New-York tribune., 1905-08-07
THE PRESIDENT breaches
TWO HUNDRED HEAR HIN.
Sermon Before Christian Brother
hood at Oyster BQy.
IBT TELEGRAPH TO THE TRIBUNE.

Oyster Bay, Aug. 6.-President Roosevelt
this afternoon attended the meeting of the
Christian Brotherhood of oyster Bay and
delivered a little sermon to the two hundred
members present. The brotherhood is a non
sectarian organization. The Rev DR. Warren
]. Bowman pastor of the Methodist Episcopal
Church is its president and the Rev. Charles
B Wightman, Baptist minister, chairman OF
its committee on religious services. It's meetings
are held in the Sunday school room of Dr. Bow
mans church
Several weeks ago DR.. Wightmau invited the
President to attend of the brotherhoods
meetings, coupling the invitation with request
that he make an address to the members when
he came President Roosevelt replied that it
would be a great pleasure indeed to accept the
brotherhoods invitation, but as he was unable
to set any definite time for his coming he would
tell DR.. Wightman later.
DR.. Wightman received word from the Presi-
dent at 9 o'clock last night that he would be at
the church this afternoon. The chairman of the
committee on religious services lost no time in
spreading the news about town, so that when
the President reached the church at o'clock,
accompanied by one Secret Service guard he
was greeted by two hundred members, instead
Of the seventy-fve who usually attend the meet
ings of the society. The President brought his
own Bible 10 the church and read selections
from that volume
The President said:
Brother Bowman has spoken of the fact that
I have had a large experience. l think that
each one of us who has a large experience grows
to realize more and that the essentials
Of experience are alike for all of us. The things
that move US most. the things of the home, OF
the church. the intimate relations that knit
man TO his Family, 10 his close friends that
make him try TO do his duty not only by his
neighbOr but his God, are in their essentials just
the same for one man as for another, provided
the man is in good faith trying 10 do his duty.
feel that the progress of our country really
depends upon the sum of the efforts of the indi-
viduals acting by themselves. but especially
upon the sum of the efforts Of the individuals
acting IN associations ike TINS Tor the better
ment Of themselves, for the betterment of the
communities in which they dwell. There is never
any difficulty about the forces Of evil being or
ganized. Every time that get organiza-
ton Of the forces that painfully striving for
good, organization like this, doing
our part TO offset, and little more than offset,
the forces of evil.
I want TO read several different texts which
it seems to me have especial bearing upon the
work of brotherhoods like this, upon the spirit
in which not only all of us who members Of
this brotherhood. but all of us who strive to be
decent Christians are TO apply our Christianity
on weekdays, as well as on Sundays. The first
verses l want to read can be found in the
seventh chapter of Matthew the first sixteenth
seventeenth and eighteenth verses:
First-"Judge not that We be not judged"
Sixteenth-''Ye shall know them by their
fruits Do men gather grapes of thOrns or figs
of thistles."
Seventeenth-"Even so every good tree
DTlngeth forth good 1rult, Dul corrupt tree
bringeth forth evil fruit"
Eighteenth-"A good tree cannot bring forth
evil fruit, neither can corrupt tree bring forth
good fruit
Judge not that ye be not judged" That
means, treat each Of his brothers with charity
Be not quick to find fault Above all, be not
quick to Judge another who, according to
his light. is striving to do his duty as each Of
us here hopes he is striving to do his. Let US
ever remember that not only We have divine
authority for the statement that by our fruits
shall be known. but that also II is true mat
mankind will end to judge us by our fruits 1t
is especially lamentabe thing TO see Ill done
by any man who from his associations with the
church. who, from the fact that he has had the
priceless benefits of the teachings of the Chris
tian religion, should be expected 10 take posi-
ton Of leadership in the work for good
The next question ! wish to read TO you Is
found in Matthew, XIV, BIO inclusive:
Then shall the righteous answer hIn, say
ing Lord when saw we Thee and hungered and
fed Thee? thirsty and gave hee drink! Nhen
we Thee d stranger and took Thee IN, or
naked and clothed Thee? Or when saw we Thee
sick or in prison, and came unto 1hee- ana
the King shall answer and say unto lheIh'
verify say unto you, inasmuch as ye nave uole
it unto one Of the least OF my DrethreH' ye nave
done it unto Me"
That is what this brotherhood means, by try
ing to worship our Creator, by acting toward
his Creator as He would have us act, 10 Try 10
make our religion driving force in our lives. to
do unto others as we would nave theIl 40 ui'Io
The next text wish TO read is found in First
Corinthians. thirteenth chapter, beginning WIN
Though l speak with the tongues of men and
OF angels, and have not charity am become as
sounding brass or a tinkling cymbal ANA
though I have the gift Of prophecy ana uhoer,
stand all mysteries and all knowledge; ana
though I have all faith, that / could remove
mountains. and have not charity, J am noInlns'
and though I bestow all my goods 10 feed the
poor and though I give my body TO oe purneo'
and have not charity. il prohteth me hotnhg-
Charity suffereth long and is kind: charlty Ell
vfxh not; charity vaunteth not itself is not
puffed up. ,;. 49,,
And now abideth faith. hope. charity, these
three: but the greatest of these is Charity.
Let each of us exercise the largest tolerance
for his brother who is trying though III a difIer-
ent way 10 lead decent life. who Is trying To do
good In his own fashion; let each try to SHOW
practical sympathy with that brother; not be
TOO quick tc criticise.
In closing ! want 10 read just few verses
from, the Epistle Of James ], -;
pure religion and undefiled before God and
the Father is this, TO visit the fatherless and
,ridovs in their affction and TO keep himself
,,rsnotted from the world.
II man will try to serve God the Father by
baine kindly 10 the many around him who need
s,,cb kindness and by being upright and honest
h9naeeIf then we have the authority of the good
haolr for sa wing that we are in honor bound TO
sea+ him as good Christian and extend the
- of brotherhood TO him
f4er the President finished he shook hands
-;tb mrs Bowman and Wightman and the MEM
- - - the society, and before taking his car
tae for Sycamore Hill made a call at the
aSaebodist parsonage TO meet the members or
m A