Los Angeles herald., 1906-04-23
PASTORS DWELL
ON CATASTROPHE
WORDS FROM PULPIT FOR THE
UNF0RTUNATES
Sunday Services in Los Angeles
Churches Marked by Large Con.
ributions-Lessons Drawn
From the Recent Horror

and the city desolate of today.
The bishop preceded his sermon by
exhorting the people not to be unduly
alarmed or excited, saying that 1t was
a time to be patient and have courage.
The bishops text was: "Is it not to
deal thy bread to the hungry, and that
thou bring the poor that are cast out
to thy house? When thou seest the
naked, that thou cover him; and that
thou hide not thyself from thine own
flesh. Then shall thy light break forth
as the morning, and thine health shall
spring forth speedily; and thy right
eousness shall go before thee; the glory
OF the Lord shall be thy reward"
Isaiah 5S:7-S.
These words of God by the prophet" /"
said the bishop, "tell us our own duty
in the present sad circumstances. 1t
is hard for US to realize all that is
1t is hard for us to speak of the suf-
ferings that have fallen to our breth-
rem; you know the story and your
duty. Yet 1t seems as If we should
talk together this morning on the sub
ject Of charity.
Charity Means Love
"Charity is so sweet a word. and
why shoul1 1t not be? What is it but
to us than love? 1t tells us of the love
of God for us. Charity tells of the
love of God for our brethren and for
us and bids us love one another as God
loves US.
what is there harder to bear than
the cry OF a human being for bread
Brethren, when that cry comes from a
brother, neighbor, from our own flesh
and blood, where is the heart so hard
Go s-1.1 a1I
possesses?
1--WE have heard the cry from far off
lands-from South Africa, distant Asia,
across the seas. But when it comes
from a sister city, beside our very
gates, and from our own brethren, our
friends and neighbors, we are deeply
stirred.
Last Sunday was Easter day. What
a beautiful day it was! Sunshine,
flowers, hymns of praise and alleluias.
All mankind was lifted up because of
the risen Savior. From the length and
breadth of this imperial state one uni
versal alleluia rose to heaven. A day,
and then the dawn of another day, and
darkness fell. The earth rumbled and
burst it's bounds and a great, n1agnIf1-
cent city was leveled.
Sunday last San Francisco sat in all
the beauty of her queenly state, city
upon the seven hills beside the great
Golden Gate. She sat in her queenly
robes of gold and velvet, wealth, indus
try and energy-an object of envy, a
city OF which the whole country was
proud our queen city, the very apple
of our eyes.
To-day it is blackened city. Marts
of business are destroyed, many of her
institutions of learning and mercy are
burned, many of her children have died
and many more are homeless and hun
CRY. Even those whom God had gifted
with power and wealth have not where
with to buy loaf of bread.
Will Rise From Tomb
'In her sorrow, ah she has not lost
heart and courage. She knows there
is a resurrection morn and she will rise
from her tomb of affliction more beau
tiful and powerful city. She has re-
ceived heart from the whole world
Neither you nor / have ever heard
a sadder story or have ever felt sor-
row come closer. But neither you nor
L have ever seen such an expression OF
charity. 1t is a charity that demands
our admiration. From the length and
breadth of the land. and the world
has come a response and a wave OF
sympathy Powerless today, San Fran
cisco is crying for bread. She that
was the wealth and gate of the world
The answer has come back from bill
lions of human beings.
Urges People to Help
ut is a lesson to us, to feel that the
humanity in us has answered the cry
Let us remember that we are Chris
tians as well as men and women. Oul
motives should not be merely to satisfy
the animal need. but as children oi
God. You are doing it for God, whose
Christ died that we might have
charity.
"The homeless and helpless are com
ing to us and we will care for them
Brethren, your help is asked today
not to build up their city, for they car
and will do that, but to stay theil
hunger and to care for the wives ant
daughters, the sick and abandoned.
"The City of the Angels shall be 6
city of blessings and an angel oi
peace"