Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1910-06-21
THE MISSIONARY CONFERENCE
Mr.. Roosevelt Commsnds Purposes oi
the Edinburgh Meeting.


A letter from Theodore Roosevelt
expressing sympathy with the move
ment and regret at his inability to be
present was read at Fridays session
of the world missionary conference
at Edinburgh, Scotland. The COM
munication, which was addressed to
Silas McBee, an American delegate
aroused much enthusiasm.
The former president wrote:
London, May 16, 1910.
MY Dear SIR
1T is a matter of real profound
regret to me that 1 am imperatively
called away to America so that am
unable to be present in person at the
world missionary conference. 1 re-
gret it the more, as if had been able
to be present it would have been as a
delegate from the Dutch Reformed
church Of America, to which 1 belong
Nothing like your proposed con-
ference has ever hitherto taken place
From many nations, and from many
churches. your delegates gather on
this great occasion to initiate a move
ment, which l not only hope but be-
lieve will be fraught with far-reach-
ing good.
For the first time in four centu-
ries Christians Of every name come
together without renouncing their
several convictions or sacrificing their
several principles, to confer as to what
common action may be taken in or
der to make their common Christian
ity not only known to, but a vital
force among the two-thirds Of the hui
man race, to whom, as yet, it is hard
ly even a name.
Surely every man imbued, as every
man should be, with the ethical
teachings of Christianity, must re-
joice in such an effort to combine the
strength Of all the churches In the
endeavor to Christianize humanity and
to Christianize it not merely in name
but in very fact.
practical effort to apply the teachings
Of the gospel to what the epistle OF
Jude calls "the common salvation.
An infinite amount of work remains
to be done before we can regard our
selves as being even within measur-
able distance of the desired goal; ar
infinite amount at home in the dark
places, which too often closely sur
round the brightest centers of light
and an infinite amount abroad ir
those dark places Of the earth where
blackness is as yet unrelieved by any
light.
when such is the high purpose tc
which you have dedicated yourselves
it is eminently fitting that your invi-
tation should have gone to all Chris
tian churches in all lands. l am sure
there will be a general, and l hope, q
universal response. In missionary
work, above all other kinds of Chris
tan work, ii is imperative to remem-
Der that a divided Christendom car
only imperfectly bear witness to the
essential unity Of Christianity, | be-
lieve that without compromise or be-
lief. without loss of the positive good
contained in the recognition or diver
sites Of gifts and differences of ad-
ministraton, the Christian church
may yet find a way to cordial CO.
operation and friendship as regards
the great underlying essentials under
which, as a foundation, all Christian
churches are built.
This is one of the lessons which ha:
been particularly impressed upon m,
by what / have seen OF Christian
work in Africa, both in heather anC
Mohammedan lands. / believe tha
unity in a spirit of Christian brother
hood for such broad Christian WORK
will tend. not to do away with differ
ences of doctrine. but to prevent u:
from laying too much stress on these
differences of doctrine. 1t Is writer
in the scripture that He that doetf
my will shall know of the doctrine;
| but the reverse of this proposition
cannot be found in holy writ EN-
phasis is To be put upon doing the
will if only we can make up oul
minds to work together with earnes
sincerity for the common good, We
shall find that doctrinal difference:
| in no way interfere with our doing
| this work.
wishing YOU all success, am,
VERY sincerely yours,
"Theodore Roosevelt"