The evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1907-1908, 1907-11-15

One GREAT PROBLEM
REV. DR.. VANCE SPEAKS ON
IMMIGRATION.
Solution Is in Christianity He Says, a
Christianity That Can Stand
Bad Smells.

The greatest problem that confronts
America today" was the way the g
DIR. James l. Vance, of the North Re-
formed Church, this city, characterized the
immigration problem at the second annual
dinner last night Of the mems club of the
| Central Presbyterian Church, OF orange.
About one hundred members of the club
sat down to dinner in the lecture room of
the church and listened to addresses by
Dr. Vance, the Rev. DR.. Lindsey Parker,
of Brooklyn, and the Rev. DR.. JOIN Fulton
Patterson, pastor of the church. James I.
| Nakeman, president of the club, acted as
POSTMASTER.
II am gong to speak on a serious Ques-
tion,'' saiu DR.. Vance. 1T is one of the
greatest problems that confront the Amer
lean nation today. This Is not the ques-
| ton OF the regulation of the trusts, or pre-
| datory wealth, or railroad rates, or even
OF the right regulation of the liquor traffic.
II Is the problem of immigration, which is
all great problems packed into one.
"As 1t comes today it is a menace in
| numbers alone, the menace of a million
| and a half foreigners pouring In upon US
| yearly, and these of a character not the
best. rs per cent. Of them wholly illiterate,
not desirable for their native land to retain
or for us to receive.
America is fast becoming a Stun for
southern Europe. These men come here
and in five years get the right to vote
sometimes with as slight a knowledge OF
American institutions as a child OF that
dBty dtIu NOlC COuht5 80 49, 49,
that of President Roosevelt.
I'VE must have an amazing faith in the
strength of Americas Institutions to think
1t can stand much more of this. What Is
the solution of the problem? II the worst
comes to the worst we can close the gates.
But is this a solutions? The time Is past
for America to close her gates. for the
time is past for any nation to bar off
others.
The only solution of the problem is by
assimilation. not by legislation or educa-
f1nn hfTf hU rnItOfnn h. H. - -
Christ. for higher than the love of country
Is the love Of Christ.
"a mans love of his native land Is a
sacred thing, and can never be a menace,
and we are not afraid of aliens who are
loyal to the cross of Christ. The problem
of foreign missions must be fought out
right here In this country, and by its
solution the church will stand or fall.
There must be a new. brand OF. Chris
tti tia tgs whose a%srI motto will bbt be- m mot america lea
America a Christianity that can stand
bad smells and foul sights. May God give
US that KIM Of Christianity"
acted law of open pulpits In the Episco-
palian Church, said that it was a great
step In advance.
"The nearer the different churches come
together" he said, the more they will be
convinced that the things they differ in
dre to an extent slight an ndt SSnperf ishn, Our
realize the bond that connects u.s."
Speaking of the sood work to be done
by mems clubs he said:
You are not members Of a club to be
coddled, and your purpose should not be
merely ito meet occasionally in a social
way. You are banded together for serv-
ice and to do work that your pastor can
not do"
DR.. Patterson said that the object Of the
Mems Club means doing two things, bring
ing the men of the church together In
social intercourse and giving them a new
conception of the meaning and purpose of
the church and it's work.
Mr.. Wakeman in his opening address
spoke of the ''senseless panic which we
have lust passed through"
"A business panic, "Nhe said, lis Illogical
and can come only from pessimism. Our
prosperity does not depend on ~financiers
or on Wall Street. 1t has a broader, safer
foundation, in the wealth of farm, of
forest and of mines"