The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-06-29
EDWARDS DAVIS
ON THE A. P A,
He Springs a Surprise on
the Good Citizenship
Meeting.
CRITICISED THE ORDER.
The Oakland Orator Pronounces
the Associations Prac-
tees Damnable.
APPROVES THEIR PRINCIPLES.
Davis Says the Organization Should
Broaden Its Views of It's Mis-.
sion to Humanity.
APPROVES THEIR PRINCIPLES

Edwards Davis, the Oakland orator who
has achieved local celebrity as the ''actor-
preacher" addressed the Good Citizenship
meeting yesterday afternoon. 1t was not
such an address as is ordinarily heard from
the rostrum of the Temple Sunday after
noon. His remarks were an undoubted
surprise to the committee which had in
vited him as well as to the audience; yet
the latter maintained its good humor, and
even when the orator declared in dramatic
tones, 1.-THE practices of your association
are damnable," there was no demonstra-
ton except faint applause.
AS prelude to his remarks Mr.. Davis
said that he had intended to say some o.
the things he was about to utter the Sum-
day previous, but if he had done so he
probably would not have an opportunity
to appear yesterday. After dilating upon
the spirit of discovery which has ami
mated all people, he said:
There have been various and frequent
attempts to discover New America. These
would-be DISCOVERIES have all been
wrecked in unseen shoals, and this wreck
will come to you, except by one means,
which will be told to you. You will re-
mem Der that few years ago the Changers
came into existence and attempted to
soothe the hearts of the people. Then
came the labor organizations. But, oh,
We men whose hands are hardened by loyal
toll, l ask you to look back upon your
cause of anything wrong with your mo-
tives, but because of the untruth and
treaohery Of the labor leaders.
Then comes along in splendid proper
ton the organization to which ! have
been invited to speak this afternoon, the
American Protective Association. The
question, then, is whether yon will be but
another instance of wreckage or whether
you will learn in time.
1.-The thirteen principles of your or
ganizatiOn meet my heartiest approval
Applause]-but-you see l conclude with
the ever potent 'but'-the practices of
your association are damnable. Faint
applause.l That's right; applaud. l will
expect you to applaud more before l am
through.
II think you have too much appreci-
ated the principles of your association
and have overlooked the great principles
of human love. What difference does 1t
make to you to-day whether the A. P. a.
is knocked into humiliation if America
stands? l hope to God that there is not
one of you here to-day who is not less
member of this society than he is citizen
of this country. As you have made The
mistake, sc has the entire Protestant
church. Because Luther in the olden
times started the Protestant movement
by protesting against the iniquities of the
Roman Catholic church is no reason why
our leaders to-day should spend their
time rebuking evil rather than establish
ing the truth.
at is not so much the question What is
the iniqulty in the church you oppose
but w hat is the righteousness in your
own Because men who are in high places
fall hof q bat fl
is not euthroued in the ideals of others the
Christ that was crucifed. Wherever the
Roman Catholic church is concerned l am
its enemy. Wherever there Is iniquity in
the Protestant church | am doubly its
enemy.
Because of the enlightenment of the
Protestant church, if its idols shall fall.
then where Is the hope in our civilization
have book in my possession containing
accounts of crimes of 5000 ministers. l be-
lieve that when the minister of the Chris
tan church at large shall rather be noble
man than a doctor of divinity then will the
president of the university grant that
highest degree-eternal life.
brethren this mournful state of af-
fairs, but it is natural. You must make
the individual believe that he is the unit
of society. He must understand that he
must be himself purified. 1t makes no
difference to me that one who brought me
the gospel has fallen from grace. He can
not take from me the infinitude of truth.
If one of our Federal officials or one OF our
high ecclesiastics shall fall, yet the state
and the church shall stand. What does
one renegade, one backslider count when
in the world to-day nominally 500, 100000
stand for righteousness? The world then
need not feel discouraged and feel that it
is to fail because of one little one.
ut is enough to make preacher swear
this afternoon to think of all the iniquity
that is in this church. and in the Catholic
church and in all the world. Yet that is
not enough to make me forsake my post.
When half the world shall turn traitors
and renegades, yet will it be saved by the
other half. Let US be, as it were, merely
the humble instruments of that God in
bringing about that salvation.
There are few things that l want to
criticise this afternoon that will enable
our people to see the new America. You
needn't talk about thirteen principles and
thirty-seVen articles. There is only one
God and he is infinite, and there is only
one principle and that is truth.
"1he Prohibition party, instead of being
the opponent of whisky, should be the
opponent of all poisonous stuffs. and the
A. P. A., rather than the opponent OF the
Roman Catholic Church, should be the
opponent of all iniquity. My God didn't
come to save Israel or to save the Jews,
but to save the world.
81 want to impress upon you that you
want to broaden your view OF your prin-
ciples. They are broader than you think.
l ask you, Is it any better to have Pope
in Rome than to have one in American l
ask you, Is it any better TO overthrow the
church of Rome and allow to arise on its
ruins an organization having within 1t an
ecclesiasticsm that is damnable?
'There are men in your society who are
scoundrels. Your organization is as cor
rupt as any in existence. l claim there is
corruption constantly in the work.
claim that wherever iniouity is found If
there is to be peace to you 1t will be by
forgetting all associations and pleasant
memories and making some men outcasts
81 proclaim l am your enemy forever
until there shall come to you realization
of the individual rather than the social
idea. l come to you to let you know that |
there is oae man willing to condemn the !
Roman Catholic Church and every church |
in Christendom and your society, not to |
your back but to your face. 1t is my plea |
to you that you broaden your idea of the |
humanity of man. You must understand |
that YOU are your brothers. keeper.
SIN the battle of the world let ne not /
have one enemy, but let me unsheath my |