The Birmingham age-herald., 1906-05-13
DIR. TALMAGE'S SERMON
BY THE REV. FRANK DE WITT TALmAeg. D. D.

Who are ready to affirm that the reason why this tragedy was permitted to over take the metropolis of the Pacific was because San Francisco was a city fester- ing 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 l believed that San Francisco was destroyed. like Sodom and Gomorrah on account of it's sins, l replied then as reply now: Any man who would make a statement that he thought San Fran cisco was destroyed on account of it's sins Is unfit to be a religious teacher and un- fit to be quoted in any newspaper arti- cle." As the ancient prophet found, as he shuddered at the earthquake in his day God was not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake fire, but the Lord was not in the fire. And after the fire a still small voice. Tn that he heard the voice of the Lord.
 Do you think John Milton became blind on account of his sins? Do you think Abraham Lincoln and James A Garfield and William Mckinley were assassinated on account of their sins? Do you believe Mrs. Mckinley lost her two little children and became a life long invalid on account fof her sins? Do you think Alexander H. Stephens lived for seventy years in pain and agony on account of his sins? Do sN Keller. from two years of age, has been blind and deaf and dumb on account of her sins? Was your little sister wicked whose light fluffy dress caught fire many years ago, so that she was burned to death before your very eyes? Were those missionaries who were tortured and killed in the Boxer uprising of China some years ago murdered on account of their sins? | Then, If they were, you might have right to say that this tragedy came 10 San Francisco on account of it's sins but. if not, you have not the slightest reason for affirming that the earthquake came as a judgment of God. If San Francisco, i why not New York and Chicago and St. Louis and London on. account of their sins? Is there any large city in the land which would be justified in casting a stone at the metropolis of the Pacific coast?
 No Right to Say It.
 Has any one a right to say that San Francisco was destroyed on account of its sins If he listens alright 10 the words of Christ? What said Jesus when his disciples pointed to a man who was blind from his birth and asked Master, did this man become blind on account of his sins or on account of his parents sins?" That was as much as to say: "All blind ness and physical ailments are directly due to some mans evil deeds. Who sinned this man or his parents?' Christ an- swered, sNeither hath this man sinned. nor his parents, but that the works of God should be made manifest in him. Then in another place Christ told how the tower of Siloam fell. It fell as quickly and unexpectedly as the campanile of St. Marks in Venice. Then he said: Suppose ye that these Galileans were sinners above all the Galileans because they suffered such things? huf shall likewise perish. Thus today, in lieu of Christs words when you propose to say. This catastrophe was sent upon San Fransisco on account of It's sins" put my finger upon your lips and say, Stop, brother! Stop. sister, Silence! Judge not that ye be not judged. Let Gods llghtnings flash as they will, but leave to him the right of judgment, Let us first see that our own city Is cleansed of sin and not talk so much about other cities sins" Wouldst thou try to pluck the mote out of thy brothers eye and per ceive not the beam which is sticking forth out of thine own eye?
 We can explain why certain people in San Francisco have to suffer as they do? Here we can see the flames like demons leaping from business block to business block. Millions upon millions of dollars worth of property have been destroyed. Now the flames are heading towards the churches and the residential districts. The dynamite is exploded. The guns are trained upon the walls As the cowboy upon the western prairie fights fire with fire, so here the brave men are fighting demolition with demolition. Still onward and onward move the. flames. Then Paul Reveres ride everywhere. crying: Run for your livesl Run! Run, Run.' "Oh" but some man says, T can not run. I have an aged and sick mother here. I must take her along" Who is she? Is she a Christian? Yes" answers the man. For years and years she has been an ardent follower of Jesus Christ" Together we help her along. After a while she completely gives out. Water! Waterr' she cries. "Give me water" There Is no water A deathy pallor over spreads her features. We get her out up- on the hillsdes. but no sooner is she laid down upon the ground than she breathes her last. Why is all this? Why? Why did St. Mary's hospital go, and St. Patrick s church and the First Methodist church go and scores of institutions of mercy all go up in flames? Why are so many men who have always tried to follow Jesus and have always given God their money left penniless? Why does God here seem to strike the just and the unjust unlike ? I cannot say, l do not know. I can give no rational reason any more an l can tell you why God came Into your home | and took your young wife from your side and left you with three little motherless children to rear. Why" is a poor word to ask at this time. All that we can do is to say God is good. All things are working together for good to them that love God" Therefore is only the glorious word of faith which will bridge over us this awful chasm of despair Faith. faith, faith, Let us have faith in good God and leave the explanations to him for the light of heaven. Earth can never explain this tragedy.
 The Whole World Kin.
 But there Is still another lesson. This tragedy, as no other tragedy during the past century, has proved how much the American people are akin and how much they are willing to help each other. God hath made of one blood all nations to dwell upon the face of the earth" But. though We may all be of one blood, yet no power on earth will make us call each other brother so appropriately as when the heavy hand of trouble is laid upon a | brothers heart.
 know many people may not agree with me. They affirm that this is a mean and contemptible world and that human heart is not in sympathy with human heart. but the actions of the American people to- wards suffering San Fransisco give that statement the lie. No sooner did Los | Angeles and the other cities hear what had happened to their sister San Fran sisco. than the money began to flow in streams. Doctors and nurses volunteered their services for help. Schools were clos