Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1906-04-30

theme Of the following sermon deliv-
cred by Rev W. l.. s. Murray at
| Washington Heights NJ. T.. Church,
last evening: After tho wind an
! earthquake, but the Lord was not in
| the earthquake, and after the earth
| quake fire, but the Lord was not in
| the fire, and after the fire q still small
] voice. / Kings, 10 il, -.
The wind, earthquake and fire we're
| triple destroyers, that impressed
/ Elijah with the awfulness Of power,
! but 10 was the "still small voice. that
/ inspired him with reverence. Man
will break rather than bend, before
| primordial forces, but he will fall on
| his face and listen for Gods "still
small voice" at the door step Of
Gods house yet smouldering from tho
flames. San Francisco, before being
laid low by the earthquake and fire,
was one of the most cosmopolitan
cities Of the United States. Il was
the meeting place of the modern West
and ancient East the common ground
of the Occidont and the Orient. Here
the executive West met the conserva-
tive East here were spoken more Lam
guages than made the confusion at
Babel here the ninth city OF this
I
the 18th of April with its $50, 600 in
habitants, four times as large as our
city of Wilmington.
'Frisco's destruction Is the greatest
catastrophe Of modern times greater
than that of Boston or Baltimore,
Chicago or Charleston, or Galveston.
The homes, business employment,
churches, schools, clothing, water and
food, all were swept away with one
mighty stroke. The modern city, one
OF tho greatest monuments of the
genius OF modern times, becomes q sea
of flame when touched with earthquake
force. II Gods law did not restrain
the wicked in their wickedness, and IL
God was not in the wind, If no was
not in the earthquake, nor in the fire,
His still small voice Is being rever-
emily listened 10 10y millions who sell
dom stopped TO hearken. As the DAYS
go by 10 Is becoming more and more
apparent that only things were de-
stroyed realities remain. The best
they had escaped the bosom of de-
struction, viz: Faith, hope, enterprise,
ambition, soul, spirit. IL was said
that the great painting, 1.-THE Man
With the Hoe, " escaped; 80 did the
man with q hope
The world has learned some Of its
greatest lessons in the light Of the
Frisco fire. American brotherhood
has been emphasized as never before.
10 meet the emergency and save
suffering humanity, the great Ameri-
can heart has been deeply touched
yea, the kinship of the race has come
TO the fore, for Paris postpones a cele-
hration Go show her sympathy, New
Zealand offers help, Japan sends rice.
Italy makes haste TO respond and
China is touched with a fellow feel
ing. Truly God has made of one blood
all nations that dwell on the face Of
the earth. Commercialism has loosened
its grasp and extended liberal hand
to meet the common need. lt is no
longer oold-blooded, but warm hearted
m the presence Of dire necessity. We
have had another demonstration that
humanity is above the constitution
above the laws Of civil society. David,
when starving, ate Of the shew bread,
that IL was only lawful for the priests
TO eat; so Gen. Funston gave the
soldiers rations to the starving oiti-
zens and the United States Congress
says that is right and voted a., 5OO, 600
TO aid the sufferers.
We are taught, also, that artificial
distinctions wane in the presence of a
great want. Dainty, diamonded fingers
took bread from the same source of
supply as the horny handed toiler, and
the delicate lady drank from the same
bucket with never comment that
supplied the humblest day laborer.
Tho earthquake, fire and famine are
great Jewelers.. Political faiths, re-
| ligious creeds and artificial dis.
! NHnaff 4 a
/ presence Of pressing need All are
equal an liie's great scheme. The
little worries of average life, faded
out before the fire. The hardest hearts
were touched, the close listed that did
not feel the earthquake shock. nor
see the fires lurid flame, have heard
the still small voice. Rockefeller
was the first TO send an sl0O, 600 many
mllionaires followed and poured out
their money like water. A millionaire
m Pittsburg wired Send 200 fami
lies &C my expense, / will give them
homes, supply the men with work and
take care of them for one year. - The
still small voice. has reached the
heart of soulless corporations and thew
have responded in proportion TO the
need and their ability. The mighty
railroads have rushed in food sun
plies, free OF charge, and have saved
a whole city from famine, that would
have perished if compelled to wait on
the old OK team. The standing army
has demonstrated its right to exist in
time of peace, by reducing chaos 10
order The fire insurance companies
have shown Co the world that thev
may be depended on as the greatest
source of self-help in rebuilding
consumed city
We have also seen that this nation
has the power to close the saloon
when we are ready to rise IN and 40
10. Whenever the American people
see the necessity they now know they
have the power, for the strong arm Of
the law shut every open door that WAS
not doomed 10y the destroyer. Ii was
1 considered necessity. Necessity
knows no law. Let it be said, also.
that the saloonkeeper has heart
capable Of being touched, for he too
has sent his gift with rich and poor
alike 60 meet a crying need. The citv
viii rise, Phoenix like, from her
ashes. greater, more beautiful and
more glorious than before; let us home
more law-ahiding and more God
fearing than In all her former history.
Miss Rosseii nonors Guest.