The semi-weekly messenger., 1905-05-05
UNIQUE CHURCH SERVICE
President ATTENDS Services I'm Hunting
Isig and Makes n Short TaIk--An
Ovation From the Congregation.

Glenwood Springs, Col, April 30
Unique in the history Of Colorado was
the church service held at the old blue
school house on West Divide creek to-
day, attended by President Roosevelt
and his hunting party and all the
ranchmen and their families for miles
around The little district school build
ing was not tenth part large enough
To accommodate the congregation, and
as result the organ was moved to
the front porch. On this porch seats
were provided for the President and
his party. the Rev. Horace Mann. of
Rifle, Colo, the choir and the trustees
of the church. The members of the
congregation stood or sat on the ground
of the school yard, or in their convey
ances which were grouped around the
building. The sermon by the Rev. Mr..
Mann was of an unusual kind. 1t be-
gan with story, teeming with slang
of the Western flavor, and was full of
advice suited to congregation inur-
ing itself to hardship and mountain
life.
After he had concluded the President
spoke for ten minutes. He expressed
his well-known views on good citizen
ship, the morality of man and the pa
troitism and and duty to him and coun-
try. After the services were concluded
tic President shook hands with every
man, woman and child present. The
Presidents party presented a pictur-
esque appearance as they came to the
services. All were ON horseback and
they were dressed in their hunting
clothes. They had no others at the
camp. Many of these ir. the congrega-
ton wore their best clothes. The
gowns and hats of the women were
snowy and in striking contrast to the
muddy, tan, duck, blue jeans and other
rough materials making up the cos
tunes of the President and his fellow
hunters.
No mountain band of road agents
ever looked more formidable than the
President and his party. The Western
air of the party went straight to the
leart of the people. They applauGed
and yelled bOisterOus praise of the
President, regardless of the day and
the fact that they were virtually in a
house of worship, though the ceiling
was the blue sky, the floor soft ground
and dead leaves and the walls were
mountains.
In his address to the people the Pres
ident told them how glad he was TO
be there and how much it pleased him
to come face to face with so many peO-
PIE who were Drawing hardshipS with
light hearts and doing their part in life
without complaining or bitterness. He
told them the spirit they were display
iEg was the chief quality of the Amer
lean people that went to make this the
greatest of all countries Ii was at the
conclusion of the Presidents remarks,
when he leaned forward and beamed
welcome that took in every one in the
congregation, that the President looked
the best. He was the picture of rug
eed health as he said.
''And now / want to shake hands
with all of you. There are a good many
of you, so don't stampede Or get to
milling"
AS the President made usa of the
cattle terms, applause was terrific. He
t0Ok a position in a corner made by
the school house and the platform and
shook hands with all. Secretary Loeb
will visit the President tomorrow in
company with Elmer Chapman, the
courier, who arrived in Glenwood
Springs tonight from Camp Roosevelt.