The San Francisco call., 1896-02-28
FINAL PROOFS Of
DONALD NJ, ROSS.
The Eloquent A. P. A.
Champion Closes His
Argument.
THE COURTS DECISION.
Major Sherman Declares the
Quotations Are From Cath.
oliC Works.
AN IMMENSE GATHERING
thousands Attend the Meeting and It
Passes Off With Two Slight
Disturbances.

twice during the early part of the pro-
ceedlngs last night in Metropolitan Temple
there were interruptions that might. have
developed ln,o serious disturbances had il
not been for the prompt aid of the score
or more OF police officers who were present.
Kew. Donald NJ. Ross delivered his fourth
and hnal lecture on the propositions which
he aIhrmed were true in regard TO the Ro-
man Catholic church and which Rev.
Peter Z. Iorke denied. He then summa-
llzed all the citations and evidence he had
submitted on the four nights, and Major
Edwin a. Sherman. the court commits
sioner elected on Monday night by the
audience, rendered his decision, declaring
that the speaker had thoroughly sustained
mis- position on each and all OF the propo-
sit!ons.
Major Edwin A. Sherma made his ap-
pearance on the platform to deliver his
opening remarks to the crowded audience
promptly at the hour of 8. He had ut
tered but few words with reference to
what he called the attack made on him by
Father Yorke when he came to these
words:
81 cannot handle the weapons of Peter
c. C.Yorke."
applause and an almost imperceptible
Kissing. While the demonstration was
dying out, above it rose the shout ot gen.
tleman near the entrance to the audito-
rum.
II am here to defend him." he cried.
Take him OUT Put him out" and
volleys of Kisses came from various parts
of the house, and about half the audience
rose to their feet to get. look at the bold
faxu de
not a riot, seemed imminent, But the
offender was quietly led from the hall by
police officer and the speaker continued:
Had he not attacked my military record, that
IS as clear as the sunlight, would simply have
ignored him.
He then reviewed that portion of his
life and added that he was now enjoying a
service pension from Uncle Sam for par
ticipation III the Mexican War, and that he
had refused TO collect the pension granted
him when he was mustered out for dis
ability incurred on the field Of battle. He
then went on:
AsIsaid l do not use the weapon of Peter c.
Yorke. l do say this, however. He is the
most vicious hog in the nasty stye of the
Roman Catholic church. wild applause.l
And Will say further that his tongue cannot
distill one drop of truth. We viii now have d
little music. lLaughier.l
After Mrs. Jessie Brock Morgan had
rendered a vocal solo Major Sherman
again spoke. He said:
l did not seek this position. I took 1t be-
cause felt it to De duty which owed to
God, TO my country, myself and my brother
Mason, DR.. Ross, and carried out my fraternal
obligations to him. Istand with him to the
last, if fall We must, but we fear nothing The
serpent is gnawing on file, his teeth are
nearly worn out, and in the end will bite him
self
Chairman Hubbell then announced that
T. c. Ryan OF Columbus, Ohio, was on
his way to the coast to deliver
series of lectures under the auspices of
Council II, A. P. A, beginning Sunday
night. He then asked the ushers to pass
the collection baskets, and a considerable
sum was realized, TO be used in defraying
the expenses of the series of lectures which
concluded last night.
Rev. Donald NJ. Ross, escorted by Major
Sherman, then came forward, and the lee
turer's appearance was greeted with ap-
plause, which continued for some time.
Hardly had Mr.. Ross reached his desk
when gentleman in the gallery on the
right arose and shouted at him:
Mister, can 1 ask one or two ques-
tions2"
His interruption was met with storm
OF misses from the audience. When this
died out he began again:
II asked him TO permit"
But he was headed off by Chairman
Hubbell, who shouted to him to sit down,
ence. He finally sat down, and then came
applause and yells to put him out. Mean
while q file of about q dozen officers had
reached the gallery, and the first one mo-
toned to the audience that all was serene.
Then some one shouted: "Let him stay,
and convert him. And he was allowed
TO remain. Mr. Ross raised his hand for
silence and then began:
Your Honor Ladies and Gentlemen: I am first
TO meet you tonight, and l shall be pleased to
have questions asked OF me-. But
now that no man has the right to
stand up and interrupt for moment.
IApplausel If the gentleman had asked it in
q gentlemanly manner and in the English
Language [applausel / would have asked you
10 hear with him. Perhaps later on, If he will
ask it civilly and not as a right, VIII be per
fectly willing TO answer his questions to the
fullest GApplause.1 l assure you, my friends,
| feel perfectly willing and am weil on my
feet. do not have 10 go into the Monitor
office and take pencil ana drink. MY
windmill runs by water.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, l have tried
from the first to the last-from 10 O'Clock last
THANKSGIVING day until to-night-to meet the
requirements of the challenge and 10 meet II,
as conceive, in the spirit of gentleman and
a scholar did not resort. II l may SO STATE,
that the statements OF my opponent were hes
and forgeries l am honorable and am Will
ing 10 concede that another Is honorable PIE ano'
ter Withdrew from the case. sousht 10 put
no obstruction in the way, but rather 10 re-
move every obstruction in order to permit
lam perfectly willing to go down to defeat II
the truth requires it, And the commissioner
whom have selected knows IT is the apsoiute
truth what / say. / dealt with him on lhe
highest plane that 1 believe man coulo oeaI
yyifb-a court of Justice OF arbltratlon-and
was willing TO leave the decision IN the hahos
ofthe court. ,,o ,,a
But there is certain thing that makes me
donbt TO p certain extent the good lntention oI
him who challenged me. If l am wrong
snail apologize.
The speaker then referred to flisPrevious
statements that he had always understood
that the matter was to be heard IN puDllc
and that Father Yorke had agreed 10 that
condition. Continuing, he said:
am not afraid OF defeat, any more than l
afraid OF a fight. am more ANXIOUS ioI
truth than i for victory. for, alter an, a
victory that has not the truth behfho II Is
worse than defeat believe, however, tnat
nave not been dealt with fairly or honorary
from the very first.
regret it, for ] would rather believe that
the organization of which he is prominent
member would repudiate such action ss mas
been manifested in this matter. belleve lAet