New-York tribune., 1905-01-30
CROWDS HEAR PRESIDENT.
HE SPEAKS At CHURCH.
Tells Of the History and Future
of Lutherans in This Country.
Iron THE TRIBUNE BUREAU.

Iron THE TRIBUNE BURrAul
washington. Jan. 29.-The President this
-,ornng addressed large congregation at the
services attending the rededicstion OF the
luther Place Memorial Church giving an out
,ne o. The history OF the Lutheran Church and
,be prominent part il has taken In the progress
- civilization. The occasion was the commemo-
-ston OF the FIRST anniversary OF the fire that
suept through the church from auditorium TO
seeple and an elaborate programme was ar
.sueed by the Rev. J. c. Butler. the pastor
pho is just entering MS eightieth year. Three
services were held to-day, and the exercises viii
,,ntinue throughout the week
For nearly thirty years the Luther Place Me-
rsorial Church. situated on a triangle in a prom
,rent part OF the city, with it's park adorned by
a statue OF Martin Luther. has been one of the
irlposing places of worship in Washington The
cornerstone laid October 81, 1870 and at
the time Of its organization the church had only
forty-eight members. 1t has since grown TO be
one Of the largest and wealthiest English Luth-
eran churches in the city. The church has no
rented pews being supported entirely by vol
trtary contributions. In the corner OF the
church building is the Luther Eye. Ear and
Throat Inirmary. for the free treatment of the
indgent poor. regardless OF race creed,
The President said in part:
Dr Butter: II is a great pleasure to meet with
YOU this morning and say word OF greeting
he occasion Of the rededication OF this church,
coming IS il does almost simultaneously with
The entry q your pastor into his eightieth year.
From the standpoint from which / am Obliged
50 continually TO look at matters, there is a
peculiar function 10 be played by the great
Lutheran Church in the United States of Amer
jcs This is Church which had it's rise TO
power IL and until il enigrated TO this side of
The water. had always had its fullest develop
rnert in the two great races OF northern and
-1orthern middle Europe-the German and the
or4on TGa 7 Trffh %o
Tie territory which is now the United States
very shOrIly after the first permanent tsettle-
rnenis were made within our limits, foIA when
the earliest settlers came TO dwell around the
mouth Of the Delaware they brought the
Lutheran worship with them; and so with the
earliest German settlers, who came TO Penn
svvania and afterward TO NeW-YOrk and the
mountainous region in the western part OF Vir-
guia ard the States south OF It. From that
day 10 his the history OF The growth in popula-
lion Of this nation mas consisted largely, in some
respects mainly. of the arrival of successive
waves Of newcomers 10 our shores, and the
prime duty Of those already in the land is to see
that their own progress and development are
shared BY these newcomers.
Il is g serious and dangerous thing for any
man 10 tear loose from the SOIL from the region
IN which he and his forebears have taken root
and 10 be transplanted into a land. He
should receive all possible aid in that new land,
and the aid can be rendered him most effectively
by those who can appeal TO him on the ground
OF spiritual kinship. Therefore the Lutheran
Church can DO most in helping upward and on
ward SO many of the newcomers TO our shores:
and il seems TO me that il should be. I am
tempted 10 say. well nigh the prime duty OF this
Church that the immigrant especially the
Immigrant C. Lutheran faith from the Old
World, whether he come from Scandinavia
Germany, or whether he belongs 10 of the
Lutheran countries OF Finland or Hungary or
Austria. may not be suffered 10 drift off with
friendly hsnd extended 10 him out OF all the
church communion, away from all the influences
that tend toward safeguarding and uplifting
him. and that he find ready at hand in this coun-
Try those eager 10 bring him into fellowship with
The existing bodies.
The Lutheran Church in this country is OF
very great power now numerically and through
the Intelligence and thrift of its members but il
viii grow steadily 10 even greater power II is
destined 10 be one Of the two or three greatest
and most important national churches in the
United States; one Of two or three churches
most distinctly American. most distinctively
among the forces that TO tell for making
MS great country even greater in the future.
Therefore a peculiar load OF responsibility
rests upon the members of this church It is
an important thing for the people of this nation
10 remember their rights. but IL is even more
important thing for them TO remember their
duties In the last analysis the work OF states
men and soldiers, the work Of public men, shall
50 ior nothing II il is not based on the spirit
of Christianity working in the millions of homes
throughout this country so that there may be
that social, that spiritual. that moral foundation
without which no country can ever rice 10 per-
Esnent greatness For material well being
material prosperity, success in arts. in letters
great industrial triumphs, all of them and all
U lne structure raised thereon will be as eva
nescent as dream II they DO not rest on the
--sA-SolaneSs mat eXateth a nation"
Let ne congratulate you and congratulate all |
% US that We live IN a land and at a time
"hen We accept IL as natural that this should |
be an hier-denomiuational service of thanks |
SWING, such ceremony Is TO take place this |
AFTERNOON in which the pastors of other church |
: JON 10 congra tulate themselves and you upon
NE rebuilding OF this church. One of the con- |
S'afi problems Of life is to try to cultivate /
Fedun without shallowpess, just want |
20 Gy 10 cultivate depth without narrowness. |
Il seems TO me our good fortune that men have /
uesn able 10 combine feTvor in doing the Lords /
NoIk with charity toward their brethren who do /
II WIN certain differences in the non-essentials.
ne FORCES OF evil are strong and mighty in this |
oeIluTy ana In this country. as they are in other
Countries, as they have been in all the past |
senturles; and the people who sincerely wish to /
40 ne LORDS work VIII find ample opportunity /
lor an Their labor in fighting the common enemy /
&c IN assuming toward their fellows Of diff /
-eleht confession attitude of generous RI |
sslry IN the effort 70 see how the most good can !
'e zone to our people as a whole.
i uank you for having given me the chance |
2 speak 10 you this morning, 10 say word Of |
sIeeuhg TO you ana TO wish you godspeed with |
al my heart