The Montgomery advertiser., 1909-10-04
CHUP.r1UNION, PLEA OF TAFT President Lays Another
 Corner Stone. DEPL0RES RELIGIOUS STRIFE Thinks Denominational Differences
 Are Fewer. President Trenches second Sermon of His Trip-visits Roman Catholic school and Makes An Address
 To Children.
OEPL0REs RELIGIOUS STRIFE

today preached another sermon, this time at the corner stone laying of the First Universalist Church in East Portland.
 The President handled the silver trowel and worked hard to see that the stone was properly adjusted.
 The PresideN referred to his va rfous church experiences and in con- cluding said:
 No church in this country, how ever humble 1t may be, that breaches the doctrine of true religion and tpue morality, will lack my earnest sup port to make 1t more influential when ever opportunity offers"
 The Presidents train left at 10:lo p. m, over the SoutherpIPacihc for Sae- ramento. Calf.
 Mir Taft atteHded the morning serv- ices at the First Unitarian Church in Portland apd listened to sermon by Rev. W. q. Eliot. Jr. Afterwards. he was the guest of honor at luncheon rendered by Senator Bourne.
 In the early afternoon the President visited St. Mary's Roman Catholic School. and made five minutes ad- dress to the school children, in which he declared that loyalty to the church meant fidelity to country.
 The line of march followed by the Presidential party to East Portland was crowded and there was cheering all along the way. At the corner stone laying, he said:
 T don't know that any one ques- tions the propriety of my being here and officiating on such an occasion as this, or that an explanation of any sort is called for. But Iiwant to say that I believe 1t to be the duty of the Pres ident of these United States to welcome and suggest every instrument by which the morals and religion of the com- munity may be elevated and maintain ed. Not long ago I oficiated at the corner stone laying of an Orthodox Congregational Church in Washing ton. Then appeared in the pulpit of a Jewish tabernacle at Pittsburg. But a few days ago helped to lay the cor- ner stone of a Catholic institution at Helena, Mont.
 Assists Universalist Church.
 And now 1t is my great pleasure to assist here today in laying the cor ner stone of this Universalist church. which like my own. the Unitarian church, Is known as a liberal one.
 T am glad always to be present at such occasions as these. for believe the corner stone of modern civilization must continue to be religion and mo- rality."
 The President told some of his ex- periences with the Catholic Church in the Philippines and then said that on the occasion of his visit to Rome he ventured to say to the Pope that while in America the sentiment was strong for the separation of Church and State. there was nothing in the Amercan Gov ernment or American people that op- posed the church or its highest devel- opment; that in no European country had the Catholic Church fourished as 1t had in America: that in this country the Catholic Church received from the Government and State officials only that treatment accorded to every other denomination.
 q think we have reached the time when the churches are getting to gether," continued the President. when there is less bitterness of de- nominational dispute and that no mat ter what creed we may follow, the churches are beginning to realize that they must stand together in the con test for righteousness: that we all stand for the fath herhood of God and the brotherhood of man.
 T am an optimist. I believe we are much better today than we were fifty years ago, man by man. believe we are more altruistic and more interested Tn our felloWman than we have been at any time in the last fifty years. Of course you hear from time to time of in> stances of selfishness and greed. but the only reason these instances are given prominence Is because we con- demn them the more and believe that in calling attention to them they will be made more and more infrequent"
 President Taft's special train tonight began vending it's way down the fer tile Willamante Valley en route to Sac ramento, where the President will speak Monday.
 Arthur Wright. who was arrested while trying ro take picture of Pres ident Taft here yesterday and who was found to have a revolver in his pos- session. will be arraigned tomorrow on charge of carrying concealed weapons.
 The police up until tonight were un- able to secure any additional infor- nation that would warrant them in holding him on a more serious charge
 Bouquets for Taft.