The Ogden standard. [volume] (Ogden City, Utah) 1902-1910, 1910-06-16
CARRY Y|NC
THE GOSPEL
Roosevelt Tells How to
ChriStianize the
World

Edinburgh. Scotland, June 16.-A
letter from Theodore Roosevelt, cx-
pressing sympathy with the move
ment and regret at his inability 10 be
present, was read at today's session
of the world missionary conference.
The communication. which WAS ad-
dressed TO Slas McBee. an American
delegate, aroused much enthusiasm.
Mr.. Roosevelt wrote:
London. May 6, 191O-My Dear
Sir. II is a matter Of real profound
regret to ME that ! am imperatlvely
called away to America SO that I am
unable 10 he present In person at the
world missionary conference | regret
1t tho more as, If / had been able
to be present, 1t would have as del
egate from the Dutcn Reformed
church OF America, to which | be-
long
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 n
movement which l not only hope. but
believe. will be fraught with far
reaching good
For the first time In four centur-
les. Christians of every name como
together without renounclne their sew
eral convictions 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 10, but vital force
among. the two.thirds of the human
race 10 whom as yet it Is hardly even
a name.
Surely every man imbued. as ey-
cry 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
endeayor to chrlstlanize humanity and
10 christianize 1t not merely in name,
but in very fact
Your conference represents the
practical effort 10 apply teachings of
the gospel to what the epistle of
Judea calls the common salvation An
Infinite amount of work. remains TO be
done before We can regard ourselves
as being even within measurable dis
tance OF the desired goal. an Infinite
amount at home In the dark places
which too often closely surround the
brightest centers of light and au In
finite 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 emiDently flttlpg that your invi-
tatlon should have gone to all Christ
Ian churches in all lands am sure
that there will be a general. and
hope. universal, response. In mis-
Sionary work, above all other kinds of
Christian work. it Is imperative to
remember that divided chrlstendom
can only imperfectly bear witness to
the essential unity of Christianity |
believe that, without compromise Of
belief. without loss of the positive
good contained In the recognition OF
diversities of gifts and differences of
administration, the Christian churches
may yet find way to cordial opera
tion and friendship as regards the
great underlying essentials on which,
as foundation. all Christian churches
are built
This is one of the lessons which
has been particularly impressed on
me by what | have seen OF Christian
work In Africa. both In heather and
Mohammedan lands ] believe that
unity in a spirit of Christian broth.
erhood for such broad Christian work
will tend. not to do away with diff
ferenoes OF doctrine. but 10 prevent us
from laying too much stress on these
differences of doctrine. Ii is written
in the scriptures that He that doth
my will shall knoweth OF the doc.
trine-' But the reverse OF this cannot
be found In Holy Writ Emphasis IS
TO be put on Doing the will II we
can make up our minds to work to-
gether with earnest sincerity for the
common good. we shall find that doc
trinal differences In no way Interfere
with our doing this work.
Wishing You all success. / am,
very sincerely yours
(Sisned) "THEO ROOSEVELT"