The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1901-12-17
B PRESIDENTS,
Isaac Watts

O"S - SN~ HSSN
ings in recent years was shat of the
Ecumenical Missionary Conference,
held in New York in 1900, which
packed Carnegie Hall to the roof,
and filled the streets with thousands
of people eager to get inside and
listen to the stories Of returned mis-
sionary workers.
Upon the platform at the opening
session sat William Mckinley, Presi-
dent of the United States Benjamin
Harrison, President of the Confer
ence, and Theodore Roosevelt, Gov
ernor of the State of New York.
1t was a notable occasion that
brought these three men TO sit
among the missionaries and extend
so them their welcome. In his adj
dress of welcome President Mckinley
said:
81 am glad of the opportunity to
offer without stint my tribute of
praise and respect TO the missionary
effort which has wrought such won
derful triumphs for civilization. The
story of the Christian missions Is
one of thrilling interest and marvel
Gus results. The services and the
sacrifices of the missionaries for
their fello wmen constitute one of
the most glorious pages of the
worlds history. The missionary, of
whatever church or ecclesiastical
body, who devotes his life to the
service of the Master and of men,
carrying the torch of truth and
enlightenment, deserves the graft
tuue, the support anu the homage of
mankind. The noble, self effacing,
willing ministers of peace and good
will should be classed with she
world 8 heroes"
The words of Governor Roosevelt
were o less cordial or pronounced,
and included an account of his own
experience with missionaries among
the Indians. The address of General
Harrison evoked even heartler en-
thusiasm by its eloquence and its
firm christian manliness.
Here Sat together bhree Presidents
of the Tilted States, past, present
and future, each with his own testl-
mOny TO the power of example in
human life, and of the value Of the
Christian religion and Christian
missions.
All three were typical Americans.
Two of them began life in humble
circumstances, and o. TO honor and
power by their own hard work. The
other, although born of parents who
were possessed of a comfortable tor
tune, Is also most emphatiCally the
builder of his wi remarkable career (;
an earnest and tirelees worker whose
success is due in no degree to the
start he had, but wholly TO the use
he has made of all his powers, n
80 the high purpose TO which he has
directed his energies.
Ii is worth noting, too, that all
bhree of these men attained honor
not merely in civil life and peaceful
times, but in periods of national
peril and the stress of actual Wal
They were soldiers, fighters, and
o~onspiouOusly brave and efficient
fighters, too. No one can think If
shem, then, as dreamers or sentimen.
t~4lists, or men given OVer-much to
emotion.
Yet to each of these three strong
men Christianity was a matter of
vital and supreme interest. Their
presence at that missionary meeting
was uot the ~perfunotory attendance
OF public men posing before the
country. 1t was an expression of
personal interest. They were regular
In their attendance at church, and
devout and sincere in the Observance
Of religious rites. Strong men though
they we're, they knew that their
own strength was weakness, and
they cast themselves upon that di-
vine strength which is omnipOtent.
Is there not something here which
the young men of America may we'll
take TO themselves?-The Youths
Companion