The San Francisco call., 1905-05-15
GREAT COUNTRY,
]. But. men S WEAR
Fred B. Smith Says America
Is Grapdest Land, but Cit
liens Are Held Profane
ADDRESSES Y. NJ. C. A.
Tour Of the World Teaches
Him True Greatness of
United States, He Says
-
ADDRESSES Y. M. &c. A.

We live in the grandest, truest and
greatest nation in all the world, and 1
want no whining pessinlist coming
around me any more growing of the
country said Fred B. Smith of the
International committee of the Young
Mems Christian Association, New
York, at the Alhambra Theater yester-
day afternoon. -
Smith, who has just returned from
a tour of the world, spoke under the
auspices OF the local Young Mems
Christian Association. The. theater
was crowded. Smith said in part:
1t is genuine delight after many months
on my own native soil. -worshiping God where
learned the gospel Of truth.
would tel every young man on this
American continent that having lived in the
country all my life and knowing how broad
and splendid Is the life. that ev{n with all
find how really great our nation Is
Young men. we live in the grandest. truest
ana Man, ne nation IL an the world and
any more growing OF the country.
l want you young men to know that the
teening millions on the -,other side OF the
world, and say shame on the man that sui
lies his country by a bad lfe
The New Yorker spoke the latter
words with extraordinary power and
emphasis. and without a pause called
upon the vast audience to sing the
American anthem, My Country, Tis Of
Thee
AS flash the great body Of men
rose to their feet and responded. and
for block almost the beautiful and
inspiring strains could be heard. ~
After the singing Smith continued:
Now. i want. to say that there are some
splendid men who when / approach them and
undertake. 10 Sod II .
reply reply. II have ave never never killed l. have never
Of their morality against religion.
Religion is not = lot, Of NEGATIVES. You need
a'ccnscience that tells me not to steal not 10
beat my wife, not to get. drunk. not to
Cod does not only want you to keep your
lips from blasphemy-God wants your life.
your all. He makes no bargain.
We are living In a land OF more churches.
of more spires pointed to heaven than any
other land save one. I know of no land
ously as in this land. but let me warn. you
that despite all this you may drift out into
the world and be a lost man.
Temptation Is IN American cities. Step
by step young men may be lured from God.
Despite the fact that this is a Christian land
,.s you may be going out INT, into the world as
The. profanity that one hears! What curse
profanity comes to be: There was only one
to hang rny head In shame. permit any
man to, ,ower my enthusiasm for the Stars
and Stripes and for the men that live under
1t. and that was when my attention was called
to the fearful profanity that characterizes 30
many Americans The American man has the
reputation OF being the worst most foul
mouthed blackguard earth No men are so
ul-mouthed as American men. Why, in India
they scoff at
In India they do not swear, nor in China.
nor in. Japan. nor in England and tell you
they swear very little in Australia.
The. world around the American man is
branded the swearing -man, par excellence
Whyido you not live like you know you will
want to die?
Not the wickedest man In San Francisco ex-
poets to die without prayer on his lips. Them
as have said. live like you know you will
want to die.
AT the. close of the address a great
body of the young men shook hands
with. the speaker and expressed their
determination to follow a Christian
life. There were many soldiers in the
audience who took an ardent interest
in the meeting and joined heartily in
the singing of the hymns.