Omaha daily bee., 1910-06-17
Former President Regrets Inability
to Attend Convention.
EPOCH IN RELIGIOUS HISTORY
Says Christians Have United First
Time in Four Centuries.
PUTS EMPHASIS ON ESSENTIALS
Iris Plea for Unity, Fraternity and
Federation in Pushing the work
IL Greeted with Great
Enthusiasm.

EDINBURG, Scotland, June 16.-A letter
from Theodore Roosevelt expressing sym
pathy with the movement and regret at
his inability TO be present was read at to-
days session of the World Missionary
conference. The communication which
was addressed to Silas McBee, an Ameri-
ran delegate, aroused much enthusiasm.
Mr.. Roosevelt wrote:
LONDON, May 16, 19l0.--My Dear Sir
1T is a matter of real and profound regret
to me that 1 am imperatively called away
to America so that l am unable to be
present in person at the World Missionary
conference. l regret it the more as, If l
had been able to be present, 1t would have
been as a delegate from the Dutch Re-
formed church of America, to which l
belong
Nothing like your proposed conference
las hitherto taken place. From many ma
tlo1s and from many churches your dele
gates gather on this great occasion to in
itiate movement which l not only hope
but believe will be fraught with far-reach-
ing good.
Epoch in Religious History.
For the first time In four centuries
Christians of every name come together
without renouncing their several convic-
tions or sacrificing their several principles
TO confer as to what common action may
be taken in order to make their common
Christianity not only known to but vital
force among the two-thirds of the human
race TO whom, as yet, 1t is hardly even a
name.
Surely every man imbued, as every man
should be, with the ethical teachings OF
Christianity, must rejoice in such an ef-
fort to combine the strength of all the
churches in the endeavor to Christianze
humanity and to Chrlstianize it not
merely in name but in very fact.
Your conference represents the practical
effort to apply the teachings of the gospel
to what the Epistle of Jude calls The
common salvation. An infinite amount of
WORK refnalns 10 be done before we can
regard ourselves as being even within
measureabe distance of the desired goal;
an infinite amount at home in the dark
places which too often closely surround
the brightest centers of light and an in
finite amount abroad in those dark places
of the earth where blackness is at yet un.
relieved by any light.
Plea for CO-OperntiOn.
while such is the high purpose to which
you have dedicated yourselves it is emf
nently fitting that your invitation shoulC
have gene to all Christian churches in al
lands / am sure that there will be O gen
eral and 1 hope universal response Ii
missionary work. above all other kinds
OF Christian work, 1t is imperative to re
hember that a divided Christlandom cal
only perfectly bear witness to the essen
tial unity of Christianity. 1 believe tina
without compromise of belief, without los
of the positive good contained in the recog
milton of dlverslties of gifts and difference
OF administration. the Christian churcl
may yet find way to cordial co-opera
ton and friendship as regards the grea
underlying essentials on which, as
foundation, all Christian churches are built
This is one of the lessons which has bee
particularly impressed on me by what
have seen of Christian work in Africa bot
in heather and Mohammedan lands.
Quotation from Scripture.
II believe that unity in a spirit OF Chris
tan brotherhood for such broad Christia
work will tend, not to do away with dill
ferences of doctrine, but to prevent us fror
laying too much stress on these difference
OF doctrine. 1t is written In the Scripture
that He that doeth My will shall know
D the doctrine but the reverse of this proI
oslton cannot be found in Holy Writ. En-
phass is to be put on doing Thy will.
only VIC can make up our minds to wor
together with sincerity for the commo
good we shall find that doctrnal diffe
ences in no way interfere with our doin
this work.
Wishing you all success. 1 am vel
sincerely yours
"THEODORE ROOSEVELT n >,