Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1906-05-10

Oakland. from the mayor and the gov
ernor; Help! Help! Give us help
San Francisco is starving! Help
Help.'
Then the revolving wheels OF the
railroad trains come rumbliuQ into OH
depots and the passengers alight
these are the first refugees from the
city of death. Were the stories over
drawn we ask. mo. no." they an.
swer "Tel us about your expert
ence." 1--WE were asleep. Suddenly,
In the morning, we were flung from
the bed. The earth felt like mouse
that rat terrier had gripped by the
neck, shaking the life out of it, and
then dropped for dead Then the
streets were filed with men and wom-
on and children in their night robes.
Some were praying, some shrieking,
some muttering like madmen. The
walls began to totter and to fall.
Buildings which had not been over
thrown became blazing furnaces. At
one time the flames leaped out of ev-
cry window Of the Palace hotel. The
top stories OF the different buildings in
mnny instances seemed to catch fire
first. Then men and women started
10 run for the ferryboats. II was not
struggle to save property, but a mad
race for life"
oh. why should we go on and de-
scribe this horror? In all the history of
the world there never was more
ghastly tragedy. The battlefelds OF
Gettysburg and Waterloo were tragedies
of men only and had not the pathos of
dying women and children. as had this
pandcnonium of furies And yet. amid
the heavy. rocking earth. amid the
kissing. leaping flames. amid the lurd
skies and the starving and the dead.
we can today find some gospel lesson
for practical use for everyday life.
May God help us to say the right word
and say it in the right way.
Judge Not.
Let us beware. in the first place, lest
we attempt to handle the lightnings Of
Gods wrath. Let us halt before we
pass Judgment upon the past sins of
this great city. The Bible SAYS. Judge
not that We he not Judged" But in
spite of this divine command to Judge
not there are people who are ready
TO affirm that the reason why this trag-
cdy was permitted to overtake the
metropolis Of the Pacific was because
San Francisco was city fostering and
reeking with sin. Why. no sooner was
this awful tragedy reported over the
wires than one Of the prominent news
papers of this city called me up and
asked whether | believed mat San
Francisco was destroyed like SodOm
and Gomorrab, on account Of its sins.
I replied then as l reply now: ANY
man who would make statement that
he thought San Francisco was de-
stroyed on account of it's sins is unfit to
be religious teacher and unfit to be
quoted in any newspaper article As
the ancient prophet found. as he shud. |
dered Mt the earthquake in his day,
God was not in the earthquake. And |
after the earthquake q fire, but the |
Lord was not in the fire. And after |
the fire a still small voice. In that he |
heard the voice of the Lord.
DO you think John Milton became
blind on account Of his sins? Do you
hink Abraham Lincoln and James A.
garfield and William Mckinley were
lssaSsinsted on account Of their sins?
Do You believe Mrs. Mckinley lost her
wo little children and became life
ong invalid on account OF her sins?
Do you think Alexander II. Stephens
ivod for seventy years in pain and
agony on account of his sins? DO YOU
believe that the gentle and pure Helen
Ne!ler, from two years of age, has been
blind and deaf and dumb on account
If her sinsI Was your little sister
wicked whose light fluffy dress caught
ire many years ago, so that she was
burned to death before your very eyes?
We're those missionaries who were
ortured and killed in the Boxer uprls-
ng or China some years ago murdered
N account of their sins? Then, il they
we're. you might have right to say
nat this tragedy came TO San Fran
lsco on account Of its sins; but il not,
on have not the slightest reason for
ffirming that the earthquake came as
judgment of God. If San Francisco.
Why not New York and Chicago and
t. Louis and London on account of
heir sins: Is there any large city in
his land which would be justified in
asting stone at the metropolis Of the
acitic coast:
No Right to Say II.
Has any one right TO say that San {
francisco was destroyed on account of
s sins If he listens Alright to the
'ords Of Christ? What said Jesus s
hon his disciples pointed to man !
ho was blind from his birth and ask !
l. Master, did this man become blind
account Of his sins or on account Of {
IS parents sins Thai was as much ,
! to say: "All blindness and physical {
lments are directly due 10 some ,
ans evil deeds. Who sinncd-this S
an or his parents" Christ answered, &
Neither hath this man sinned. nor his I
irents, but that the works OF God I
lould he made manifest in him" (
hen In another place Christ told how a
e tower of Sloan fell. IT fell as 7
iickly and unexpectedly as the cam
mile of st. Marks in Venice Then he Y
i'd Suppose We that these Galileans V
ere sinners above all the GAlileans /
cause they suffered such things? I a
II thee nay, but except We repent We d
all all likewise perish" Thus TODAY. n
lieu of Christ's words when Won prO. s
'se TO say. This catastrophe was sent $
ION San Francisco on account of its G