Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-17
the church looks upon what hes been
accomplished.
procepfe the President

I am honored by the trustees of the
American University with the duty of pre-
senting to you the President of the United
States-a ruler for whom you are taught
to pray and do pray with fervent spirit;
the ruler who represents the sovereignty
Of The American people. but whose hand
| have seen heartily offered to an Amer1-
can workman: ruler who is in cordfal
sympathy with all the churches: ruler
who has politics to the plane of states
manship and has forced diplomacy into
the open: a ruler. who takes the people
into his confidence because he has moth
ing to conceal: ruler who is none the
less a man because a ruler and who as
man--in the intensity of his convictions
and feelings. in his zeal for Righteousness,
social. commercial. political, ethical; in
his fearless rebuking of iniquity and his
belief in Judgment day for evil doors.
as well in his readiness to bear witness
to the faith that is In hints a born
Methodist. but enthusiastically misplaced
in his early life. He is not out of place
but at home with the family here today.
'Methodists of all the Americas and
Of Mexico. Methodists of Germany. Nor
way. Sweden. Denmark and Italy, Metho-
diStS of japan and Korea. of China. In
da. Malaysia and Africa. your saluta-
tions 70 Theodore Roosevelt. President OF
the United States of America friend of
higher learning and of every good cause
The Temple Quartet sang an appropri-
ate selection following President Roose-
velt's address Bishop Cranston intro
duced Senator Dolliver. one of the trus-
tees, who spoke with particular feeling of
the wonderful work for posterity'' of
Bishop Hurst in laying the foundation of
the American University. He also voiced
the appreciation of the trustees for the
visit by the general conference. speaking,
in part. as follows:
1t is a very great pleasure to partici-
pate with you In the exercises of this
hour. On behalf of the trustees of the
university i desire to express their ap-
probation that the general conference
has thought IL fitting in the midst of its
deliberations. to visit this spot and see
the foundations of the institution which
the church is laying here.
Thanks the President.
THE board of trustees desires also to
thank the President and Mrs Roosevelt
for gracing this occasion with their pres
ence. The Presidents words come to us
not only with the weight which belongs
TO the greatest office of the people. but
with the impressive influence which arises
from the best type of popular leadership
any generation of Americans have ever
known.
A week ago l was wandering in one of
the beautiful cemeteries near the Soldiers
Home In quiet spot at hand / found
the simple monument which marks the
grave of John Fletcher Hurst. founder
of the American University. and as
looked upon the bare inscription of his
name upon 1t | found myself thinking of
that quiet, transformations American Schol-
ar. in whose mind and heart this insti-
tuition took form before one stone was
laid upon another. even in the buildings
which he lived to see completed. / have
heard Bishop Hurst described as dream
err So he was. In these days of prac-
teal affairs such a description of a man
sometimes carries with il the suggestion
OF a sheer. If a man is all the time
dreaming about himself. or If he spends
his time looking forward to the day when
incredible fictions shall be invited to take
the place of the realities of human life
ne must not claim that men dismiss his
claims with scant respect. Bishop Hurst
was not such as these. He never took
munion with the skies it was not for the
purpose Of locating a comfortable resi-
dence for himself or anybody else He
belonged utterly 10 the world and to the
found scholar our world wide Methodism
has produced. He had lived the life of
the great universities of Germany and
England He comprehended the impor-
lance of preserving the blessings of learn
ing and at the same time keeping alive
the spiritual life of man.
University's Beginning.
And so the vision slowly took shape
that united Methodism should begin with
building at the capital of the nation
a university to which the youth of Ameri-
ca might repair to complete their educa-
tons and qualify themselves for leader
ship in the national life He chose this
spot not only on account of it's natural
beauty, but because it lies near the CEN
ter of our greatest affairs.
Some of us have been diScO,Ira god ha
cause of the slow progress of this edu-
cational project. / am no longer one of
these. In the first place We are not build
ing to meet a sudden emergency and in
the next place, we can easily afford to
leave TO other generations a part in the
completion of so vast a scheme All in
stuutonS among men growth and
not creation. Such institutions to be
valuable must be founded upon the sac
rifces and the sympathetic interest of the
whole community.
There are some who think that an in
stltution such as this will be limited in
its use. illness by the fact that it comes
into existence through the auspices of a
particular church. | do not share that
view, nor is it verified by the experience
OF our institutions of learning in Ameri-
ca. So far as American Methodism is
concerned it takes the hand of every
creed which preserves the fundamental
truths OF the gospel. There is not a de-
nominatonal college in America which
asks student what church he belongs
to. or seeks to take away from him the
faith which he inherited from his father
and from his mother.
Proud to Be Trustee.
Il have been proud of the honor of
being numbered among the members of
this board of trustees. 1t was a luxury
which / shall never forget TO sit down
in the meeting presided over by that stall
wart old soldier, whose heart was so big
that there was room in il for all the
struggling undertakings of his church and
o. his country, Chancellor McCabe, so
lately admitted TO his exceeding great re-
ward. and cannot conclude without con
graduating the friends of the university
upon the election as his successor of DIR.
Hamilton. courageous leader in every
thing which concerns the welfare of the
church and the state"
The delegates from Baltimore came To
washington In two special trains one of
sixteen cars. and the other OF thirteen
Most OF them returned last night though
many remained to spend Sunday in the
capital.
Entertained in Rust Hall.
Bishop and Mrs. Earl Cranston of Bal
timore were the guests of honor at a din
ner given last night in Rust Hall bv
the Woman's Home Missionary Society.
Nearly a hundred prominent delegates to
the Methodist general conference were
present as we'll as large number OF
Washington Methodists The arrange
nents were in charge of Mrs. ID X.
Street
REDUCTION IN DELEGATES.