The Washington herald., 1909-02-14
Rev. Mr. Guthrie Compares
Lincoln and Roosevelt.
CONTRAST IS ALSO DRAWN
Pastor of Hamline Church Says Both
Careers Upheld Cause of National
ity- Explains Lincoln Centenary
for the Generation that Has Risen
since the Days of the Civil War.

should not pass without being interpreted
for the generation that has risen since
the days Of the civil war. Rev. Charles
Z. Guthrie drew both a comparison and
a contrast between Lincoln and Roose-
velt' IN the Hamline II. E Church. yes
terday morning.
Both Presidents are the foremost ad
vocates Of nationality that this country
has seen. Lincoln exponnded nationality
as against sectionalism: and Roosevelt.
nationality as against class conscious
ness. The present incumbent OF the
White House Is the third great President,
said DR.. Guthrie He has been COM
PEELED TO reach the hearts Of the people
without the glamour Of war. but he has
reached them
Roosevelt has wrestled with the great
est problems Of our day. and he has
done more to solve them than any other
man. His work has demanded an es-
sentiaily aggressive man.
.Lincoln's mighty task, almost super
human as It was. was cut out FOR him
The issues upon which he stood were
clear. Roosevelt has been compelled to
sound unknown depths. 10 reach out into
painless spaces in the true spirit OF
a pioneer. Our constitutional and eco
nomic history revealed few precedents
for him 10 follow, because the work was
new"
Contrasts in Character.
Dr- Guthrie attempted no direct com
paTison between Lincoln and Roosevelt
He recognized their temperamental dif-
ferences, and found point for his argu-
ment both in their elements Of similarity
and their contrasts OF character.
The centenary which We are now cele-
brating is meaningless unless it is applied
to conditions Of the presens day." con-
tinued the pastor. we find that the
great struggle toward nationality pre-
sents Itself TO US in different phases. The
slavery question and the civil war belong
70 a dead and forgotten age They pos
sess not the larger interest for US unless
they can be welded into q philosophy OF
our history. unless they can be made 70
point to a practical. applicable moral for
our youth
The centenary. which Is merely
memorial 10 Lincoln and an outlet for a
food Of "reminiscences OF the SOS. should
be absorbed in the mightieT centenary
which gives US a stronger grip on national
unity and a firmer faith in the ultimate
solution Of our present perplexity- The
spirit Of Lincoln should be made a living
issue II We cannot find in his career
and his ideals that which helps US up
ward and onward, then he does not be-
long 10 the ages and 70 universal man
But We can find this. All that Is lacking
is great interpreters.
Duty Was Made Plain.
''Lncoln's task was preservative;
RooseveHs task constructive The threat
OF armed invasion and Of Immediate dis
solution OF the Union made his duty
plain. He had no alternative; duty laid
upon his shoulders a task which only he
was able 70 bear. In that lies his genius
Assailed as he was In the North, he
found the spirit Of the people true-as
true as his own
Both men belong 10 the order OF the
great Presidents. and both have done
work without which the country would
be poor. Lncoln's work We now see IN
perspective, which constantly enlarges
the worlds estimate OF him apart frcu
the tragedy OF his maTtyrdOm. OF RoOse-
velt's work We have no comprehensive
aH-embracing view. We only know that
It has been good and great. and can leave
the measurement Of its true value 10 the
future"
Mr. Roosevelt has strengthened the
prestige Of government and strengthened
the meaning Of common life. He may
carry into retirement the suspicion Of
some that be is not the friend OF the
woTkingman. but register the predic-
ton that IN ten years ne win be recog-
nized as having been the equal OF any
man who has sat IN the White House, OF
who may yet occupy that abode. in his
devotion to the true and just interests
Of labor and OF the common mans task
everywhere.
For the Sunday school children a stere-
opticon lecture was given IN the Hamline
Church IN the afternoon. Il dealt viii
/ Lincoln's early life and with his humble
/ beginnings