New-York tribune., 1903-06-08
H0MILY By PRESIDENT.
At CHURCH DEDICATION.
He Takes Part an Ceremony at He
formed Church IN Washington.
IBr TELEGRAPH TO TIE -kiBUSE.l !


President this morning delivered to his fellow
church members honily more vehement. more
incisive and more direct than many twentieth
century clergynen would dare to utter. by
their fruits ye shall know them said the Presi-
dent, then paused, looked over the congrega-
ton. and, with characteristic intensity. con-
tinuec, ''and 1 say TO you that the man who is
not kind and considerate husband and wise
father is not serving the Lord when he goes to
church"
Referring TO the words in the dedicatory
prayer. We beseech Thee that may lift up
holy hands to Thee, and worship Thee with
pure hearts," he begged his hearers to live
that all men might know that no hypocrisy, no
cant, found place in this church. and cited
category of virtues which should go to make up
the attributes Of & worthy member. Turning
suddenly to his pastor he continued: DR..
Schick viii bear me out that there is one branch
Of religious work. one responsibility which rests
especially upon the Reformed churches. which
is my hobby" Then he made eloquent ap-
peal that the hand of fellowship be extended to
those churchmen, who having torn up by the
roots the ties and associations of their homes
come to us from over seas. to make their homes
with us''-the immigrants. whose first years in
this country he described as years of peril"
The occa aston was the dedica ton of Grace
Memorial Reformed Church, a simple building
just finished and capable of seating barely six
hundred persons. In the Presidents pew sat
Mrs Roosevelt with Miss Alice Roosevelt and
Ethel and Archie There were few distinguished
persons in the assemblage. and the ceremonies
were free from ostentation, the simple forms of
the Reformed Church, which have undergone
little change since the day Of its founder. pre-
vai1ing throughout.
INTRODUCES THE PRESIDENT.
The congregation had just finished singing
the Gloria in Excelsis when DR.. J. NJ. Schick. the
pastor, introduced the President He said: IF
il were possible to separate the man from his
Office I would do it on this occasion It is not
the President OF the United States. famed
among men. beloved by every one in this broad
country. that 1 would introduce TO you. It is our
brother. who has worshpped with US, who has
Joined with US in the holy communion. he who
is one among US. and so I introduce him to you
a our brother Roosevelt"
Standing between the reading desk and the
1ectern. Mr. Roosevelt bowed slightly TO his
audience and more profoundly to the ministers
Of the Reformed Church. who occupied the
chancel and speaking with great earnestness
said:
shall ask your attention to three lines Of the
dedication canticle: Serve the Lord with glad
ness; enter into his gates with thanksgiving
and into his courts with praise. Who shai!
ascend into the hill Of the Lord? Or who shall
stand in his holy place? He that hath clean
hands and pure heart: who hath not lifted up
his soul unto vanity, sworn decetfully.'
Three better lines could surely not be brought
into any dedication service Of church, and it is
q happy thing that should have repeated
them this morning This church is consecrated
to the service Of the Lord, and we can serve
Him by the way in which we serve our fellow
men. This church is consecrated 10 service and
duty. It written of old that by their
fruits ye shall know them" and we can show
the faith that is in US, we can show the sin
Of devotion.
forth The who is not a tender and con-
siderate husband a loving and wise father, is
not serving the Lord when he goes to church;
so with the woman: with all who come here
Our being in this church, our communion here
with one another our sitting under the pastor OF
and hearing from him the Word of God, must, II
we are sincere, show the effects in our lives out
side.
A PECULIAR DUTY TO PERFORM.
We of the Reformed churches have a peculiar
duty to perform in this great country OF ours, a
country still in the making, for We have the
duty peculiarly incumbent upon US TO take care
of our brethren who come each year from over
seas to our shores The man going TO new
country is torn by the roots from all his old as
sociations and there is a period Of great danger
to him in the time before he gets his roots down
IN the country, before he brings himself
into touch with his fellows in the new tano.
For that reason ] always take peculiar in
terest in the attitude OF churches toward
the immigrants who come TO these snores.
feel that we should be peculiarly WatcEfuI over
them because Of our own history, because We or
our fathers came here under like conditions
Now that have established ourselves, let
Us see to ii that we stretch out the hand Of help
the hand Of brotherhood. toward the newcomers
and help them as speedily as possible TO shape
themselves and to get into such relations that II
will be easy for them TO walk well in the new
life That is one form Of duty peculiarly tncuIn-
bent upon us of these Reformed churches But
we are not to be excused If we selfshly sit down
and enjoy gifts that have beer given TO US ana
do not try to share them with our poorer lei
lows coming from every part Of the worlC, VINO
AVID IN GI1Nh
hand; who often not only meet TOO many Pc
pie anxious TO associate with them for their det-
rirnent but too often too few anxious to asso-
ciate with them for their good
trust that with the conservation OF each
new church Of the Reformed creed in this our
country there will be established fresh centre
of effort to get at and to help for their good the
neopIe that yearly come from over seas TO US.
No more important work can be done by our
people-importaut to the cause OF -
important 10 the cause or true natlonaI llIe ana
greatness here in our own land
4 FAITH OF DEEDS.
given MS TO make il evident to those who look on
and who are not Of US. that our faith is not one
of words merely; that it finds expression IN ~
deeds one sad, one lamentable phase OF hufiah
bJstorv is that the very loftisst words, implying
the loftiest ideas have been used as cloaks Ior
the commission OF dreadful DEEDS OF lhlquily
We Toust in our lives in our efforts. endeaVor TO
f1r+her the cause Of brotherhood in the hurra ?
FAMILY and we must do it IN such way thAI
the men anxious to find subject Tor COMPANY VI VI
deriefon in the churches OF the United states 10
,1r Cyl1I1rch may not be able TO find II by point
Sg ont any contrast between our professions ano
our lives l.. A.. o., ss,,+,,
80 - service TO the worship Of the Creator and
e a., earnest effort on our part so 10 snape ouI
lives among ourselves ana IN TeiatIon 10 e lIle
outside world that we may feel tnat we nave
s,a oT,r mart IN bringing little nearer the Gay
ooIS 1 4bare shall be this earth genuine
brotherhood OF man.