The San Francisco call., 1905-05-16
Protestants Observe Four
Hundredth Anniversary of
Birth of Scot Reformer
DIR. DINSMoRE SPEAKS
Asserts That All Movements
for Mankind's Good Must
Start From Common People

served In San Francisco yesterday at a
meeting OF representatives from Protest
ant denominations on both sides of the
bay. Those faithful TO the memory of
tne great religious exponent gathered at
the Presbyterian Mission Home at e20
Sacramento street, and incidentally were
treated to a highly interesting address
oy Kew. John w. Dinsmore who spoke
the eulogy. Rev. H. n. Bevier. president
OF the Presbyterian Ministers Union. pre-
sided over the gathering
Dr. Dinsmore's address was as follows,
in part:
When John Knox returned to his
native land fully equipped for the great
mission TO which he had been appointed
by the Lord he was then fifty-four years
Old, and past the dead line, according to
current reckoning.
II was nearly time for him TO be
cnioroformed, according TO DR.. Osler. and
yet after this time he did a work which
transformed the Scottish nation and
which has sent its pulsing influences all
over the civilized world.
"Ai really great and benehcent move
ments in human history have their center
or focus in great men. Primarily, AL
mighty God is the creator alike of the
movements and the men 1t is he who
furnishes all efficient impulse power and
guidance; also the fit Instruments to bet
ter great or small.
When & sentiment or conviction in the
minds and hearts of the mass Of the
common people becomes vital widely diff
fused and strenuous it brings an agita-
ton, fermentation and their natural lead
ers are thrown upward and forward, and
so become under God the guides of the
people.
COMMON PEOPLE" RULE.
The sentiment out of which such
movements arise. and the impulse which
gives them action and energy, are al
ways first Of ali in the minds and hearts
Of the common people. The higher
classes, so called, the rich and ruling
classes never inaugUrate reforms which
have for their end the uplifting OF the
masses, the enlargement of human rights,
and the removal Of abuses whether secu-
lar or religious.
The world as it is is good to these
classes and they have no quarrel with
the existing order of things
1T is those who believe themselves
wronged. oppressed. trampIed upon in
soul body or estate, who shake down
thrones and overthrow altars
If you study the personal history of
George Washington, from deepest root
10 topnlost twig. you viii know the story
Of our independence. An adequate life of
Lincoln would be an adequate history of
the greatest internal CONFUSION known
70 the modern world.
Even so, the personal life Of the great
apostle 10 the gentiles is the best ac-
count Of Christianity overcoming the
world
The biography Of Luther is the story
of the reformation of Germany. The life
OF Calvin. fully studied. would disclose
70 US the hidden forces Of the best
civilization Of the modern world. For
while Luther was an iconoclast, a caster
down Of systems. Calvin was an archi-
tect. a system builder.
Not only had all the creeds and theo-
logies Of the reformed church their roots
in Geneva. but every free church, free
school, free commonwealth of the modern
world had fits initiative there.
Under God. Knox was the reformation
in Scotland; the soul of it, the exponent
Of IT, the guide and leader Of it.
Knox was one Of the beacon lights OF
modern history. Judged by the resultss
that have flowed and are yet flowing
from his life, he was one of the most
potential forces this world has seen in
100 years. For observe, 1T was not simply
the poor, little country Of his birth that
he transformed. The consequences of
what he did there have scope wide
as the world and as lasting as time.
MUST BE OF POOR ESTATE.
These great men. leaders and guides
Of great and benefcient movements, have
OF mobiles, nor TO great estates. II may
be said of every one of them from Moses,
who WIS born IN slave hut in Egypt
20 Abraham Lincoln. born in a log cabin
- the wilderness, that ii behooved him
to be made like unto his brethren.
"A man looking down from some higher
level OF comfort. fullness and power up
on the lower level where the humber
masses struggle and suffer. may feel a
languid, or even an acute sympathy, may
give wise counsel and good-natured char
ity. but he never can be their reformer,
much less their redeemer-
He will never himself go to their help.
take up their burdens enter into their
experiences, shares their sorrow, carry
their griefs; If he should try to do IL he
would not know how
Nobody so situated ever did that but
Christ Hence it has pleased God from
the beginning to raise UP all true prophets
and reformers from among their brethren
whom they were to teach and reform"
The Rev. Mr.. Bevier announced that
John Knox anniversary celebrations will
be observed next Sunday throughout the
world and that in San Francisco there
wifi be special services in the Presby
terian churches.
petition inviting the international
Sunday School Convention, which will
meet in Toronto June 20 TO 27, to meet
in San Francisco In the year 1908 was
adopted. Dr. H H. Bell in submitting
the petition said that such a convention
in this city would be OF the widest i'm
portance, not alone toward the religious
uplift but as giving q stimulus to Sun
dav school work. The Southern Pacific.
Santa Fe. Merchants Association, Board
OF Trade and other civic bodies were in
hearty cooperation with the proposal to
invite the convention here. said DIR. Bell.
AT a meeting OF the Baptist Ministers
Association yesterday Rev. W. c. Spen-
Ger read a paper on Bishop Gore on
Gospel Miracles"
Rev. l. c. Meserve, D. D., addressed
the Congregational Ministerial Union yes
terday on christian Experience"