The Washington times., 1901-09-30
SERVICE AT GRACE CHURCH
The President and Two of His
Children in Attendance.
They Walk From the white House
and Hnck Again-A Large ConErc-
Ention-Thc Rev John NJ. Schick
breaches on the Need of Religion.

| As simply as Coulu nave the nuHlbieSt
! citizen. President Roosevelt, accompanied
| by his children, Kermit and Ethel. walked
| from the White House to service at mod
| est little Grace Church. near Fifteenth
and Streets yesterday. After partici-
| pating devoutly in the service and listen
ing to the sermon preached by the pastor,
the Rev ]. NJ Schick. the President took
| his way afoot back to the White House.
| all unconcerned apparently of the atten-
/ tion he attracted. This is plain MIR.
| Roosevelt, member of the Dutch Re
! formed Church, who attends services at
| the little house of worship which has at
tracted more attention IN the past week
| than it ever did before.
There are no evidences of rank. There
| is not even on his pew the silver plate en-
| graved President which has designated
at other Washington churches the seat
| of the Chief Magistrate. DR.. Schick re-
! CARDS the President merely one of his
| congregation. relation evidently highly
satisfactory to Mr.. Roosevelt himself. Of
| course the little church was crowded to
the doors. Many came quite early in or
| der to get a seat
The general expectation of the large
crowd which gathered seemed to be that
the smart official equipage from the
White House would convey the President
to church. 1t was remembered that he
walked to church last Sunday. but he
was then living at the home of his broth
er-in-law, Captain Cowles, not far distant.
Some surprise was therefore evident when
the President appeared around the corner
of Fifteenth Street and Rhode Island
Avenue after having walked from the
Executive Mansion up Sixteenth Street.
IL 90
exactly IL o'clock and while the congrega-
ton was standing passed to his pew,
which is the second from the front on
the left hand side of the church. The
children were but a step behind him. their
manner in a lesser degree showing the
straightforwardness and decislveness of
their father. Kermit is rather slender,
but erect, with light hair and complex
ion. Ethel, a remarkably pretty child,
was attired in dainty costume of white
flannel with Il sailor collar Hes hat was
becoming creation in black On his left
arm Kermit wore a band of mourning
The children displayed a ready knowl-
edge of the service, in all parts of which
they Joined with their father. They also
Joined in the singing of the hymns. among
which was the Presidents favorite, How
Firm a Foundation" The President fol-
lows the service closely, never emitting to
join with the congregation in the respon-
sive reading. His voice has a clear car
rying quality which makes him distinctly
heard for some little distance.
Outside on the broad lawn-the church
stands well back from the street-there
quite a crowd. Three policemen
paced on the sidewalk. Unobtrusively
Secret Service man kept close eye on
all proceedings within block.
1t was just a little more than an hour
after the President entered the church
that the benediction was pronounced by
DIR. Schick and the congregation rose and
stood waiting for the President to pass
out. He shook hands warmly with DR..
Schick as the latter passed down the
aisle The children did the same and
then Mr.. Roosevelt walked down the aisle
and through the door. the congregation
following after He took a brisk pace,
which was easily maintained by the chill
dren, and walked down Fifteenth Street
to Rhode Island Avenue, where he turned
toward Scott Circle.
The President, when afoot, always
abbreviates his route by cutting across
corners. The Secret Service man walked
on the opposite side of the street and
kept within close distance of the Presi
dent until the latter entered the White
House The party walked south on the
east sidewalk Of Sixteenth Street after
having passed part way around Scott Cir
Gle Behind them were a large number
of people who had attended the service
or who had seen him emerge from the
church Many of those whom the Presi-
dent passed tipped their hats in salute.
which Mr.. Roosevelt invariably returned.
When nearing Lafayette Square two
well-known newspaper correspondents /
rode by in an automobile. A moment
after passing they saw the President and |
tipped their hats. Mr.. Roosevelt was evil
IDENTIFY glad to see them, for he waved his |
glossy headpiece at arm length above !
his head. The correspondents at once de-
serted their automobile and approaching
the curb, were cordially greeted by the
President, with whom they walked to and
entered the White House.
DIR. Schick's sermon had no especial !
references apropos of the history-making |
occurrences of the past month. He chose |
for his text John xiv:13: rs it lawful to |
heal on the Sabbath" DR.. Schick said !
in part.
Jesus comes to every feast, and is |
present in every sorrow. In today's les |
son he is present at a supper in the home |
OF the chief Pharisee. Joys and sorrows.
pleasures and pains are continually so |
mingled that there is always need for
him at both, and whenever he is present |
he is unchangingly the healer, comfort
ing in sorrow and sanctifying in pleas
ure. The setting for this text is laid IN
a society scene. 1t is at the home of
chief Of the Pharisecs, and those who
know the Pharisees easily understand the
character Of the company, made up as IL
was of lawyers. scribos. and chief rulers
"One sufferer afflicted with the palsy
is in this company gathered around the
table on a Sabbath evening. He was evil
IDENTIFY brought there as trap to catch
our Saviour for it is recorded that the |
that it was the purpose of our SaViOur's |
enemies TO turn the common people |
against him. because they knew that |
Jesus would heal the afflicted even though
it be the Sabbath.
1T should be observed that the Sab
bath is older than the law. The giving
of the law made the Sabbath a privilege |
Of the jew. but their traditions have made
1t centre Of Journalism. The purpose
of the question of the text was purely to |
open the eyes Of the Pharisees to this
strange misconception of the law. For
what is here said of the Sabbath attach !
es il to every law of the ecalOgue Theft |
did not begin to be wrong when God said
Thou Shalt not steal nor murder Grim |
inal. when he said, Thou shalt not kin |
The purpose Of all laws is not to be |
,ound In binding obligation upon the peo-
pie. Whenever laws are observed In ser |
vile humility then force and character
building are destroyed. When the rulers |
ind no answer to the questions in the |
ext, Jesus answers 1t by healing the suf-
ering.
'@Tha lpgCOp N he rft 70 |