ASSASSINATION OF CHARLES DE YOUNG.
By Editor
On Friday evening, April 23, San Francisco was thrown into another excitement by the murder of Charles De Young, senior editor and proprietor of the Chronicle, in the business office of that paper, by Isaac M. Kalloch, son of Mayor Kalloch. The attempt of De Young to assassinate the elder Kalloch on the 23d day of August last, is yet fresh in the minds of the reader. And that was not the only time that he had wantonly assailed persons with the pistol. He courted the fate which he has met. De Young's trial for that assault was set for May 3, and it is reported that he had been getting evidence very damaging to the reputation of Kalloch, which he was to have presented at the trial. Recently, a pamphlet report of the trial of Kalloch for adultery in Massachusetts has been extensively circulated in San Francisco. It appears that its circulation was laid to De Young. Either this, or to forestall the presentation of unwelcome evidence in Court, is supposed to be the immediate cause of this murder, which was cool, and premeditated. Young Kalloch was seen to look in at the window to observe the position of the inmates of the room; and suddenly opening the door, near which De Young stood, he rapidly fired five shots from a revolver, one ball striking De Young in the face, cutting his upper lip, and lodging in the jugular vein. He died in about five minutes, it being about 8 o'clock. As publishers of a religious paper, we feel constrained to notice this matter for one of its features. Last August, immediately after the attempt of De Young to assassinate I. S. Kalloch, the son, I. M. Kalloch, who had been officiating as pastor of a Baptist church in Healdsburg, and preaching in other places, appeared at a meeting on the "sand lot," that hot bed of iniquity, and used the following language:— "I expect to see the corpse of that —, and to see my father tread on his grave. I appeal to you all, if the law does not follow its course, and if Charley De Young does not die by the law, to help me to kill him." With this declaration of murderous intention on his tongue, the Metropolitan Temple Baptist church accepted him as its pastor, associated with his father. The elder Kalloch, a few days before this, had used language at that church which no paper in San Francisco, noted as it is for reckless journalism, was vile enough to print. His words have never been published. Under these circumstances, we do not see how that church can possibly free itself from the stigma which attaches to these indecent and murderous transactions. It is a disgrace to the name and profession of Christianity. We are glad to know that some Baptists in California have no fellowship for either the church, or its disgraced and disgraceful pastors. But we have to record the fact that, on the recovery of Mayor Kalloch, a jubilee meeting was held, in which Baptist ministers of high standing in the denomination, vied with each other to glorify the pastor of the Temple church, when they had every reason to believe, and sufficient evidence to know, that he was utterly unfit to occupy the pulpit of a church bearing the Christian name. It is not in the personal features of the case which we take any interest. We have no acquaintance with any of the parties. As individuals their transactions have no more interest for us than the thousands of like crimes which are being enacted almost without intermission. But it indicates that the standard of Christianity is lamentably low in any community and among any people when such things can be tolerated, and suffered to bear the sacred name of Christian. It is because vile men are upheld in their pernicious ways in the churches, that the way of truth is evil spoken of; 2 Peter 2:2. While large denominations fellowship such churches, and churches uphold such ministers, it is to be expected that many thoughtful people would regard the religion which they profess as a delusion and a fraud. This is this which so greatly retards the success of Christianity, and makes the preaching of the gospel so difficult before the masses. Did all men patiently examine the claims of the truth, and closely distinguish between the true follower of Christ and the worldly hypocrite, it would be different. Jesus said to his disciples, "Ye are the light of the world," and it is to be expected that the world will judge of Christianity by its professed adherents. Therefore great is the responsibility of that professed follower, or church, of Christ who dares to hold up before the world a false and misleading light. We are often accused of being uncharitable because we deny the Christian standing of those pretenders who bring reproach on the cause of God. We feel in duty bound to "cry aloud, and spare not." The standard of Christianity trails in the dust, while those who bear the name of Christ unite in fashionable follies, and all manner of worldly trifling; and we are expected to hold our peace for the sake of religion! He is recreant to the cause of Christ who does to hold his peace while he sees his Master's name and cause disgraced by designing worldly professors. The very fact that we are expected to remain silent and raise no warning cry against abounding iniquity and churchly folly, proves that the churches, as a general thing, are sadly degenerate—are fallen. Rev. 14:8. Soon we expect that, in the providence of God, a more urgent warning will be given, attended by the imperative call, "Come out of her, my people, that ye be not partakers of her sins, and that ye receive not of her plagues." Rev. 18:1-4. May the Lord grant us grace to keep ourselves free from unhallowed influences in this evil day.