Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1909-07-13
TAFT OUTLINES
ideal RELIGION
PRESIDENT WANTS FAITH COM.
BlNlNG REASON WITH HAPPY
OUTLOOK OF LIFE.

Washington, July u. President
Taft delivered a striking appeal for
liberal religion at the dedication yes
terday of the Ingram Memorial Con-
gregational church, on Capitol Hill.
Pointedly condemning the severe re-
ligieus demeaner of the Puritans, he
advocated religion that combines
reason and happy outlook on life.
Representative E,sch of Wisconsin,
who also spoke at the services, said
that one OF the crying needs of the
times is a religion that will attract the
millions instead of repelling them. He
made the startling charge that not
more than 2 per cent of the popula-
tion of Greater New York are church
goers.
The Ingram Memorial is planned to-
meet the alleged needs that were
pointed out by the president and
| Representative Esch. 1t will have a
gymnasium, swimming pool and other
attractions and include amusements
| for Its congregation.
Tells Tale of Puritans.
In the course of his address the
president said:
Il am glad to be present at cere-
mony beginning the usefulness of an
institution of religion as this church
will be. 1t is Congregational church
| and as the minister says, comes from
New England by descent. | likewise
claim New England ancestry. / vent
lre to think, however, that the plan
of this church is somewhat different
| in it's method Of bringing men to
God and attracting them to religion
| than that which was adopted by the
| Pilgrim father and those who immed-
| lately followed them. AS | recollect
it their idea was to separate every
I thing from religion, to clothe it with
nothing externally beautiful and to
make the service of religion as severe
as possible. So you can well under
stand the question of the little boy
who had been subjected to the so very
strict rules of the Sabbath day in the
Puritan family when he asked his
mother whether when she told him
that heaven was to be all the Sab
bath day, he could not go down te
hell and play Saturday afternoon. Now
this church and most churches have
properly departed from making re
fgion something severe, something in
the way of a test and a criminal ttia
to which everyone is to be subjected
to condemnation.
Outlines Plan of Church.
CAS- understand the plan of this
church, 1T is to make religion a par
of the life of those who are members
Of the church. 1t is to furnish ration
al amusement. 1t is to make the
church SO attractive by reason of it'
} social qualities, by reason of offering
an opportunity for physical exercise
for intellectual exercise that those whs
are members of it shall regard re
ligion as a necessary part eff life ant
one which they will welcome and no
which they regard as something apar
. to be imposed once seven days, ant
/ then to be taken in as small doses a.
possible and still conform to the re
: ligious law.
, 81 am glad to know, to see and t.
) believe that all churches in way
though not SO completely as this plal
:, indicated, are adopting the view tha
there Is nothing inconsistent betweel
2 religion and duty and happiness an
: rational amusement, and that tn
: union of all of them is not somethin
that is repellant to the real religion