Custer weekly chronicle. [volume] (Custer City, S.D.) 1890-1931, 1903-03-07
ROOSEVELT TALKS
ON METHODISM
70 a Throng in New York al
Anniversary OF John
Wesley.
PACKED TO DOORS
In interesting Incident Happened as
President Alishted From Carriage
Was Hailed by Stage
Driver.

New York, Feb. 2S.-President Roose-
velt was the chief speaker last night at
q mass meeting at Carnegie hall held
ito do honor to The character and Ia
bors Of John Wesley, the founder Of
Methodism; scholar. missionary, phil
anthropist, preacher, gentleman"
The meeting was held under the aus
pices Of the New York Thank Offering
commission, which has had charge of
the local work of the twentieth century
thank Offering FUND Of 100000 that has
been raised by the Methodists through
out the country to celebrate the advent
of the twentieth century of the Chris
tian era.
Samuel w. BOVINE presided, with
President Roosevelt at his right, and
on the platform were Bishop G. D.. Foss,
Bishop Walden, Bishop Goodsell, T.. NJ
Willis, Bishop u. G.. Andrews, Dr.
James r. Day, Bishop G. II. Fowler, j.
Edgar Leaycraft, Rev. DIR. d. S. Triple,
executive secretary of the New York
Thank Offering commission; the Rev.
DR.. j. w. Johnson, pastor Of the old
John street NJ. l.. church; Rev. DIR. A.
d. Leonard, secretary of the Methodist
Missionary society, and the Rev. DR.. j.
b. R~emensyder Of the Lutheran church.
The hall was crowded to the doors,
and hundreds were unable to gain adj
mission.
President Roosevelt reached the hall
escorted by q detachment OF mounted
police at $3.50 o'clock.
AS he alighted from his carriage he
was hailed by a young man who was
struggling in the crowd and whom the
police were trying to force back.
I'm Mike Cronin, Mr.. President. and
I want 10 hear you speak" he shouted
A Characteristic Incident.
President Roosevelt instantly recog-
niZed MIN as the driver who drove him
on the last stage of his journey &c
North Creek to take the train for Buff.
falo, after being notified Of the death
of President Mckinley.
Delighted to see you" replied the
president, who, addressing the police
Let that man pass"
Grasping Cronin's hand he led hin
into the hall and saw that he had a sea-
near him IN the platform.
After the meeting the president in
troduCcd CTOnin to the lneInbers Of hli
party, and told them the story of hi!
furious night drive along the Adiron'
dacks roads to catch the rain.
Cheers and handclapping announced
the arrival OF President Roosevelt, VIII
advanced from the rear platform &C
companied by the presiding officer o
the meeting, Mr.. Bovine.
When he reached the front of tn
stage the president bowed slightly, an
| then walked over to the seat reserve
for him behind the reading desk.
Chairman Bovine then announced tn,
hymn, BLOW We the Trumpets, Blow,
by Chas. Wesley.
Bishop Cyrus d. Foss of Philadelphi;
| than 1a1 fha nnaafinp In nrn a Olnz
ing with the Lords prayer, in which
mighty volume of voices Joined.
Mr.. Bovine made a short address, il
which he said that Metho1iSIn is con
stantly growing, except possibly IN
few effete cities on the Atlantic sea
board.
Mr.. Bovine introduced Preslden
Roosevelt, the audience rising to gree
him.
The president spoke as follows:
ing on the theme, Then and Now-170
Mr.. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen
| I am glad to address this representative
body of the great church Wesley founded
on the 20Qth anniversary of his brit
America has a peculiar claim on Yves
ley's memory, for on our continent tn
Methodist church has received It's great
\ est development. IN colonial days Meth
odism was not a great factor. The Con
gregationalists were supreme Throughout
| New England; the Episcopalians on tn
| seaboard from New York southwark tn
Presbyterians along the western frontier
and the Quaker, Catholic and Dutca Re
formed churches had developments /
special places. The growth of the Mett
4 odists, like the Baptists, began at tn
revolutionary war.
Since the revolution the Methods
church has played a peculiar part !
pioneer growth n assumed "A position {
immense Importance throughout the ne
west.
For a century after the declaration tn
greatest work of our people, except onl
the work Of selfpreservation under Liz
coin, was that of the pioneers. We pushe
west TO the Pacific, south to the gulf an
took Alaska. 1T was the typical work {
our nation, and the men who did 1t were
class by themselves. The men who did
had characters strong for good and fC
evil. Their rugged natures made thel
powers, and with heroic traits they ha
evil and dreadful tendencies, too apt
be found in characters Of heroic possibi
tiles. Such men make the most eficier
servants Of the Lord If their aboundin
vitality and energy are directed arigh
and If misdireCted their influence is equa
~ potent against the cause of Christian
ty and true civilization. All honor to til
Methodists, for the great proportion {
pioneer preachers whom they furnished.
These preachers suffered and oVercam
every hardship, tanned the wild spirits {
their fellows. 1t was not a task for me
DESTROYS TO live in the soft places. The
had III them the spirit that scorns cas-
Great is our debt to these men and scar
the patience we need show their critic
Al times they seemed hard and marrow
and they rave been criticised, as all mel
whether missionaries, soldiers, explorer
or frontier settlers, are criticised. 1t
easy for those who stay at home IN con
fort to c~riticise the men who, amid gril
surroundings, make the way for tn
higher life; but the interrupted and e.
fortress should be cautious In passin
judgment upon brethren who may sho'
hardness or shortcomings, but neverth,
less do the great deeds by which mankin
dvance These pioneers Of Methodist
had the militant virtues which accomplis
great deeds.
l need hardly ask n body like this to r.
member that the greatness of the father
becomes to the children a shame If the
use II only as an excuse for inactiOn II
stead OF a spur to effort. / speak to yC
as Methodists, Americans. The phone,
days are over. We now are a great n;
ton. The instruments and surrounding
nave changed UNNECESSARILY from, thos
Of the backwoodS preachers who mini
tered to the needs of backwoods congr,
cations. But the spirit must be the sam
They drove forward TO success, becau.
their sense of duty was in their heart
1t was not a mere adjunct to their thee
ogy. They did not have one kind of col
science for one side Of their lives and al
other for another.
If We succeed as q nation we must haN
the same spirit. We must be practice
But in addition we must have q lift &
ward lofty things or we shall, be los
Life is not easy, least of all for the N
or nation that aspireS to great deeds.
during this century men of high NOR
sense show themselves weaklings; If the
shudder from contact with actual life;
| they stand aside from pressure and col