Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1891-10-18
LET NATIONS AGREE,
President Harrison, Secretaries Foster
and Noble and Congressman
Taylor Speak
AT TIE METHODIST ECUME!SICAL.
War and Peace and International Arbitra-
ton Are the Topics of the
Days Discussion.
AT THE METHODIST ECUMEsICAL.
NATIONS SHOULD BE READY FOR WAR
English Delegates Delighted With the Presidents
Presence and Speech

events of tO-day's sessions of the Methodist
Ecumenical Council was the presence anG
speeches of President Harrison and of See,
retaries Foster and Noble. The latter was
the first speaker, being introduced by
Bishop Newman. Said he:
Il am glad to be able to feel and know Of
the widespread influence of this great
church. We, in this country, are able to
get along without standing armies. We
simply keep little nucleus-something to
enable us to create an army or organize one
when We need it. We rely upon the patriot
ism Of our people to furnish the army when
the emergency comes and We rely upon the
religious sentiment of the country, and
especially of the Methodist Church, to Gre
ate the patriotism that is so necessary. I
called simply to show my appreciation of
the great work YOU are doing.
I'VE have vaults ard bars to protect the
money we have in the treasury We have a
few watchmen, but we depend more largely
on the sentiments you teach than on our
watchmen. Feeling this way about you, L
most cordially invite you TO come to the
treasury and look at that money"
1t was later in the forenoon when the
Pres dent arrived, and he was received with
an outburst of applause. The regular pro-
gramme of the day was suspended, while
Mr. Harrison addressed the assembly in the
following words:
Mr.. Chairman and Gentlemen of the Conference:
came here this morning to make an ex-
preston OF my respect and esteem for this
great body OF delegates, assembled from all
countries OF the world, and much more to
give a manifest alton of my respect and love
sor that greater body of Christian men and
women Tor whom you stand. Applause
Livery Ecumenical Conference is a distinct
step in the direction not only of the unitica-
zion of the Church, but of the unincation of
humanity.
1 am glad to know that ss the followers of
Wesley, whose hymns we sing YOU have
been in consultation as TO the method and
time when the minor divisions among YOU
may be Obliterated. 1t is the natural order
that subdivisions should be wiped out be-
fore the grand divisions of the Church can
be united. Who does not greatly rejoice that
the controversies of the Church are fewer
than they once were-that We hear more of
the Master and His teachings of love and
duty than Of hairsplitting and theological
dlSSensions.
SOME PERSONAL "REMINISCENCES.
! recall many years ago while visiting
watering place in Wisconsin, that when the
Sabbath came around l went with some
friends to a little Methodist Church in an ad-
Joining village. The preacher undertook to
ovcrturn my Presbyterianism Qaughterl,
and an irreverent friend who sat beside me,
as the young man delivered his telling blasts
against Calvanisn, was constantly empha-
sizing the points made by nudges of his
elbow. l am glad to recall that although
since then / have worshiped in Methodist
churches that was my last experience of
that kind / have had T('Tias a EsHaar.fih
"Hear."l
You have to-day as the theme OF discussion
the subject OF international arbitration. and
this being a public and enlarged use of the
word, perhaps makes my presence here as
Gn officer OF the United States especially ap-
propriate. Applause
1t is curious incident that on this day
appointed by me some days ago and before
was aware of the theme of the occasion
which we have here this morning had
appointed this afternoon to visit the great
gun foundry of the United States at the
Navy Yard. Things have come in their
proper sequence. am here at this srbitra-
tlOn meeting before go to the gun foundry.
This subject is one which has long at
tracted the attention, and think may say,
has as greatly attracted the interest and the
adherence of the United States, as that of
any other Christian power in the world.
tApplause].
ARBITRATION ON THIS CONTINENT.
1t is known to you all that in the recent
conference of the American States at Wash
ington the proposition was distinctly made
and adopted by the representatives of all the
Governments represented that as applied to
this hemisphere, all international disputes
should be settled by arbitration. [Applause.
OF course. there are limitations as yet in the
nature of things to the complete and general
adoption OF such a scheme. 1t is quite pos
s.ble to apply arbitration to a dispute as to
boundary line 1t is quite impossible, it
seems to me, to apply it to q case of inteTna-
tional fend. If there is present a disposi-
ton TO suDlugate, an aggressive spirit to |
seize territory as a spirit of national agoran-
diZement, that does not stop 10 consider the |
rights OF other men and other people To |
such case and to such a spirit international |
arbitration has no application or, if any, a |
remote and difficult app icatiOn. !
1t Is for Christian sentiment, maifestinq
itself in the nation, 70 remove forever such |
causes of dispute, and then what remains |
will be easy subject of adjustment by fair.
international arbitration. [Appause /
BUT had not intended to enter into a dis
cussiOn OF this great theme, for the setting |
forth OF which you have appointed those |
who have given it special attention.
AMERICA DESIRES PEACE.
Let me, therefore, say simply this: That |
for myself, temporarily in a place of in |
fuence in this country, and much more for
the great body of its citizenship, to express |
the desire of America for peace with the |
whole world. [Applause.l
1t would have been vain to suggest the |
pulling down of block houses or family dis |
armament to the settlers OF hostile Indian |
frontier. They would have told you rightly |
that the conditions were not ripe. And soft |
may be- and is probably true, that full an |
plicatiOn of this principle is not at present !
possible. the devil still being unclaimed. |
[Laughterl
We will still have our gun foundries, and
probably viii best promote the settlement |
OF international disputes by arbitration by /
having il understood that If the appeal is to |
a fiercer tribunal We shall not be out of the |
debate. [Applause.l There is a unity of the |
church and of humanity, and the lines of |
progress are the same. 1t Is by this great Chris |
tian sentiment, characterized not only by /
a high sense of Justice but by a spirit of love |
and rOrbearance. mastering the civil insti- /
tutiOHS and governments OF the world, that /
We shall approach universal peace and |
adopt arbitration methods Of settling dis |
putes. Applause
Let me thank you, Mr.. Chairman, and you,
gentlemen OF this conference, for the priv
ileEc Of standing before you for moment |
and for this most cordial welcome which |
yOu have given to me.
SECRETARY MOBILES REMARKS.
Secretary Noble said: 81 have not word
to say except this: A few days ago it was
my good fortune in my department to be
called upon to welcome to our city the emil
nenJ geolOgists from the Old World and the
New, then assembled in a great convention.
l then recognized how important it was that
the physical resources of our great conti-
nenJ should be developed for the good of
man. 1t is to-day my hope that these still
greater forces, that rule the souls of men,
that are here being developed, will make
this world Of ours-beautiful as is God who
made it-stlll more worthy Of our lives and