The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-02-18
OBJECT TO
ROOSEVELT
Can't Be Invited to the Cen
eral Assembly.
CENTRAL'S COM MENT
Incident Aired Recently In the Religious
Papers-Dr. Brooke Hot After
pr. Morris and
Others.

The whole thing has been squelched
and nothing will come Of It, but It Is an
interesting little incident which has been
aired in the religious papers, but seems
somehow to have escaped the eye Of the
secular journals.
short w1ile ago delegation called
upon President Roosevelt In Washington
and extended to him an invitation to at
tend the annual meeting Of the General
Assembly OF the Presbyterian Church.
South, which meeting will be hold IN May
next in Lexington, Va. Along with the
request went letters Of invitation from
President Denny. OF Washington and Lee
University: DR.. Whaling, pastor Of the
Presbyterian Church OF Lexington, and
DR.. s. L. Norris, secretary OF the Home
Mission Board OF the Southern ;Presbyte-
rtan Church. Not only was the President
requested to attend the assembly but he
Hss invited to deliver an address on
home MISSIONS. Mr.. Roosevelt had other
engagements, however, and was forced
to decline.
DR.. BROOKFs LETTER.
But before the President declined the
affair had, created a great stir. In the
columns Of the Central Presbyterian. OF
this city. the Rev. DR.. F. J.. Brooke. a
we'll known Presbyterian minister Of AL
e1andria. took the matter up and printed
hot letter. Under the constitution of
the church. he said. no such delegation"
could exist; therefore. 1t was practically
a fraud on. the President. The Presbyte-
r!an Church believes In absolute separa-
ton OF church and State, and. therefore,
even the assembly itself could not con-
nj IN
the President OF the United States the
Governor Of Virginia, or any other official
OF the government, as such. Then DR..
Brooke said:
I'VE do not question the right OF the
citizens. or any number of them. Of Lex
ington to invite the President or anyone
else to visit Lexington at any time they
may see ut, even while the assembly will
be there. But we would like to know by
whose authority this delegation and the
loved and honored brethren whose names
are mentioned invite the President to
attend the meeting Of the General AS
sembly and address the ass enably on home
missions or any other subject? DR.. Whal-
ing will be the most hospitable host OF
the assembly, but he knows as well as
do that the position does not confer
the power to extend such an Invitation.
At least, we suppose he. does. for he is
a learned grother. DR., Norris will be
tho assembly. but even he has no right
to address the assembly unless that body
invites him or unless he should be elected
a commissioner to It hereafter. II DR..
Norris has done this thing, for one
would like to know why he did It,, and
upon what authority. voted for him in
the assembly OF 1901. but he is not the man
I took himsto be II he has done what the
papers say he did honor the president
OF Washington and Lee University and
love that Institution, but pray tell me
what right has he to invite anybody to
attend and address the General Assembly?
What has he to do With 1t?.
AGREED WITH Him.
Following the publication OF this letter
the Central Presbyterian received several
others agreeing with DR.. Brooke. The
only editorial comment the paper ever
made was as follows:
THE invitation extended by, some Of
our brethren to President Roosevelt to
visit Lexington at the time of the Cen
eIal Assembly and what has been said
about the whole matter reminds us Of
DR.. William Browns adroit entrapping
Of the Northern Assembly at Saratoga.
He was one Of a committee to confer on
Ing before the assembly he first pictured
a reunited assembly meeting at Spring
field and visiting the grave Of Mr.. Lin
coin. and that met with a hearty and en-
thusiastic approval and loud cheering,
Then in his deliberate way he pictured
the reunited assembly In Lexington Va,
and a motion that the assembly visit the
graves OF General Lee and General Jack
son, and there was a great calm. 1t was
said that the silence could be cut in
slices -