Waterbury evening Democrat., 1907-04-22
NATIONAL QUESTION
Strong Words From Rockefel-
 lef's New English Pastor.
HAS EUROPEAN FAME AS PREACHER
His Parish "Is the Whole Wide World of Men'-Great Race Prob
 len In Milii0ns Who Constant- & ly Pour Into America.

ly Pour Into America.
 NEW. YORK, April p. = Rev. pr. Charles F. Aked, for sixteen years the powerful and popular pastor of the second largest Protestant church in England, where he gained wide repu- tation by successful campaigns for civic decency and against all forms of vice, has formally transferred his ac- | tivities to America and assumed the pastorate of the Fifth avenue Baptist church of this city Dr. Aked's labors at Liverpool, where he was pastor of Pembroke chapel, drew the attention not only of all England, but even of Europe because of his extraordinary ability as preacher, the wide range of his broad practical sympathies and his energetic support of every movement calculated to benefit the people. Dr. Aked first preached at the Fifth avenue church early last winter and left a deep impression upon the mem bers. Subsequently n call went out to him to serve as pastor of this infuen- tial church--a call which received the earnest indorsement of John D. Rock efeller, who is one of the pillars of the l Fifth avenue congregation.
 f The new minister's sermon yester- day was in the nature of message to the American people. With ali due modesty, but with an earnestness of purpose, Dr. Aked declared he vas here to preach to all men-to tsae his | place with the leaders of all the churches and to summon all his cner- gies to battle with the problems that l trouble American life. He could not, he declared, join a narrow church. His is to be the ministry of reconciliation unfettered and unbounded.
 Hundreds were unable to find places within the church. Prominent among l those present was John D. Rockefeller, l Jr, director of the church's Bible class. | MT. Rockefeller, ST., was not present 1 in the morning, but participated in the I evening service.
 I Mir Aked proved an unconventional preacher. In stature the comparative ly young Englishman is well above the middle height. with square pair of shoulders topping an athletic frame. He has strlkingly strong face, and his audience was not slow to perceive a resemblance to President Roosevelt
 To-day enter upon my ministry to your great church." began Dr. Aked. "To this ministry no limits can be set. It's parish is the whole wide
 world of men. But there is one pre-. else and specific application to 1t which
 no American who loves his country, nc
 man or woman between the Atlantic and the Pacific who cares for his coun
 try's flag and his country's honor, hel
 fame and future, can afford to be in
 different.
 "It is not for me to lecture you about
 American conditions. It is for me tt
 learn from you what they are. Blu the most thoughtless onlooker from tho
 old world who has ever read page
 of history knows that. in the rush tc your shores of millions upon millions of the European peoples. you are con fronted by a problem such as no natior has ever yet had to solve since history began. read the figures which SC this problem visibly before the eyes o men, and I am lost in amazement
 Then, as the facts behind the figures begin to take shape and substance my brain reels before that immensity. You know what races of the ol'
 world are pouring themselves int
 your land. You know what colonie
 of people. separated from yourselve
 by thought, by feeling. by tradition. b. religion. by language. are establishes
 within your city boundaries and in al
 the great cities of the land.
 "This is an ethnic question. rae
 question. It is a question as to tn kind of people the American people i : to become. It is question whethe
 the primal American stock is to b
 vitiated by the misrepresentation of al
 inferior race. It Is something sti ! nearer-it is national question. question of political equilibrium. O
 the stability of social order and tn
 sovereignty of law.
 "The quickest way. the most eco f nomical and the most permanent wa of making of these people good Amer
 cans and good patriots is to make ther , good Christians.'
 Dr. Aked has a most impressive dt , livery and holds his audience withou effort.