The San Francisco call., 1905-03-06
DIVINE TALKS
ON THE IDEALS
Rev. George Stone Tells of
Political Advancement
and Triumph of Freedom
REFERS TO ANARCHISM
Clergyman Would Bar Sale
of Pocket Arms as Well as
Poison and IntoXicants

Rev. George w. Stone delivered an
interesting sermon at the First Unita-
rian Church yesterday morning on
The Influence of the Ideals DIR.
Stone noted the advance in political
progression and paid a glowing tribute
to the victory Of the Republican party.
He said in part:
These thoughts have been suggested to my
mind by the results of the last Presidential
election and the events OF the campaign
which preceded it, These remote
enough to be regarded without passion or
prejudice. In the course OF events 1t has
happened that politics has, for once. passed
beyond its accustomed limitations; has risen
above petty personalities; has emerged from
the smoke of industry and commerce.; escaped
ery to stand under the open heavens. in the
clear light Of the twentieth century; to act
President and rulers Of this republic be
chosen by the believers in righteousness and
justice? Or to put 1t another way-is char
acter indispensable In politics? II there
such beings good angels who watch over
and report the grogress OF humanity, how they
must have shouted for JOY when they saw
est majority for character which was the
real issue, against all other requirements
for leadership. in this the foremost nation OF
the earth. All partisan issues were over
shadowed by the greater one whether char
acter, fairly earned can be destroyed at the
behest of a political party. There was no
Whatever prejudices may have existed here
tofore, against reference TO politics in the
pulpit may, temporarily at least, be dismissed
as unworthy for politics OF its voH-
tion, has lifted itself to the level of morals
has placed itself under the protection of those
spiritual batteries which alone can defend
and preserve it from confusion and destruc-
tion. This progress of politics toward
morals, during the past two decades, has no
parallel in history. 1t will be discerned
when each national election Is compared with
the one that preceded it. But the full effect
was not perteptble until the last election
when II stood out strong and clear.
The adoption OF the Australian ballot law
as II is known, by the State Of Massachusetts,
in 1883 seems to have been the beginning of
this progressive period. Since then progress
toward righteousness has been sure, but pain
fully slow. No reasonable person Will claim
that perfection has been attained. ap-
proximated, but every competent observer Of
political events will admit that progress has
been made steadily toward political virtue.
third time In the history of this nation, it's
chief magistrate stricken down by the
hand of assassin. This persistent attempt
to inaugurate government by revolver has at
last impressed the nation with of its
responsibility for the lives Of those II calls
upon to II. / have sometimes thought
(by the way) that the time had arrived for
law prohibiting the manufacture and sale
of revolvers, any weapon that could be
prohibit the sale of poisons, the ground
that their use Is dangerous to life; we also
try to stop the sale of liquors. Why not re-
volvers? Is it not true that lives are
lost, destroyed, than protected and saved
nv this rn,Irderous device? Think about It