The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1909-02-26

INllhutlpUlH. req. s-.--Iibh. W imam |
II. Taft, presdent-elect Of the United |
States, was the principal speaker at |
the exercises In the University OF |
Pennsylvania, commemorative OF the |
birth Of Washington.
lie chose for the subject OF his ad-
dress the Present Relations Of the
Learned Professions to Political Gov
eminent" He discussed at consider
able length the influence which the
learned professions. In this day have
upon national and municipal govern.
ment. He outlined UNANIMOUSLY the
part each OF the important professions
plays in a government by the people
and compared their influence, one with
another In brief part he said
1T is the duty Of every citizen TO
give as much attention as he can TO
} the public veal. and to lake as much
interest as he can In political matters.
Americans generally have recognized
these duties. and we find active in po-
litical life, men representing all pro
LESSONS. all branches Of business and
all trades propose today to invite
your attention to the present relation
of each of the learned professions to
politics and government
Ministry Placed First.
"The first profession Is that OF the
ministry. Time was In New England,
and in every other part Of the coun'
try under the influence OF its tradi
tons. when the minister OF the Con
gregational church. in addition to that
of his sacred office. exercised most
powerful influence. which was of dis
tinctly political character. His views
on the issues OF the day were consid.
cred Of the greatest weight in the com
munity I'm which he lived. and he
ranked everyone as its first citizen.
This was in the days when New Eng
land might almost be called theoc-
racv:' when It was deemed wise and
politically proper to regulate by law,
to the minutest detail, the manner OF
life OF men, and as these laws were IN
derstood to be framed IN accord with
moral and religious requirements, tho
minister of the community was the
highest authority as to what the law
should be and how It ought to be en
forced Great changes have come over
our methods of life since that day
Then the ministry, because OF the re
wards in the way of influence, power
and prominence, attracted the ablest
OF educated minds and the ability and
force Of character were where power
and influence resided. But the spread
of education and independent think
ing the wide diffusion OF knowledge
and news by the press, the enormou!
material development OF the country
the vast increase in wealth, the in
crease in rewards and influence o
other vocations. the disappearance o
the simple village life. have all con
tributed to change radically the posi-
ton and influence of the ministry II
the community To-day 1t is not tru'
that that profession attracts the ables
Young men, and this, | think, Is dis
tinct loss to our society, for 1t Is o
the utmost Importance that tho PROBES
sion whose peculiar duty It is to mali
tain high moral standards and I
arouse the best that there Is In mar
TO stir him to higher aspirations
should have the genius and brillianc
with which successfully TO carry OF
this function OF course, the proie
sion of ministry is supposed to hav
to do largely with the kingdom OF tn
next world rather than with this, an
many pcop,e expect to find In the re
resentatlycs of the profession Onl
An other wordliness and no though
of this. This. of course, is the ma
rowest view of the profession. VIVA
ever the next world, we are certain
under the highest obligation to mai
the best OF this, and the ministe
should be the chief ms .ruments In IN
king this world morally and religion
" better. It is utterly impossible
separate politics from the lives OF q
community. and there cannot be &c
eraI personal and social business me
allty and political immortality at {
same time. The latter will ultimate
debauch the whole community.
? Has Made Improvement.
During the administration OF \
Roosevelt, and under the influence
certain revelations OF business imm
Ality, the COHsCltHCt VI thV wan
country was shocked and then nerv
to the point of demanding that
ter order of affairs be introduced.
this movement the ministers OF
various churches have recognized
call upon them to assist, and II
have been heard in accents much m'
effective than ever before in half
century. The greatest agency toe
in keeping us advised of the col
tons among oriental races is the
Enlistment OF foreign missions.
leaders OF these missionary branc
of the churches are becoming some
our most learned statesmen In resp
of our proper oriental policies"
Judge Taft, discussing teachers.
that their relation to politics and
eminent is of the utmost importai
though indirect" He went on: