The San Francisco call., 1896-11-27
Rev. DR.. Stebbins' Bitter
Words in a Thanks
giving Sermon.
He Does Not Share in the Feel
ing As ainst the Roman
Catholic Church.
Sur prised B cause Public Schools an1
the Sa oon IL fluence Thrive Side
by Side.

Rev. DR.. Horatio Stebbins preached a
Thanksgiving sermon at the First Uni
Iarlan Church yesterday morning at IL
o'clock. His ext was from the Apocalypse,
where the hero OF Patmos beheld the
hosts OF heaven as they poured forth their
praises, saying: blessing and glory and
wisdom and thanksgiving and power and
mi ht be unto God forever and ever"
The church was appropriate decorated
with evergreens. and red holly-berries
cleaned amid the smilax and ferns. Rev.
DR.. Wells OF the Second Unitarian Church
of this CITY read the opening lesson, which
was chosen out of the one hundred and
seventh psalm.
In his invocation DR.. Stebbips returned
thanks to the Almighty One for the great
good that has come 10 this land OF ours,
and that where once only savage men and
savage beasts held sway, now the acts of
civilization are enjoyeG, with plenty and
peace. From the book of common prayer
was read the cauiate domino (psalm
XCVI), beginning 30! sing with the Lord
a new song; sing unto the Lord all the
earth" The reverend gentleman laid
special stress on the adm onition: Sc
unto the Lord the glory due unto his
name; bring an offering and come into
his courts"
Among the beautiful attributes of the
heart, gratitude is the most lovely" said
DR.. Stebbins in beginning his discourse,
and he drew attention to the truth that In
gratitude is regarded by all mankind as
one OF the ugliest OF all the proclivities OF
q depravod nature; sort OF survival Of
the brute; a glimpse of the unhuman, tn at
belongs to The wild and untamed nature
OF reckless and graceless persons.
Touching on the causes which should
call the people 10 give thanks on the
occasion set aside by the President OF the
United States and the Governor of Cali
fornia, DR.. Stebbins ren arked that We
may say without Boosting that our country
holds within its confines as much of the
health and wealth and prosperity and
civilization of mankind as does any other
nation.
Thanks ought to be given, he said, for
the manner in which the recent cam paign
was conducted and the way in which its
result was accepted by the people. 1t
was proof of the advent of true patriot
ism and reason in the Government OF this
country, showing The power of God in
Transforming the minds of men.
The campaign just ended may be COM
pared to campaign of a generation ago."
said DIR. StebDlns, ''as the orderly pro-
ceedings of a judicial tribunal are COM
pared to prize fight. In the time of
Andrew Jackson men frothed at the
mouth as they contended with one an
other for political preferment. In 184O
during what was known as the hard-cder
campaign, there was still greater frenzy
among the opposing forces; but the cam
paign of 1896 was carried on as If all Tie
men of the country were reasoning
human beings. Men of opposite parties
stood on the same platform and calmly
argued touching the vital points at issue
between the great parties. For this re-
turn to rational methods thanks ought TO
be returned to that Power which guides
and determines the destiny of nations.
yet beware, ye brood of small poIiti-
clans" cried the reverend speaker, 'lest
ye fail to give the people those reforms
and hat relief that was promised in the
name of your parties"
The victory was won, DIR. Stebbins said
by men who In great part do not strive Tor
office. Such men and the great body of
the people are solicitors for the welfare of
the Nation and they are not to be trified
with.
The amelioration OF political animosi-
ties was not the only thing for which to be
thankful. All snould be grateful for The
growth oil RELIGIOUS tolerance ich be-
tokens an advance from crude and un-
reasoning provincialism. The Roman
Catholic Church, with it's increasing &C.
cleslasllcal power, he said. is regarded by
some with jealousy. He did not share
In hat jealousy, but rather felt inclined
10 encourage all works that are for the
good OF mankind. He was happy to note
that Archb shop Ireland had chosen to
show the world that his duties as church
man are not inconsistent with his duties
and privileges as an American citizen.
Asperiiles growing out ofdifferences OF
opinion are indicative oil pr1vin cia lism
that some communities find difficulty in
overcoming he continued. "Our CITY is
advancing raniOlv N this =.
being benefited. 1t is true that we live
far from the great outside world ana that
we are shut out from many of the thoughts
and aspirations of the nations, SO that in
this respect we are still condemned to have
village minds. yet we are advancing We
have learned TO realize thai New York is a
bigger city than the one in which we live,
and sailor boys from English ships will
tell US that ey can have more fun in
London Tor quarter of dollar than thew
can have In Ban francisco for q dollar and
a quarter. So as We learn of the world we
become more charitable; more tolerant"
The speaker thought that there are
some things for which we ought not to be
thankful. The startling irreg uiarity with
which society in Cali ornia advances. be
said, is surprise to all who regard the
situation. San Francisco has the largest
and most admirable provision for the
maintenance of the public schools, vet we
have probably a more powerful saloon in.
huence than any other city of equal size
in the world.
DR.. Stebbins said he deemed it his duty
to comment on the approval and applause
which the School Board of San Francisco
bestowed on a teacher who had sustained
clandestine relations with a millionaire
This, he dec ared. was not a cause fol
thanksgiving, but for the deepest con
demnation. II was an aspect from which
he turned with loathng and disgust. He
might and alone in this opinion, yet he
felt that one man at least should lift his
voice to express the sentiments of those