The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-05-21
Nations Chief on Conquest of Con-
tinent, New Republic Established
and, the Disaster at Martinique.

New York, May 21.--Carnegie hall was
crowded to the doors last evening. when
President Roosevelt delivered an address
In the interests of Presbyterian home
missions. the occasion marking the close
Of the centennial celebration.
When the president took his seat on
the platform he received great ovation.
He was seated between the Rev. DR..
Van Dyke and the Rev. DR.. Stuart
Dodge. ID. D., the latter being the pre-
siding officer.
Every true American" said DR..
Dodge in his opening remarks, lis grate-
fuf that his country was founded by
men and women who feared God and
today this nation is receiving its chief
strength and support from God-fearing
men and women"
DR.. Dodge reviewed the bright pros
poets of the Church. which he said. lis
about to receive creed that plain peo-
pie can understand and accept"
In introducing President Roosevelt
DR.. Dodge said that no man knows bet
ter than, the president the Importance
to the nation of the good work OF the
missions.
When President Roosevelt stepped to
the front OF the platform and began
"Mr. Chairman" he was interrupted by
the fash light of photographer. As
the smoke blew across the stage he
laughed and said:
There goes the mystery now" re-
ferring to the mystery of the creed.
PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
1t is pleasure on behalf of the people
Of the United States to bid you welcome
on this hundredth anniversary OF the
beginning of organized home missionary
work by the Presbyterian Church. In
one sense, of course. all fervent and
earnest church work is a part OF home
missionary work. Every earnest and
sealous believer, every man or woman
who is a doer OF the word and not a
hearer only, is a lifelong missionary i'm
his or her field OF labor--a missionary
by precept and by what is a thousand
fold more than precept by practice.
Every such believer exerts influence on
those within reach, somewhat by word
and Infinitely through the ceaseless vet
well-nigh unseen pressure. all the
stronger when its exercise Is uncon
scious, OF example. OF broad loving
charitable neighborlness.
f5ut tonight we celebrate a hundred
years of missionary work done not Incl
dentally. but with set purpose: a hum
dred years OF earnest effort TO spread
abroad the Gospel. to lay deep the mora
foundation upon which true nationa
grea tness must rest The century thai
has closed has seen the conquest OF this
continent by our people. To conquer
continent Is rough work. All real,
great work Is rough in the doing
though II may seem smooth enough (,
those who look back upon IL or VIII,
gaze upon IL from afar.
CONQUEST OF THE CONTINENT.
The roughness is an unavoidable part o.
the doing of the deed. We need displa,
but scant patience with those who, sit
ting at ease In their own homes. deligh
20 exercise n querulous and censorioui
spirit Of judgment upon their brothrei
who. whatever their shortcomings. ar,
doing strong mems work as they brinl
the light Of civilization into the world,
dark places. The criticism OF those VIII,
i've softly. remote from the strife, Is %
little value; but II would be difficult [,
overestimate the value OF the missionar,
work by those who go out TO share tn,
hardship. and while sharing IL to wag,
war against the myriad forms of bru
tality. II Is such missionary work whicl
prevents the pioneers from sinking peril
ously near the level OF the savager,
against which they contend. without 1
the conquest OF this continent would hav,
little but an animal side. without Il IN,
pioneers fierce and rude virtues nm,
sombre faults would have been left unll
BY the fame Of pure and loving aspira
tions.
Without II the life Of this country woul,
have been a life Of inconceivably har,
and barren materialism Because OF a
deep beneath and through the nationa
character there runs that power OF firm
adherence 20 a lofty ideal upon whicl
the safety OF the nation viii ultimateI
depend. Honor, thrice honor, 90 thos
who for three generations. during tn
period OF this peoples great expansion
have seen that the force OF the livin
truth expanded as the nation expanded
They bore the burden and heat OF the day
they toiled obscurely and died unknown