The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-05-21
MIR. ROOSEVELT SPEAKS
IN INTEREST OF PRESBYTERIAN
 HOME MISSIONS.
Close of the Centennial Celebration in New Yorx-The President Accorded an Ovation by the
 Multitude.

New York. May 20.-Carnegie Hall was crowded to the doors this evening with an audience eager to hear the address of President Roosevelt in the interests of Presbyterian Home Missions, the occa- sion marking the close of the centennial celebration.
 When President Roosevelt took his seat on the platform he received a great ova- tion. In introducing the President the Rev. Stuart Dodge. D. D., who presided, reviewed the bright prospects of the church which he said. lis about to re- ceive a creed that plain people can un- derstand and accept"
 Wben President Roosevelt stepped to the front of the platform and began MT. Chairman" he was Interrupted by the f1ashlight of photographer. As the smoke blew across the stage. he laughed and said: There goes the mystery now" referring to the mystery of the crsfd., sK is q pleasure on behalf of the peo- pie of the. United States to bid you wei come on this hundredth anniversary of the beginning of organized home mission ary work by the Presbyterian Church. In one sense, of course, all fervent and earnest church work is part of home missionary work. Every earnest and jealous believer, every man or woman who is a doer of the word and not a nearer only is a life long missionary in his or her field of labor-a missionary by precept and by what Is a thousand fold more than preoept, by practice. Every such believer eXerts influence on those within reach, somewhat by word and in tinitelv more through the ceaseless. yet well nigh unseen pressure, all the strong CT when its exercise Is unconscious of example. of broad. loving. charitable neighborliness.
 But tonight we celebrate a hundred years of missionary work done not incl dentally but with set purposes;' hun dred years of earnest effort to spread abroad the gospel to lay deep the moral foundation upon which true national greatness must rest The century that has closed has seen the conquest of this continent by our people. To conquer a continent Is rough work. All really great work is rough in the doing though it may seem smooth enough to those who look back upon 1t, or who gaze upon It from afar. Thoroughness is an unavoid- able part of the doing of the deed. We need display but scant patience with those who, sitting at ease in their own homes. delight to exer- else a querulous and censorous part or Judgment upon their brethren who what ever their shortcomings, are doing strong mems work as they bring the light of civilization into the world dark places. The criticism of those who live softly remote from the strife is of little value; but it would he difficult to over estimate the value of the missionary work of those who go out to share the hardship, and while sharing it. to wage war against the myriad forms of brutality.
 Tt is such missionary work which pre- vents the pioneers from sinking peril ousy near the level of the savagery against which they contend Without it | had little but an animal side. Without | it the pioneers fierce and rude virtues | and sombre faults would have been left | unlit by the flame of pure and loving as piration. Without that the life of this | country would have been a life of incon- ceivably hard and barren materialism Because of it, deep beneath and through the national character there runs that power of firm adherence to d lofty ideal upon which the safety of the nation will Ultimately depend.
 Honor, thrice honor to those 'who for three generations. during the period ot this peoples great expansion have seen that the force of the living truth expand ed as the nation expands. They bore the burden and heat of the day. they toiled obscurely and died unknown, that we might come into glorious heritage. Let us prove the sincerity of our homage to their faith and their works blythe way in which we manfully carry toward com plction what under them was so well begun.
 Speaking of Cuba the President said: "We have the right to feel proud that We have kept every pledge to the letter and established a new national precedent. l don't remember another such case and l have looked for one with cared case where. as a result of such a war the victorious nation has contcnted itself by starting a new nation. free. on the difficult path of self government
 = sometimes hear the army attacked and l have even heard missionaries at tackled. Still. when great work is to be done in peace or war 1t Is good to have the army to depend upon. Our repre- sentativ worked to build up the school system. to establish sanitary measures, to preserve order and to prepare for the starting of industries that the government might begin with tho chances in it's favor. Now as a nation we bid it God-speed and we intend to sec it has all the aid we can give 1t. I trust and believe our people in the na- tional legislature will see to it shortly that they have the advantage of entering