The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-05-21
The United States Is Above
Every Other Nation.
Involvement to Uplift Humanity
Says Moderator Roberts.
HISFAREWELL SERMON
ls Delivered to the Presbyterian
General Assembly.
which Convened Today in X. C.
Convention Hall.

Kansas City. Mo-, May 21.-with
all the high officers and leading min
listers OF the church in America. as
Well as prominent laymen and mis-
slonarles from foreign countries in
attendance the 12Oth general assem-
oiy of the Presbyterian church in the
United States of America, began its
sessions in Convention hall in this citv
today before an audience of thou-
sands.
ine important business of today's
sessions consisted of the retirement Of
Hev. william Henry Roberts of Phil
Aoelpnla. as moderator, and the cleo
tlon OF his successor. The feature of
the morning session was the farewell
sermon OF the retiring moderator. The
sermon was largely a plea for the CO.
operation Of the churches in the Unit
ed States in fighting the many evil in
nuences, Opposed to the Christian
churches in our country"
he said that above every other ma
tion OF modern times, the United
States represents those widesnread 4
movements, which are uplifting men
out OF the narrowness Of caste, which
are making the world neighbor-
hood and which seek for the welfare
not OF a class or classes, but of the
wnoie people. I'VE must increasingly
strive to win America for Christ, that
we may thereby win the world for
Him." he declared.
The new moderator will be chosen
at the afternoon session. Although
many prominent ministers have been
mentioned for this honor, Rev. B. P.
Fullerton of St. Louis. and Rev Mark
A. Matthews of Seattle, for sometime,
have been looked upon as the leading
candidates. Rev. Matthews is pastor
of a church with a membership of
more than 5000. one of the largest of
the denomination.
From Far OF Laos.
Among the most enthusiastic dele
gates to the conference are the for
eign missionaries. DIR. William A.
Briggs of Laos, little known coun-
try in the Tar north of Siam in dis
cussing his field said:
Buddhism is now dead issue
save possibly in Boston. Some people
seem to be trying to start cult in
this country, but in far away Laos
Buddhism is on rapid decline. Laos
is a great country and deserves to be
better known. Not many years ago,
the inland tribes there had never seen
a Christian missionary. Now we have
IS churches in the land, aggregating
1900 members. The Chinese vice
roys, who rule over the land, have
treated us well. Only lately one of
them made US an offer to endow a
big school, where Christian civiliza-
tion might be taught to the natives
providing only that We furnish the
teachers
The assembly has brought together
| men of the United States. who are
noted not only as Presbyterians, but
as prominent. men of the business
world. ~.
Twenty-Five native Porto Ricans
who came to the United States espec-
tally to attend the assembly, form an
interesting group among the specta-
| tors.
The conference was called to order
| by Moderator Roberts, who then pro-
ceeded to deliver his farewell sermon.
| He said in part:
DR.. Roberts, Sermon.
"Our country in the present time.
stands for great ideas socially, COM
mercially and politically. Above every
other nation of modern times, the Uni
ted States represents those wide
spreading movements, which are up
lifting men out of the narrowness of
caste, which are making the world a
neighborhood and which seek for the
welfare, not of class or classes, but
of the whole people.
Further, in this land today the
American churches confront conditions
which God made is in a sense within
our borders. Its multitudes are pour
ing into every corner of the country.
The populations of Europe in particu-
lar are accessible through us to the
Influences of the gospel in a marked
manner. So vast is the movement that
it can be said, as was said at Pente-
cost that men out of every nation un-
der heaven are in our midst.
Opposed to the Christian churches
f0 he nv
influences There is the irreligion OF
the average immigrant, the presence
of an inordinate commercial spirit, the
Galileo-like attitude OF majority OF
our political leaders. who care for no
religious opinion whatever, but solely
for self, and above all the practical
unbelief of the majority Of American
men We are a Christian nation only
because three-fourths OF our women
are Christians. Everywhere there is
the need whether or not we have re-
gard to our native population. Of work
for the foreign immigrant, for persist
ent, united evangelistic and education
al work
of evangelizism for it comes in first
order Would we secure the true in
terests of our nation, we must evan
gelize. Would we abate the rancor of
social classes, we must evangelize
would we increase the manifestations
Of Righteousness in high and low places,
alike. we must evangelize. Would we
make both our business and our poll
tics Christian, we must evangelize.
would we secure the best results from
our educational system, we must evan
relize. Would we adjust all our ma
| fional interests so as to conserve, alike
for the welfare OF humanity and the
smccess Of the cause of Christ in the
earth. all the resources of this great
| nation, we must evangelize. We must
60 forth everywhere under the infiu-
| ence of the love divine, all loves excell-
l ing under the influence of love for the
word of God, the father and Of the
/ saving power Of Jesus Christ. the only
| and all sufficient divine saviour, prof.