The San Francisco call., 1907-01-21
SenatorW olfeD Denounced
by Episcopal Rector
Objection to Men
ton of the Christ
Stirs Pastor

The collective ears of the State
Senators of California must have
burned last night while that presumably
august body was being roasted to a
turn by Rev. Cecil Marrack. rector of
St. Stephens Church. in his sermon on
The Growing Shame of Our State
Senate. " Although he branded the
legislators generally as looters and cor
rupt men. the irate clergyman selected
as his especial target State Senator
Edward |. Wolfe of San Francisco.
1t was Wolfe's request to the chap
lain of the Senate that he eliminate the
name of Jesus Christ from the prayer
spoken in the Senate Chamber and the
chaplains acquiescence that aroused
DR.. Marrack.
Wolfe. il will be recalled, in making
his request of the chaplain, said he
spoke for the Jewish members of the
Senate. DR.. Marrack spoke in part
as follows:
The crowning shame of our State
Senate has been brought upon it through
the action of a San Francisco member.
For days it has seemed that almost
every man was striving TO outdo his
neighbor in corruption. Measure after
measure has been presented in which
the clear purpose was to loot the pub
lie purse. From the moment when the
Speakers gaYel first called the session
to order there has been wild scramble
for plunder. Day by day our ears
have rung with the old tale of public
trust betrayed. Day after day we have
witnessed the brazen exhibition of
greed so shameless as to scorn even
the cloak-of virtue. Thefts there have
been, treachery there has been, malice
and deceit and fraud. These things
were enough to make our cheeks burn
with shame at the thought that these
men were our representatives.
GROWING INFAMY OF ALL
But now there comes the crowning
infamy of allan infamy so great that
IT demands instant and burning con-
demnation from every man or woman
who feels a personal concern about the
upbuilding of Christian Civilization IN
this frontier city of a, Christian COM
monwealth.
"I refer to the action of Senator
Wolfe of San Francisco in demanding
that henceforth the Chaplain of the
Senate refrain from any mention of
the Savior of the world--the founder of
our Christian civilization His words
were those of an irreverent and god
less man. The Christian members of
the upper house, he said, have ample
opportunity to recognize the founder of
their faith when they aff1x the figures
1907 to the proceedings of this session.
The rest of US would like to be ex-
70
the Man of Nazareth.
Men and women of San Francisco,
it is your best feeling that ] express
when I protest against this proceeding.
Tt is no mere sentiment that causes me
to use the pulpit to protest against the
action of an individual--and that man
a politician. It is not ths the irrever-
ence and irony of the words which
deplore. These words of mine come
from q full heart and are prompted by
a sense that this mans action strikes
at the very root of our state and ma
tional life
Il speak now, moreover. as citizen
of this community and not as a priest
of the Episcopal church--not even as
the representative Of the Christian
church alone, Catholic or Protestant. 1t
must surely be the sentiment of every
large-minded. true-hearted man and
woman in this community, Catholic or
Protestant, Jew or GENTLE, which 1
express when stand upon this thesis:
'sThat our representatives--mun
pal, State or national-must represent
a Christian civilization.
do not fear that such a. position
shows prejudice. 1t is not inconsistent
with the largest individual freedom.
/ do not know what sort of a non
Christian the Senator from San Fran
cisco happens to be. AS an individual
he may boast of his indifferences- to
Christian influence and make light of
Christ. We can only pity him then.