Evening capital. (Annapolis, Md.) 1884-1910, 1901-11-14
RoosEyELT,s SERMON.
Preached In Chicago while Vice
President on the Text, ~De lie
Doors of the Word"

81 have known men who were good
Christians theoretically, yet were not
even good companions for their
wives. / have also known women
who went TO church regularly, but
spent their time at home nagging
their husbands and children. This Is
not true Christianity" said President
Roosevelt in the course of lay ser
mon which he delivered a month ago
from the pulpit of Trinity Reformed
church, Chicago, while he was yet
vice president. He spoke from the
text: "Be We doors of the word, not
hearers only"
zone of the most abhorrent traits
of character said Mr.. Roosevelt, "a
man can possess, in my estimation
is hypocrisy. We all have met men
who 90 about clothing themselves In
Scriptural teachings, yet whose con-
duct toward their fellowmen shows
that they do not live up to the teach
ing love thy neighbor as thyself.'
The great thing in this world for US
TO be is doors. OF course to be doors
we must be hearers. That is, we
must go TO church and study the
Bible, but our duty does not end
there. We should give helping hand
to others by spreading the word of
Christ. 1t is well enough to tell
man what he ought to do, but this
must be supplemented by some prac-
teal demonstration of application.
"By the doors In my text 1 mean
those who go TO church, and, hearing
preached from the pulpit the doctrine
of brotherly love, go into their homes
or into their business and apply what
they have heard.
"In your business and work If you
let Christianity stop when you leave
the church door there is not much
righteousness in you. Nor are you
any too righteous II your Christian
ity stops at the threshold of your
home. The man who carries Chris
tainity into his everyday work stands
n better chance of making a success
of life than one who does not. The
fellow who works for fee only and
does the least he can to get his
money will in the long run prove a
dismal failure.
Every man should strive TO do
justice to himself. but in doing so he
should not forget the rights of his
neighbour. He should be sure that he
is in the right and then stand square
ly in the path. If there Is any NOV
ing to be done let the other fellow do
1t. This applies to nations as well as
to individuals.
"We have all seen this type of man
who is spoken of as his own worst
enemy. ! have no patience with such
men. Often they are worse enemy
to others. A manly man--and that
is what we all ought to be-must
have strength and power and perse-
verance. The trials of life test the
stuff a man or woman Is made of, and
the one who is strong, fearless. and
courageous to do right is the ideal.
ION this puection of our duty to our
neighbor let me say that no one
ought TO submit to being imposed
upon, but before you act always stop
to consider the rights Of others be-
fore standing up for your own. The
only true way TO help a man is TO
aid him in helping himself. All OF
us stumble many times during a life
time, and the duty of man to his
neighbor Is to help him to his feet
so he may help himself. You can help
a man successfully, but you can't car
ry him successfully. If you rob a
man of his self-respect, take away his
sturdy, self-reliant manhood, no good
you can do will make amends"