The Intermountain Catholic. (Salt Lake City [Utah] ;) 1899-1920, 1900-04-28
PRESIDENT M'KINLEY ON FOR.
EIGN MISSIONS.

Last Saturday evening the president
of the United States addressed the ecu
menical conference on foreign missions
in session in New York, and it is safe
to say that his address was something
of a disappointment to his audience
who had looked forward to the ecca-
sion as a fitting one for the president to
declare a Protestant policy for the
Philippines. Instead, all he said was
perhaps more applicable to the work of
Catholic missionaries than it was to
the work of those whom he addressed.
In part the president said:
Il am glad of the opportunity to offer
without stint my tribute of respect to
the missionary effort which has
wrought such wonderful triumphs for
civilization.
THE story of the Christian missions
is one of thrilling interest and marvel
Gus results. The sacrifices of the mis-
sionaries for their fellow men consti-
tute one of the most glorious pages of
the worlds history The missionary.
of whatever church or ecclesiastical
body, who devotes his life to the ser
vice of the Master and of man, carry
ing the torch of truth and enlighten-
ment, deserves the gratitude and hon.
age of mankind. The noble, self-effac-
ing, willing ministers of peace and good
will should be classed with the worlds
heroes.
WELDING the sword of the spirit
they have conquered ignorance and
prejudice They have been the pio-
neers of civilization. They have il
lumined the darkness of idolatrv and
superstition with the light of intelli-
gence and truth.
They have been messengers of
and love. They kave
braved disease and hunger and death,
speakable hardships, but their noble
spirits have never wayered. They count
their labor no sacrifice.
- Away with the word in such a view
and with such a thought says David
it is emphatically no sac
rifice; say rather it is a privilege
They furnish us examples of forbear-
ance and fortitude, of patience and I'M
yielding purpose, and of a spirit which |
triumphs, not by the force of might,
but by the majesty of right. They are
placing in the hands of their brothers,
ess fortunate than themselves, the keys
which unlock the treasures of knowl- |
edge and open the mind to noble as
pirationS for better conditions.
Education is one of the indisDensa-
BILE steps of mission enterprise, and In |
some form must Drecede all successful |
work.
The labors of missionaries, always |
difficult and trying, are no longer so |
DerilOus as in former times. In some |
quarters Indifference and opposition |
nave given place to aid and co-opera- |
ion. A hundred years ago many of /
he fields were closed to missionary eff |
,ort. Now almost everywhere is the |
open door, and only the map of the
world now marks the extent of their
hOught and action.
Who can estimate their value to the
progress of the nations? Their contri-
)utiOn to the onward and upward
march of humanity is beyond all cal
ulation. They have inculcated indus
ry and taught the various trades. They
lave promoted concord and amity and
brought nations closer together They
AVE made men better. They have in
reased the regard for home, have
the sacred ties of familys
ave made the community well ordered,
nd their work has been potent infiu-
nee in the development of law and the
of government"