New-York tribune., 1909-10-04
MIR. TAFT LAYS STONE.
BREACHES NEW SERMON.
No Church Teaching True Religion
VIII Lack His Support.

Portland Ore. Oct. 3. president Taft to-day
preached another sermon. The scene changed
from the Mormon Tabernacle at Salt Lake City
Sunday last TO the cornerstone laying Of the
First Universalst Church in East Portland. The
President handled The silver trowel and worked
hard to see that the stone was properly adjusted
His apparent earnestness in setting the stone
called out great applause from the open air con-
gregaton
The President referred his various church
experiences and in closing said
No Church in this country, however humble 1t
may be, that breaches the doctrine Of true re-
ligion and true morality, will lack my earnest
support to make il more influential whenever op-
portunity Offers
The Presidents train left here at $40 p. m. over
the Southern Pacific Railway for Sacramento
Cal Mr.. Taft he'd truly religious day. which
began when he attended the morning services at
the First Unitarian Church in Portland and list
ened TO sermon by the Rev. w G. Eliot jr-
Following this service the President the guest
of honor at a luncheon rendered by Senator
Bourne, which included the various state and city
officials. In the early afternoon the President
visited ST Marys Roman Catholic school and
made five minute address to the school children
in which he declared that loyalty to the Church
meant fidelity country
LINE OF MARCH CROWDED.
The line or march followed by the Presidents
party TO East Portland crowded and there
were handclapping and cheering all along the way.
The President was introduced at the cornerstone
laying by the Rev. James Corby. pastor of the
church.
I don't know that any questions the pro-
priety Of my being here and officiating such an
occasion this he said "or that explanation
of any sort is called for But want to say be
Ieve it 10 be the duty of the President of thess
United States TO welcome and to suggest every in
strument by which the morals and religion of the
community may be elevated and maintained Not
long oficiated at the cornerstone laying of
orthodox Congregational church in Washington
Then appeared in the pulpit of Jewish tabernacle
at Pittsburg But a few days ago / helped to lay
the cornerstone Of Catholic institution Helena,
Mont
And now it is my great pleasure TO assist here
to-day in laying the cornerstone of this Universast
church, which, like my own. the Unitarian church,
IS known as a liberal one. am glad always to be
present at such occasions these. for believe the
cornerstone of modern civilization must continue TO
be religion and morality"
The President told some of his experiences 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 nothing in the Amer
ican government or American people that opposed
the Church its highest development; that in no
European country had the Catholic Church flour
ished it had in America; that in this country the
Catholic Church had received from the government
and state officials only that treatment accorded 10
every other denomination.
Il added" continued the President. that this
was not TO be taken indication that every
government and state official other than
anxious 10 encourage the establishment and main
tenance of churches. and that their influence might
be broadened throughout the land.
CHURCHES GROWING TOGETHER.
Il think have reached the time when the
churches growing together. when there is less
| bitterness of denominational dispute, and that
matter what creed may follow the churches
( beginning realize that they must stand
shoulder to shoulder in the contest for righteous
ness; that we all stand for the fatherhood Of God
and the brotherhood of man.
Il an optimist 1 believe much bet
! ter to-day than were fifty years ago. man by
man. I believe more aItruistic and
interested in fellow than have been
any time in the last fifty years. OF course. you
hear from time to time of instances of sefshness
and agreed but the only these instances are
given prominence is because condemn them
the and believe that in calling attention TO
| them they will be made and more infrequent
NO church in this country. however humble it
/ may be, which breaches the doctrine OF true re-
| lgion and true morality, will lack my earnest sup
port TO make it more influential whenever Oppor-
| tunty offers"
1t his way TO the cornerstone laying that
| the President stopped by ST. Mary's Catholic
School and from the steps of that institution made
brief address to the boys and girls Mr.. Taft was
presented by Archbishop Christie. and after con-
graduating the children their rosy cheeks and
! ''chubbness' said:
Your Church teaches that loyalty to God is the
| fidelity to country and reverence for con-
stituted authority, and so do all good churches
! And be very certain that those who are
loyal to their Church certain to be loyal their
/ country; that those who good Catholics are
/ good citizens, just those who are consistent
| members of other churches find in the doing of
their duty TO the churches everything that leads
them on 10 the uplifting of humanity and the OBJ
servation of all the obligations to the government
AIr Tafts special train tonight began vending
its way down the fertile Willamette Valley on the
way to Sacramento, where the President will speak
| tomorrow. The President was highly pleased with
his stop at Portland, the schedule having such
that he had opportunity for recreation and rest
! vIvARIUM FOR PRINCETON.