Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1910-06-17

EDINBURGH, June IA letter from
Theodore Roosevelt expressing sympathy
with the movement and regret at his in
ability TO be present, was read at today
session OF the world missionary confer
ence. The communication, which was
addressed to Silas McBee, an American
delegate. aroused much enthusiasm. Inc
former president wrote:
London. May ls. 1910.
My Dear Sir: II Is a matter Of real
and profound regret to me that / am
imperatively called away to America, so
that I am unable to be present In per-
son at the world missionary conference.
regret IL the more, as IL l had Deen
able TO be present IL would have been AS
delegate from the Dutch Reformed
church OF America, TO which / belong
Nothing like your proposed conference
has ever hitherto taken place. From
many nations, and from many churches,
your delegates gather on this great occa-
sion TO initiate a movement. which i not
only hope, but believe, will be fraught
with far-reaching good.
AN OCCASION FOR REJOICING.
For the first time IN four centuries
Christians OF every name come together
without renouncing their several convic-
tions or sacrificing their several princi-
may be taken in order to make their COM
mon Christianity not only known to but
a vital force among the two-thirds of the
human race to whom. as yet, IL is hardly
even a name. Surely every man. as every
man should be with the ethical teachings
OF Christianity. must rejoice in such an
effort to combine the strength OF all the
churches in the endeavor 10 Christianlze
humanity. and to Christianize IL not mere
L. a., a1,r.Fs a.. e. -f
AN INFINITE WORK.
your conference represented the prac-
teal effort to apply the teachings OF
the gospel 20 what the epistle Of jude
calls the common salvation An in
finite amount of work remains TO be done
before we can regard ourselves as being
even within measurable 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 infinite amount abroad In
those dark places OF the earth where
blackness is as yet unrelieved by any
light.
when such Is the high purpose to
which you have dedicated yourselves, il
is -eminently fitting that your invitation
should have gone to all Christian
churches in all lands. I am sure there
will be a general, and / hope, a universal,
response. II missionary work. above all
other kinds Of Christian work, it is i'm
perative to remember that a divided
Christiandom can only imperfectly bear
witness TO the essential unity OF Chris
tianity. I believe that without COM
promise OF beliefs, without loss OF the
positive good contained in the recogni-
ton OF diversities OF gifts and differ
ence OF administration, the Christian
churches may yet find a way to cordial
cooperation and friendship as regard the
great underlying essentials upon which,
as foundation all Christian churches
are built.
LESSON FROM AFRICA.
This is one OF the lessons which has
been particularly impressed upon me by
what / have seen OF Christian work in
Africa, both in heather and Mohamme-
dan lands. believe that unity in. a
spirit OF Christian brotherhood for such
broad Christian work will tend. not to
do away with difference Of doctrine, but