The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1899-12-17

either the city of God or the city Of the
devil. Some return with tales OF it's sin
and wickedness, others see It's moral effort
and its charity Truth TO tell, Paris, like
every city in the world, has two sides.
There are many visitors to San Fran
cisco who go home with the idea that we
are a community Of outlaws relieved by
an infusion Of Chinese virtue. Those who
live in San Francisco know that what the
visitors see is but small section OF our
civic life. and that as far as our real
life is concerned we are no better, no
worse. than the citizens of any other
large city. So 1t is in Paris Those who
70 there 10 find dirt and degradation will
find II easily enough, but when they come
home with appraised hands and rolling
eyes TO denounce the immortality Of the
French. they condemn themselves, not
Paris.
Certainly l have not heard Of any city
I'm the world where the works Of charity
are more numerous and where more
money is expended in the relief OF human
misery. On every side are hospitals, the
best conducted on earth: on every side
retreats. asylums. charitable societies.
organizations 10 combat every form OF
misfortune 10 which body or soul is heir.
No doubt there is much irreligion I'm
Paris. but there is much irreligion in
every great city. AS far as our statistics
go. not third OF our people in San Fran
cisco may be found in any church. In
Paris, unfortunately, through historic
circumstances, portion of this ire
ligous majority Is actively hostile 10 all
Christianity. With us the irreigious ma
jority is passive or we'll disposed. But the
religious part Of the population does more
for its principles and its faith than any
similar number OF men In the whole
world. The French contributions TO re-
ligious causes at home and abroad are
stupendous. The devotion with which
Frenchmen give themselves and their per-
sonal services in France and out OF
France puts nations that boast more to
the blush. The clergy OF Paris work as
no other priests work. The number and
ingenuity Of the devices to bring people to
church and TO the practices OF their re-
ligion are beyond description. And their
work IS not fruitless. One evening last
January ] was in the church OF St Roch
and saw it filled with thousands OF men.
II was on a Wednesday evening: II was a
parish affair and the men were OF the
people; they came with their hands
grimed with toll and their clothes as they
left the workshop. The occasion was
what is known a Conference Contra
dictoire, and gives us n good idea OF the
kind Of work done in Paris.
preacher IS chosen and selects a sub
Ject usually n matter OF discussion be-
tween Christians and their opponents
The sermon. or conference. is well cdve--
tised in the parish. and the churcn Is re-
served for men. On this occasion the
preacher had taken the question OF the
Immortality OF the soul-Does anything OF
US exist after death. or do we wholly
die and cease to be? AS In the case OF
those long churches In France. the nuI
pit is placed half way down the nave
and against the left wall Opposite the
pulpit and facing II Is bench whereon
sit the parish priest. his assistants and
the church wardens The rest OF the
congregation use chairs. which. tonight
are free. The exercise opens with the
singing OF a hymn in French and a
short form OF night prayers. Then the
sermon commences. Hardly. however. has
the preacher got we'll into his subject
when he Is interrupted. There Is a dew
IFS advocate on the bench opposite. He
Is usually priest OF the parish, but he
% takes the argument Of the speaker, tears
It to pieces and throws at him the OBJ.