Waterbury evening Democrat., 1905-08-07
PRESIDENTS SERMON
From Christian Brotherhood's
 Platform at Oyster Bay.
EMPHASIZED THE GOLDEN RULE.
Roosevelt Carried His Own Bible and During Address Read selec. tiOns From New Testament
 and Made Comments.


 and During Address Read selec-
 tions From New Testament
 and Made Comments.
 OYSTER BAY, N. r., Aug. 7.-Pres- dent Roosevelt late yesterday deliver cd lay sermon to the Christian Broth srhood of Oyster Bay. He emphasized especially the necessity of sound char acter building, holding that high moral character was the real essence of Christian life.
 The organization before which the president spoke is nonsectarian body, composed principally of the male mem- bers of the several local churches. Tho meeting was held in the Sunday school room of the Methodist Episcopal church, of which the Rev. W. I. Bow man is pastor. MT. Bowman is also the president of the Christian Broth srhood.
 Several weeks ago an invitation was extended to the president to address he brotherhood, and he promised the Rev. Charles B. Wightman, chairman ,f the committee, to accept the invita- tion at some later time. He notined he committee that he would make the promised address, stipulating that no previous announcement should be made of his intention to speak.
 About 200 persons attended the meet ing, and practically all of them were surprised when President Roosevelt appeared on the platform and was in- roduced by Mir. Bowman.
 The president carried bis own Bible and in beginning his address read se- lections from the sixth chapter of Matthew, the epistle to the Corin- .hians and the epistle to James. No verbatim report of the address was made, but the president last night dictated the following as the substance ,f his remarks:
 Brother Bowman has spoken of the fact that I have had large experi- ,nce. think that each one of us who aas a large experience grows to realize more and more that the essentials Of experience are alike for all of us. The things that move us most, the things ,f the home, of the church, the inti- mate relations that knit man to bis family. to his close friends. that make aim try to do his duty by his neighbor, by his God, are in their essentials just the same for one man as for another, provided the man is in good faith try lng to do his duty.
 "I feel that the progress of our coun. try really repends upon the sum of the efforts of the individuals acting by themselves, but especially upon the sum of the efforts of the individuals acting in associations like this for the 5etterment of themselves, for the bet torment of the communities In which they dwell. There is never any dim .ulty about the forces of evil beinl organized. Every time that we gel m organization of the forces that art painfully striving for good. an organi cation like this. we are doing our par to offset evil.
 A quotation I wish to read to yos s found In the twenty-ffth chapter o Matthew, thirty-seventh to fortietl verses inclusive:
 Then shall the righteous answe him. saying: Lord. when saw we the hungered and fed thee or thirsty an'
 gave thee drink! When saw we the
 stranger and took thee in or nake'
 and clothed thee; Or when saw VI
 thee sick or in prison and came unt
 theer And the king shall answer an say unto them. Verify say unto you snasmuch as ye have done 1t unto on of the least of my brethren ye hay lone 1t unto me-
 That is what this brotherhoo means by trying to worship our Cre' tor. by acting toward this Creator ( 1e would have us act. 10 try to mak our religion a driving force in ou , lives. 10 do unto others as we voul . have them do unto us"
 At the conclusion of his address u 1 president shook hands with the men . bers of the brotherhood present. Aft ? brief call af the residence of M t Bowman, adjoining the church he T : turned to ssgamo-e Hill