New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-10-26
MILITANT HONESTY.
HOMILY BY PRESIDENT.
He Talks to Episcopal Bishops at
Mount st. 4lbanS.
TFRoM THE TRIBUNE BUREAU

Washington. Oct PIN the presence of
nearly one hundred bishops of the Episcopal
Church and a concourse of people estimated at
not less than fifteen thousand. President Roose-
welt this afternoon delivered a homily on the
Christian virtues. and coined an expression so
typical of his administration of his high office
that it is likely to take it's place with his siren
uous life" Militant honesty" the virtue
which Mr.. Roosevelt enJoined on his hearers,
aggressive form of integrity which I'M
willing to content itself with sef-righteousness.
reached out in broader circles and compelled
unquestionable honesty every side.
1t was memorable scene that presented itself
on Mount st. Adams, the future site of the
Cathedral Of SITS. Peter and Paul, this after
noon There was an immense gathering of poo
pie on the beautiful hillside, which overlooks all
Washington. when the Presidents carriage, con-
tanning also Mrs. Roosevelt and Admiral Dewey,
emerged from Woody Lane and crossed to the
permanent stanL on which the exercises were
conducted. No sooner had the President and
Mrs. Roosevelt reached the stand than the sur
pliced choir. numbering upward of four hun
dred including a large part of the Marine Band.
also in cassocks and surp!ices. and followed by a
large number OF clergy and the bishops, all!
vested. started from the little church, and slowly
wendell its way down the hillside, chanting the
professional
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS
After a ScripturaI reading, the recitation of
several Psalms the collects. etc, and the chant
ing of a number of hymns by the choir, the
President Bible IA hand, spoke as follows:
Bishop Satterlee and to you representatives
of the church. both at home and abroad; and
20 all of you. my friends and fellow citizens: L
extend greeting. and in your name l especially
welcome those who are in a sense the guests
of the nation to-day. In what l am about to say
to you l wish to dwell upon certain thoughts
suggested by three different quotations. In the
first place Thou shalt serve the Lord with all
thy heart. with all thy soul and with all thy
mind; the next BE We, therefore, wise as
serpents and harmless doves and, finally,
in the collect which you, Bishop Doane. just
read that We being ready both in body and
soul may therefore accomplish these things
which thou commandest.'
To an audience such as this do not have to
say anything to serving the cause of decency
with heart and with soul. want TO dwell,
however, upon the fact that have the right
to claim from you not merely that you shall
have heart in your work not merely that you
shall put your souls into il. but that you shall
give the best that your minds have got TO II,
also. In the eternal and unending warfare for
righteousness and against evil, the friends OF
what is good need to remember that In addition
to being decent they must be efficient; that
good intentions high purposes. cannot be
effective and substitute for power TO make
those purposes. these Intentions felt in action.
We must have the purpose aad the intention
II oIr mowers are not guided Alright, il is better
that we should not have them at ALL but in
addition being guided Alright we must have
the power. also; we must cultivate the power.
also.
In the second quotation remember that we
are told not merely to be harmless as doves.
but also TO be wise serpents One of those
characteristic humoTists whom this country has
develoDed and who yelled under tocular phrases
much 1eep Wisdoul-one of those men remarked
that il much easier to be a harmless dove
than a wise serpent. Now, are not to be
accused if we DO not show both qualities. 1t
is not very much praise to give a man to say
that he is harmless. We have a right to ask
that in addition 10 the fact that he does no
harm 10 any one. he shall possess the wisdom
and the strength TO do good To his neighbor;
that together with innocence, together with
nurity of motive, shall be Joined the wisdom
and strength to make that purity effective
that motive translated into substantial result.
ASK TO BE READY FOR WORK
Finally. in the quotation from the collect we
ask that may be made ready both in body
and in soul, that we may Cheerfully accomplish
things that are commanded TO do: that we
shall fit ourselves physically and mentally fit
ourselves by the way in which work with
the weapons necessary for dealing with this
life no less than with the higher, spiritual
weapons: fit ourselves thus 70 do the work COM
manded. and. moreover. do il cheerfuy.
Small is our use for the man who individually
helps any of and shows that he does il
grudgingly. We had rather not be helped than
be helped i'm that way. a favor extended IN a
manner which shows that the man is sorry that
he has 10 grant IL is robbed sometimes OF all,
and sometimes OF more than all It's beneht So
in serving the Lord, If We serve Him. II We
serve the cause of decency. the cause or r1sht-
cousness in n way that impresses DINERS Win
the fact that We are sad I'm doing 1t, our service
is robbed Of an immense proportion OF us en-
caoy. We have . right to ask cheerful near,
"a right to ask a buoyant ana ',heerlu! spir !,
9r7on- those T., whom is granted the inestma bic
privilege Of doing the Lords Work IN inns world.
The chance To do work. the duty 10 90 WORK. II
not penalty: At is privilege -. -.
I ifo a. e. ronstituted that the man or the
woman who has not got some responsibility Is
thereby deprived of the deepest napplness Una.
onn 80 s ar he ear she is fit TO live in the world,
x.,.,.a thigd