Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-05-21
THE PRESIDENT
Addresses the Presbyterian
Conference at New York.
Full of Pride for His Country Which
Has lust Started
A New Nation, Free, on Path of Self
Government.

New York, May 20.--Carnegie Hall
was crowded to the doors, this even
ing, when President Roosevelt delivered
an address i'll the interests Of Presby
terrain home missions. The occasion
marked the close OF the centennial ctle-
bration
When President Roosevelt took his
seat On the platform, IL received a
great ovation. He was seated between
DR.. Van Dyke and Rev. D. Stuart
Dodge, ID. ID. the latter being the pre-
siding officer.
Every true American" said Dr.
Dodge in his opening remarks. Ills
grateful that this country was founded
by men ana women who feared God,
today, this nation is receiving its CHIEF
strength and support from God-fearing
men and women"
pr Dodge reviewed the bright pros
poets of the church, which, he said, lis
about to receive a 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 ANA began:
Mr.. Chairman" he was interrupted
by the flashlight Of a photographer. As
the smoke blew across the stage he
laughed and said: There goes the
mystery now" referring to the mys-
terry Of the creed.
Of IA
people of the United States 10 bid you
welcome on this the Tooth anniversary
of the beginning of organized home
missionary work by the Presbyterian
church. In one sense Of course all fer
vent and earnest hurch work is a part
Of home missionary work Every
earnest ana jealous believer, every
man or woman who is doer of the
work and not a nearer only is q life
long missionary in his or her field Of
labor-a missionary by precept and by
what is a thousand fold more than pre-
cept, Nv practice. Every such believer
eXerts influence on those within reach,
somewhat by word and infinitely
through the ceaseless yet well nigh
unseen pressure, all the stronger when
its exercise is unconscious, of each
( example Of broad, loving, charitable
| neighborliness.
But, tonight We celebrate q hum
\ drvd years Of missionary work. done
not incidentally hut with set purpose
! a hundred years OF earnest effort To
/ spread abroad the gospel, to lay deep
/ the moral foundation upon which the
national greatness must rest. The
century that has closed has seen the
conquest Of this continent by our peo-
| pie. 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 il or who SAFE upon il from afar.
The roughness is an unavoidable
/ part of the doing Of the deed. We need
! display but scant patience with those
who. sitting al ease in their own homes.
delight to exercise a querulous and CEN
serious spirit Of judgment upon their
brethren. who whatever their short
ccmings. are doing strong mems work
as they bring he light Of civilization
into the worlds dark places. The criti-
cisIn of those who live softly remote
from the strife. is of little value; but it
would be difficult to over-estimate the
value of the missionary work by those
who SO out to share the hardship. and
while sharing it, to wage war against
the myriad forms of brutality.
1T is such missionary work which
prevents the pioneers from sinking
perilously near the level of the savag-
cry against which they contend. With
| out it the conquest Of this continent
would have had little but an animal
side. Without it the pioneers fierce
ana rude virtues ana sombre faults
would have been left unlit by the flame
of pure and loving aspirations. With
out it the life of this country would
| have been Il life of inconceivabIy hard
and barren materi2lsm. Because of it
deep beneath and through the national
| character there runs that power of
! firm adherence to a lofty ideal. upon
which the safety of the nation will
ultimately depend.
| Honor. thrice honor to those who for
three generations, during the period Of
this peoples great expansion, have seen
| the force of the living truth expended
as the nation expanded. They bore the
| burden and heat Of the day. they toiled
| obsCurely and died unknown, that We
| might come into a glorious heritage.
| Let us prove the sincerity of our hon.
CONTINUED on page 81