New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1904-01-21
TASTY CRITICS.

Or Parishurst's sermon on lessons OF the CHI
~sco theatre fire which In his absence was
read from his pulpit last Sunday evening by an
assistant, is attracting considerable attention.
and. 10 Judge from published comments, Is e1-
citing more censure than approval. If there
are those who think that DIR. Parkhurst has
made special efforts OF late. by excessive indul-
gence in sensational modes OF speech. to revive
the blaze of publicity in which he lived for sew
eral years, we shall not deny that there is some
justification for that belief. 1t is probable that
in this instance he made deliberate choice Of
startling expressions, foresaw that it would be
easy TO draw false differences from what he
said and expected his sermon TO provoke hostile
criticism The employment Of such methods Is
a matter OF taste.
We printed the more striking parts OF DR..
Parkhurst's discourse on Monday morning, not
for the sake Of adding 10 his notoriety, but be-
cause in our opinion. they contained whole
some truths which need TO be considered With
bis remarks on the subject OF public respons!
bility for the enforcement of the laws IL is hard
w possible for a reasonable citizen to disagree,
and so Tar as we have observed, they have not
been disputed 1t is a fact that 'in a demo
-cratic government like our own the urgency OF
"a stntute-the self-executing power OF q statute
--oies out OF il Just as fast as the popular VIII
'dies out OF It: that is to say tust fast the
statute ceases to be the living expression OF
the popular determination" In Chicago pop
ular tension" in respect TO the building and fire
laws had been relaxed, as Il had been almost
everywhere. and they had become "a dead let
ter" There is no fault TO be found with Dr.
Parkhursts declaration that "when catas-
-trophe occurs under the circumstances that
marked the catastrophe at Chicago. the funda-
mental responsibility is TO be charged home 10
'the community AT large" But when he goes
on 10 say that ''the fire that burned those six
hundred people was Gods fire" his hostile critics
think they find their opportunity.
IL, however. Dr. Parkhurst had chosen to use
form of words which could not have been
misinterpreted. he might have said the same
thing with impunity. The context In spite of
its characteristic and, TO some minds. offensive
pliraseology. makes the meaning clear to a
careful reader. The Almighty has established
certain laws which we call the laws of Nature
Some Of His creatures are under the impression
that they could have made better ones but at
all events this state OF existence is inconceiy-
able without them and would be utterly intol-
erabie If they were capriciousIy enforced Re-
cause they are inyiolable. human beings are able
TO adapt their conduct to the conditions i'm
posed upon them. We know that ..the notura
OF nre always Is TO blister"-always not some
umes-and we act accordingly when we do not
forget IT, When building is fun OF combusti
oae materials and the d-aughts are open a spark
wih cause confiagration unless .oroe essent,.I
eiement OF fatal combination ia LACKING Tn
ae long run the learning OF tina lesson IS worth
~ ~ c"s's' ana II has to be learned through the
e1acuon OF penalties for stupidity or ina,tfer-
encs- u that sense, it is Gods fire If Ho in
S1veneo 70 thwart the law or avert the conso-
Qnencs& this would be some other vor,d 80, -.