The Washington herald., 1912-03-24
RELIGIOUS VIEWS
IS TAFT's THEME
President Says PresentSpirit
of Tolerance Has Never
Been Equaled.
GUEST OF CHURCH CLUB
Claims No Credit for Being a
Unitarian, as He Was
Born One.
GUEST OF CHURCH CLUB

Declaring that there is a spirit OF toll
erance OF opinion in regard TO religion
and a breadth of view on the part OF
the orthodox churches in this country
such as never before been known in the
history of the world, and which was un'
known even in America a generation ago
President Taft addressed the Unitarian
Club, OF Washington, at its annual ban
quet last night at the New Willard Hotel
President Taft, accompanied by his
aid, Maj. Thomas r. Rhoads, arrived al
the banquet at 10:45. The heavy green
velvet curtains at the end Of the ball.
room were drawn back. disclosing the
President and Mai. Rhoads coming toward
the ballroom. The orchestra rendered
The Star Spangled Banner" as he madt
his way amid the enthusiastic cheering
and applause of the guests to his seat
in the center OF the speakers table.
The President was greeted by Prof.
A. Werner spanhoofd. president Of the
Unitarian Club. In his Introductory re-
marks, Prof. Spanhoofd asserted that
President Taft has ''the hardest position
in the world to fill, II being his work
to accomplish the impossible task OF put
ting into concrete form the ideas OF
100000 OF people"
The President began by stating that he
inasmuch as he was born that way.
Takes No Credit.
81 have no doubt" he said, that there
are many here tonight who are entitled
TO credit for being Unitarians, that is,
who gave up other faiths and came into
the church. 1 am not. I was born a
Unitarian, and from my earliest days 1
was trained in the Unitarian faith.
Therefore, l can claim no credit for Il.
There are many here tonight whose
faces recognize as having seen in
church. 1 sit pretty well toward the
front of the church, and that may ac-
count for the fact that I see some whose
faces are unfamiliar
We are all of US as people, a great
deal more liberal to-day than we have
been within my own memory. and
claim to be young man. There is
spirit of tolerance Of opinion, a breadth
of view on the part of the orthodox
churches, which was lacking gen.
GRAFTON ago. While 1t is true that there
are in some parts of the country peo-
pie who don't know what a Unitarian
is, they are beginning to know some
thing of them. For instance, when 1
was running for the Presidency, L re-
ceived a number of kilograms from my
supporters, in some OF. we'll, let US say,
the less advanced States, to the effect
that some Of my enemies were spread
ing base and malicious report to the
effect that l was a Unitarian, and beg
Eing that ] issue emphatic denial at
once. am a Unitarian. I am glad to
be Unitarian; ! am proud to be
Unitarian. ] was born a Unitarian,
claim no credit for being so. and I
hope TO die a good Unitarian"
Davidson Praises Teachers.
DIR. William NJ. Davidson. superintend-
ent of schools, eulogized the school
teachers OF the country. Responding to
the toast, American ideals in educa-
ticn.' he showed the tremendous growth
of educational facilities in this country.
and quoted statistics to show the extent
Of higher education.
Speaking on American ideals in busi-
ness" Senator Duncan U. Fletcher, OF
Florioa, dwelt on the commercial su-
periority OF the United States. England
may have the largest naval force in the
world he said. ''and Germany may be
the greatest military power, but it is the
nation that can produce surplus OF the
necessities of civilization, without which
the other nations must starve or go un-
clothed, that wieIds the greatest force.
That nation is the United States. eace
lasts longer than war. and the CONNER
cial superiority of America is supreme.
and will remain so in the years to come"
Addresses were also made by Dr. Sam
uel A. Elliot, president of the American
Unitarian Association, on American
ideals In religion" G. Grosvenor Dave,
managing director of the Southern Com
mercial Congress: Senator Charles Z.
Townsend, of Michigan; Representative
George A. Loud, of Michigan; Cyril II.
Burdette. Of New York, secretary of the
American League OF Unitarian Laymen;
IHalWw L.
Whitney, OF Baltimore, president Of the
Unitarian League of that city; Rev.
John Van Schaick. jr., and Rev. DR.. u. |
G. B. Pierce. Rear Admiral A. W. |
Greeley, L. S. N. retired, was toast |
master. Vocal solos were rendered by
Otto EuckeTt. The tables were taste
fully decorated with pink carnations and |
rnaidenhair ferns
Prof A. Werner Spanhoofd, president |
OF the Council of the Unitarian Club, |
presided at the banquet. Other members |
of the council are: Louis A. Simon, vice |
president; s. Jay Teller. secretary; Rev.
U. G. B. Pierce, eN-officio member; Del |
bert II. Decker. William ~ Todd, and
II. h Bush Brown.
Present at Banquet.
The following attended the banquet:
President William H: Taft. Hon. Charles Z.
ygnsend, s. Jay Teller. Edward c. Townsend |
DT. John Van schNick, Maxwell woodhuIl. wor-
cestsr Warner. Cleveland. Ohio: DR.. H. A. Whiting |
Herbert Wright, Gen. S. B. NJ Young, L. T. \
Young. Baltimore. Nd Arthur L. Bpant H. X /
Bush Brown, Cyril II. Burdettr New York: George
n. Brown, Gereham Bradford. second; L II. Buck
nam: J. W. Butterheld. J. W. Clarke, Charles A.
Clark. Newton. Mass; Edward Collins. Leonard
s. Doten. DR.. William ". Davidson Hon. Henry
@. Dauforfh. d. T. Douty. G. GrusEenor Dawe
Richard B. wstrous DeIbert H Decker Bliss n. /
Davis. Robert W. Dutton. DR.. Samuel A. EIlios,
Boston, Mas: Arthur L. Emmous. Edward B.J
Eynou. Henry Fzrquhsr, Oliver NJ Fisher, New
tOn Mass; Duncan U. Fletcher. L. A. Fay,
James NJ. Flint. Z A. Gfantyslley, John r. Gis-i
burDe, A W. Greely H. II. B. Meyer. Bernard
r. Green, Frank S. Hight, Hon. George q. Hazel
ton, DR.. A. r. HuSsey. Baltimore. Nd: f. J. |
Hoskin, Denver. Colo: William Curtis Hill y.
A. Holton, James Y. Hood. james H. Hamill. Z.
r. Boyle, Charles Z Hood. W. J. Hutchinson.
n. Hershlsr. Richard jackson. Hon. Charles r.
johnson. Dr. Albion Jameson. Hon William 4. /
Andrew. Martin A. Knapp John Joy Edson, Hon.
William Kent, John Knox. Baltimore, Nd. :
Donald Knox. Baltimore. Nd; S. ]. Kinbail,
Hon George A. Loud, J. Jerome Lightfoot, W. III
]. Manning. George A. Mever. Herndon MorseIl. II
z. r. Mueller. W. NJ. Mcconnell. Ridley PARK. II
Pa; @. ". Porter. Paul Brockett, Hon. Carroll
S. Page. Hon. Andrew J. Peter. W. W. Pen
Geto1. BaIttmoce. Nd; W. NJ. Post. Elizabeth, III
N J.; Rev. J. L. Marsh, DR. Pierce Charles
Hitzs. Baltimore. Nd; J. g. RobeTtsou. W. V.
Boyle. George Z. Roberts. Hon. L. W. Roberts.
II. d. Richardson. Baltimore, Nd; W. B. Rob
erts Lewis A. Simon. Henry W. sawtelIe. Joseph