The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-01-10

Community added another bright jewel to
his fame as a scholar and an orator last
evening In his lecture on Individuality
| before the members and friends of Igna-
| tan Council No. So of the Young Mems
Institute. Although the priest is hardly
beyond the years of a boy, he is consid-
cred by the greatest minds in his order as
one of the most eloquent preachers in the
entire society of st. Paul.
His lecture last evening was divided into
two parts. These he termed the "ruts'
and "anti-ruts" of life. The subject as di-
vided was nothing more than well-de-
fined parallel between the man who leads
and the man who follows, the man who
introduces innovation and the man who
inevitably meets advancement with stu
pid, malignant and perhaps vicious an
tagonism. In expanding this thought and
comparing the two propositions, the
speaker eulogized the efforts of Father
Yorke to maintain his individuality and
avoid the course or "rut'' that 'pin-head-
ed creatures with two legs persist in
struggling on in life. incapable of even
brains enough to bestow a helpful, gener-
Gus. whole-souled mistake upon the
world"
In introducing the subject of the even
ing the lecturer said:
Sometimes seated in my study chair close
to the borderland between day and dark. too
dim TO work by daylight, too early for the
lamp, I amuse my fancy with some quaint
philosophy Perhaps the notion was suggested
BY the "Iifters and Learners that Miss VIII
cox tells us Of in verseNperhaps otherwise: at
any rate once 1t was twilight and l caught
myself dividing off this world into two great
classes-the 'ruts and the 'anti-ruts OF
life
When the thought first came to me. I never
meant to speak of II to any one but just
treasure 1t up with two or three other little
thoughts that 1 always keep for my own edi-
fication; but when Council 80 pressed me into
service for this lecture here tonight, thought
that nothing was too good for them-the very
best that is in me, even II that very best
with the ruts Of life I classed in my fancy
all those who plod along in just the way that
all preceding vehicles have passed They want
every to move along IN the same old
grooves; have the same old ideas; to think
the same old thoughts; to battle for the same
old convictions. They are the ultra conserva-
tives-are the ruts. Anything out of the COM
say. how perfectly dreadful. who ever heard
OF such thing that? My father or grand
father or great grandtata 5td or great great
And against the ruts the anti-ruts rebel.
They would rather keep clear OF the grooves.
To be sure they must feel certain that they
are on the right road but they avoid the
ruts They look to the terminus rather than
riding, l know, because the ruts in which other
vehicles have passed are really very smooth.
bognces fearfug Then. too. the S 1uts ags
sometimes positively malicious They are apt
jolting for the Anti-Ruts; but never mind. is
not jolting good for indigestion? Besides that
sometimes keeping out of the ruts even il
the road is very rough has its advantages.
You are not so apt TO get drowsy. A rough
road will keep you wide awake and observant
of the scenery.
The only thing do not like about the whole
affair is the names. 'Ruts' and 'antf-rutS"
is very prosy. I afraid the world will not
We may find prettier names for those two
classes in time. Ruts and anti-ruts will do
very well with which to start.
Now, ! need not tell you which side I
stand. My prayers and my sympathies are
with the ruts and anti-ruts of life for ever
and ever and ever, amen
So let me start. then, tonight by sounding
a bugle blast of warning to all those who have
not as yet espoused the cause of either party
Avoid the ruts Start in a rut at IS and the
chances are that You will be in a rut at So
Once in regular groove you cannot get out
without breaking the shaft or wrenching the
tire from wheel: Sometimes you see
teamster get his wagon wedged in the grooves
of a cartrack. and. oh, the struggle to get that
wagon out Start in rut at Is and you will
be there at SO-that is the keynote TO all |
have to say tonight.
But in all this be not deceived 1t means
to suffer. to be maligned. to be traduced to
motives to be called fanatic Let a man once
step upward from the ranks of the common
place and into the open clearing of conviction
where he stands alone, and he makes himself
the target OF devils and Of men. Wise saws
are then repeated and knowing mods and
prophetic winks. The whisperer projects mis-
venom, the Islander monger his forked tongue
All. yes, be not deceived; it means to suffer-
you and l. plain citizens that we are. know
that Have you not seen II so? All that our
memories soon should fail Has there nor
stood one where l stand now: need 1 sneak his
names? Who when others prated of master
full retreats" and triumphant retrogressions''
and victorious inactivities'' stood out and
fought the battle OF Gods church from this
platform single handed and alone? You know
now fierce the fray; how desperate the
struggle, how terrific the death grapple Ar
that our memories so soon should fail So
ciety offered her retainers. You know how
he despised them. Politics fawned her brfhes
about her feet. You know how he scorned
them Bgotry besmirched his name with the
foulness of her breath only to recoil defeated
10 its own destruction. Other men have
striyen unselfshly in the cause of truth huf
he labored with energy into which every
thing was projected-body, soul, eternity and
time He paid the price. You know what It
has cost him: his health. his strength his
tranquility of mind, the final sous in the pock
cts OF his garments that were never over
stocked ! need not 20 You know the
story more thoroughly than 1. need not have
said much were 1t not that memories
are so apt to fail.
Grant for the argument Of some he made
mistakes. Grant for the contention OF Others
he was not always quite iudicous. What Will
they tell US then? VIII one error blind US to