The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1909-01-06
PROTESTANT
MINISTERS
LISTEN
To Views Regarding Church
Influence By President
Elect Taft.

Augusta. Ga, Jan. 5-To the por.
tcstant ministers Of Augusta. Presi-
dent-Elect Taft today expressed his
views regarding the influence of the
church upon civilization and Its USE
tulness in aiding governmental devel-
opment,
Mr. Taft referred 10 the moral
awakening during the last four years
as an indication of the healthful state
of American civilization.
In his experience in the north and
south. and in the Philippine Islands,
he said. he had been able to study
many different phases Of civilization.
and especially In the matter of church
influences
Leaving out the distinctions OF
sect he continued. "thc indispensable
presence of church influence in the
Improvement of our civilization no
one can be blind TO who has shared
In the slightest the responsibility for
government and the responsibility Of
Improvement OF people. as / have.
That WAS responsibility in respect
to a race that Is now In a state OF
Christian tutelage and must be up
lifted. IN my judgment. by us and
through our guidance, before We shall
have discharged the obligations that
Providence has thrust upon us.
And in the study of their develop
ment 1t has become known to me the
enormous influence that the church
must exercise IN order to make our
progress there effective. The Roman
Catholic church was there for years
and preserved that state of Christian
tutelage to which have referred. Now
the ban has been removed from other
denominations, and they are all in
there on an equality In the spirit Of
Christian emulation attempting TO up
lift those people. and we, for the gov
ernment by system of secular ed
uontion, are aiding that uplifting, but
without the moral influence of the
churches there we could not accom-
plish anything. 1t is that sort OF ex
pcrienoe by which there is borne In
upon us the Importance of the main
tenance OF church and its influence
nj all hazards"
1T is difficult sometimes to explain
to one who has been used to the close
union of church and state such as
was preserved in Spain. such as is
preserved in some other countries. the
real attitude OF the American govern
ment toward the church. They as
sumed that If we separate the church
from the state, 1t means tho state does
hot favor the church.
Il had the honor to represent this
country in n transaction OF business
character with Leo XIII at the Vati-
van, and there / pointed out to him,
with all the emphasis possible, that
the separation of church and state
was in the interest of the church and
that in America he could count on the
sustaining OF the rights OF the church
and its encouragement by every leg
islative means. on the part Of the peo-
pie. without It's assuming any govern
mental function or having any gov.
erpmental right, such as it has in
other countries.
ct comes over me every once in
a while. when / am charged with
accomplishing something, how abso-
lutely essential it is that we should
have the influence OF the church be
hind everything that we do"
The clergymen. In their address to
III
cation, and Mr. Taft remarked that
his previous statement was one OF his
strong reasons for advocating the
maintenance Of excellent universities
in the south for the education Of the
negro ministers. These men had a
great responsibility. he said, and
should be thoroughly prepared there
for The influence Of the white
churches upon the negro churches,
he said, must continue TO grow.
MIR. Taft explained that he was not
in favor of university for every ne
gro, any more than for every other
man.
What they need to be taught he
said, is the primary education and
the industrial education TO make them
better worlumen. bottcr skilled labor
ers. and better farmers than they arc
today
Horace F. Andrews of Cleveland,
Ohio and Editor Robert Wolff Of Col
mnbus. saw NIr Taft and discussed
Ohio politics. Mr. Taft said that they
heartily endorsed Myron T Herrick
for a cabinet position Another cab
met conference resulted In the call
New York, H. c. White OF the state
univ ersity Of Athens, Ga. and Prof.
l.. C. Carpenter. director Of the Col
orado agricultural experiment station.
constituting a committee from the
National association Of agricultural
colleges and experiment stations.
Mr.. Taft said he was told In gen
eral terms the qualifications that a
1nan should have to fill the position
Of secretary of agriculture. predicated,
ne added, On the expressed ASSUME
ton that Secretary Wilson, with
whom no fault was found was not
to serve full term n the new cab.
iuet
The president-elect asked his visi
tcrs to name their man" which
brought the response that they wore
not prepared to do so.
YAoUI CHIEFS AGREE TO