Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1888-05-24
Speech, from the President.


President Cleveland yesterday visited the
Presb, tetian General Assembly in session
in Philadelphia and made an address as
follows:
Il am very much gratied by the oppor-
tunity here afforded me to meet the repre-
senatives of the Presbyterian Church.
Surely man never should lose his interest
in the welfare of the church in which ne
was reared ard yet | will not find fault
with any OF you who deem it sad confess
sion made, when acknowledge that must
recall the days now long past, to find my
closest relation to the grand and noble de-
nomination which you represent. | say
this because those Of Us who inherit fealty
to our church as did, begin early TO learn
those things which make us Presbyterans
all the days of our lives; and thus it is that
the rigors Of our early teaching By which we
are grounded in our lasting allegiance are
especially vivid and perhaps the best re-
membered. The attendance uDon church
service three times each Sunday and upon
Sabbath school during the noon intermis
sion may be irksome enough to boy Of ten
or twelve years OF age TO be we'll fixed in
his memory but | have never known a
man who regretted these things in the years
Of his maturity The shorter catechism
though thoroughly studied and learned,
was not, perhaps. ST the time perfectly uu-
derstood ard yet in the stern la5ors and
duties of after life these are not apt TO be
The worst citizens who were carly taught
what is the chief end OF man."
Speaking Of these things and in the pres.
ence Of those here asse mbled, the most ten
der thoughts crowd upon my mind-ail con-
nected with Fresby terianlsm and lis teach
ings. There are present with me now men,
cries Of kind and of =ctionae father, con-
secrated 10 the cause, and called TO his rest
aud his reward ia The mid day Of his useful.
ness ; sacred recollection CT the prayers
aud pious love of . sained mother, and a
family circle halowed and senctifed by the
spirit ofPresbyteyisnsm.
II certainly cannot help but express the
wish and hope that the Presby teran Church
will always will be at the front in every
movement which promises the temporal as
well as The spiritual advancement Of man
kind. Ia The turmoil and the hustle Of
everyday life few men are foolish enough
10 ignore tho practical value to our psople
and our country Of the church organizations
established among us and the advantage of
Christian example and teaching.
THE fed is vast and the work sufficient
to engage the efforts Of every sect and de.
nomination, hut am inclined to believe that
the church which is most tolerant and cou-
servative, without loss of spiritual strength,
will soonest find the way TO the hearts and
affections of the people, While we may be
pardoned for insisting that our denomina-
ton is the best, we may, think, safely con-
cede much that is good TO all other churches
that seek TO make men better.
81 am here to greet the delegates of two
general assemblies of thu Presbyterian
Church. One is called North and he other
South The subject is too deep and intri
cate for me. but | cannot help wondering
why this should be. These words, so far as
they denote separation and arrangement,
should be obsolete. In the counseis of the
nation and in the business CT the country
they no longer mean reprcacb and anlagon.
ism. Even the soldiers who fought for the
North and for the South are restored TO
fraternity and unity. This fraternity and
this unity are taught and enioined by our
church. When shall she herself be united
with all the added strength and usefulness
that HARMONIC and union ensure?n