e
attrip uted to the Catholic church authori-
ties of exhibiting the coat in which Christ
was said to have been crucified and the
cross on which he expired. He stated that