Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1909-10-04
Tells Portland People That the
World and Humankind Are
Growing Better With Every,
Day.
OFFICIATES AT ANOTHER
CORNERSTONE LAYING
"No Church, However Humble,
That breaches True Religion,
viii Lack My Earnest Sup
port " Says Executive,
rBy Morning Journal Special Leased wirel

Portland ore, oct 3.-Presidcnt
TAFT today preached another sermon
Thc scene had changed from the Nor
mon tabernacle at salt Lake last sun
day to the cornerstone laying of the
first UniVersalist church in East Port
land
The president handled the silver
troWel and was particular to see that
the stone was properly adjusted. His
apparent earnestness in setting the
stone called out great applause from
the open air audience.
The president referred to his vari-
GUS church experiences and in con-
Guiding his remarks, said:
no church in this country, how
ever humble 1t may be, that breaches
the doctrine of true religion and true
morality will lack my earnest support
to make it more influential whenever
opportunity affords
The presidents train left at 6:10
o'clock over the Southern Pacific for
sacramento.
Mr Taft had Il truly religious day
which began when he attended morn
ing services at the First Unitarian
church in Portland ana listened to d
sermon by Rev w. g. Eliot Jr. Fol-
lowing this service he was the guest
or honor at a luncheon rendered by
Senator Bourne and which included
the various state and city officials
Ia the early afternoon the president
visited st. Mary's Roman Catholic
school and made a five minutes ad-
dress to the school children.
The line of march followed by the
presidential party to East Portland
was almost as crowded as were the
streets on Saturday and there was
-clappins all along the way with
some cheering by the more enthusias-
tic in the Sunday school throng.
When the president had been in
troduccd at the cornerstone laying by
the Kev. james Corby pastor OF the
church, he said:
Il don't know that anyone questions
the propriety OF my being here ana
officiating on such an occasion as this
or that an explanation of any sort
is called for But / want to say that
/ believe il 10 be the duty of the pres
idcnt Of the United states to support
every instrument by which the morals
and religion of the community may be
elevated ana maintained. Not long
ago / officiatcd at the cornerstone lay
ing OF an orthodox Congregational
church in Washington. Then l ap-
peared in the pulpit of Jewish
tabernacle at Pittsburg. But a few
days ago | helped to lay the corner
stone of Catholic institution at Hell
cna, Mont.
And now it is my great pleasure
to assist today in laying the corner
stone of this Universalist church.
which like my own church. the Uni
tartan. is known as a liberal church.
Il am always glad to be present at
such occasions as these tor | believe
the cornerstone Of modern civilization
must continue TO be religion and NOR
ality"
The president told some Of his eX-
periences with the Catholic church in
the Philippines ana then said that on
the occasion of his visit to Rome, two
years ago, he Ventured to say to the
pope. that while i'm America senti-
ment was strong for the separation OF
church and state, there was nothing
in the American government or Amer
lean people that opposed the church
or its highest developments that IN
no European country had the Cath
Ollie church grown or tiourished as II
had in America; that in this country
the church received from the govern
ment and state officials. only that
treatment accorded to every other de-
nomination.
II added continued the president,
that this was to be taken as an in
dicatiOn that every government and
state official was anxious to encour-
age the establishment and mainten-
ance of churches. and that their in
tluence might be broadened through
out the land.
Il think We have reached the time
when the churches are growing to-
gethcr when there is less bitterness
Of denominational dispute and that
no matter what creed we may follow,
the churches are beginning to realize
that they must stand shoulder to
shoulder in the contest for righteous
ness. that we all stand for the faith
erhood of God and the brotherhood
of man,
4 am an optimist ! believe We are
much better today than we were fifty
Years ago. man by man. l believe We
are more altruistic and more interest
ed in our fellow man that we have
been at any time in the last fifty years.
Ot course, you hear from time to time
of instances of selfishness and greed
but the only reason these instances
are given prominence is because we
condemn them more and believe that
in calling attention to them they vii
be made more and more infrequent.
No church in this country, how
ever humble il may be. which
breaches the doctrine of true religion
and true morality. will lack my earn
est support 10 make IL more infiuen-
tial wherever opportunity Offers
on his way TO the cornerstone lay
ing in the afternoon the president