The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1911-01-25
Bishop Hendrix Presents Greeting
Of 100000 Ministers and
$1,000, 900 Communi-
cants to Taft
OUTLINES HUMANITARIAN WORK
Expresses Pleasure in Success Which
Has Attended Efforts Of Chris
tian Workers for Better
ment Of Men.

Washington, Jan. 25.-Humanltar-
ian and philanthropic efforts of the
Federal Council Of the Churches of
Christ in America were outlined by
Bishop Z. r. Hendrix, of Kansas City.
Mo-. president Of the Council in
speech before President Taft at the
White House today.
Bishop Hendrix presented the greet
ings Of the Council on the occasion
iof the annual meeting Of its executive
committee. He said
"our fathers in the very first amend
ment to the Constitution forbade Con-
gress to make any law respecting the
establishment of religion, wisely DEEM
ing it the duty Of the Church to estab-
lish the state and not the duty OF the
state to establish the church. Thus from
the beginning in the free exercise OF
their religious views. the various
churches have expressed their devotion
to the best interests of our common
country, notably to washington and
Lincoln. when our national government
began and when IL ~as in greatest
peril The memorable responses to
these greetings showed how grateful
they were TO the highest executives i'm
our land in the two preceding centu-
ries. Representing more than 10000
ministers OF the gospel and some H.
100000 communicates, or nine tenths
OF the Protestants of our country. fed
Grated in a permanent organization
known as "The Federal Council of
the Churches of Christ in America"
we bring Christian greetings to the
Chief Ruler of the greatest nation in
history standing for self govern
ment
Growing Spirit of Catholiey.
'As former greetings were made by
individual Churches and were well
coined by our rulers when the fate of
the nation was yet undecided. much
more we believe will be welcomed this
Christian greeting TO our Chief Magis-
trate by the federated Churches as the
sign of the compact and growing
strength of our National Union. The
late Mr.. Justice Brewer declared that
such Federation of Churches was al
so an unmistakable proof that ours is
Christian nation despite the fact that
we have no established Church.
I'VE are happy to state that the
growing spirit of catholicy and the
belief that the work of the Churches
| could better be done in cooperation
than in separation ripened into this
notable and permanent federation. not
of individual Christians but of
churches and that by the authority
and the unanimous action of the high
est ecclesiastical assemblies of the
land.
Believing with Webster that what
makes good Christians makes good
citizens, we are glad to state that in
addition to the distinctively religious
work which is sought TO be done by all
the Churches as never before, such as
Home and Foreign Missions and the
vital work Of evangelism, the Federal
Council of Churches is doing in unison
humanitarian and philanthropic work
calculated at once to bless and to
strengthen the nation. Thus through
our large standing committees of some
two hundred leading ministers and
laymen. careful study is being given to
the advancement of such great inter
ests as Sunday Observance, Temper
ance, the Sanctity of the Home, the
Church and Social Service. and Lit
erature and Education.
Humanitarian Work.
Happy results have attended these
efforts in checking race-track gam
bling, in annulling loose divorce laws,
in stopping twelve-hours- day labor
and that for seven days in the week in
certain industries. in bringing about
kindlier relations between the Church
and Laboring men. in safeguarding the
physical and moral well-being OF wom-
en- and children who are bread win
ners and in promoting wholesome lit
erature and the better intellectual de-
velopment of our youth.
"In all this we are unitedly seeking
the highest welfare of our great nation
whose Chief Magistrate has our daily
prayers and our loyal aid We rejoice
TO recognize as President one who is
exceptionally acquainted with our
great and varied national interests. and
who fully commands our confidence
SO that we are content TO see through
his eyes a completed Panama Canal
and the conservation OF the best possi-
BILE good Of the Philippines whose lit
tie brown men he delights TO call bro
Tiers"