American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1913-10-16
RELIGIOUS FAITH
OF PRESIDENT TAFT
nEv. Or. JOHN WESLEY HILLS
sERMon 10 ELOQUENT AnALY-
SIS or TAFTs CHARACTER.
FAITH IN GOD AND CHRIST
Praises the Sunday School as an In
stltutIon Of Greatest importance
and Shows Ills Sympathy for All
Forms Of Religious Belief.


Rev. Or. John Wesley hin. presi.
dent OF the international Peace Forum
q New York city, recently preached
20 a large audience at All Souls
church. Chicago. a sermon on ~The
Religion OF President Taft"
Dr. Hin began by paying a high
tribute to the United States as a
Christian nation. and said that II Was
a striking testimony to the religious
character OF the American people that
they have always insisted upon the
elevation OF devout, conscientious.
cody men 10 the highest Office within
their gift. He asserted that President
Taft met these requirements, stating
that the president had gone farther 20
conserve the cause OF Christianity In
its home and foreign propaganda, nc
iess than In the application OF It's prin-
ciples In social and civil justice. than
any Of his iilustrious predecessors.
Born OF godly parents" said Or.
HIM. "and reared In an atmosphere
saturated with the Puritan spirit, bis
character and career rest unon that
religious basis which has developed
his sense OF personal accountability
to God, love OF truth and justice, sen
s%itiyeness 10 the feelings OF others,
reverence for sacred things. adher-
.ence to law and order, fidelity 20
duty and devotion 10 the spread o.
Christian civilization"
Dr. nm. discussing President Taft's
religious belief. said that the presi-
dent. as a Unitarian. belongs 10 the
Claiming school. believing as clearly
and distinctly in the divinity OF Jesus
Christ as did Edward Everett Hale,
whose prayers wore always offered In
the name of Christ. To show that his
faith constantly manifested itself In
MIR. Taft's public addresses. DIR. Hil
quoted from a speech delivered by the
president at the Tompkins Avenue
CONGREGATIONAL church. In Brooklyn,
wherein he praised the Sunday school
as IAN institution OF the greatest i'm
portance TO our country. where the
lessons OF the Bible are unfolded, and
where boys and girls learn OF God and
OF Jesus Christ. and so lay the foun
dalton OF enduring religious character.
nr. Hill pictured President Taft as
a man OF simplicity, sympathy and
Christian democracy. who practices
Christianity IN helping the poor and
needy, and who, while president Of the
United States. after addressing a vast
adience In Carnegie hall. New York.
found time to visit the Bowery Mis-
sion and utter encouraging words 20
- m..fImnr. - d. tln.ta.MI ug..trlAl
fallen, discouraged and despairing
men. Or. Inn asserted also that
President Taft ir a man OF prayer and
that his reliance upon God Is the Sc.
cret Of that great self.control which Is
the browning virtue OF his character.
DR.. mrs analysis of the presidents
religious belief was accompanied by
numerous citations from the presl.
dents speech. delivered on various
occasions TO religious audiences. He
insisted that there Is nothing OF big
= otory on intolerance In the religious
life OF President Taft. Its address
es. said DR.. HIN. breathe the spirit
of Christian c~athoiicity and strive for
union OF all true believers In sym.
patty and loving co operation His
breadth OF religious views was shown
when addressing the Catholic summer
school at Ciin Haven. N. Y. He said,
Il am not a Catholic" and then added
that he believed Christians are grow.
lag more tolerant and are no longer
cherlshlng narrow views which sprlpg
from religious hlgotry. but are able 10
recognize and appreciate the virtues
exhibited by The heroes OF every and
any Christian faith and creed. Before
. Methodist audience President Taft
~uulogized Methodism as an Affirmative
aggressive. pushing. practical church
militant. and. according 20 Or. Hin
ne has always shown the widest sym
fathy for every religious belief.
After ~euisgixing President Taft's ef
forts TO secure worldwide peace as
the browning point OF his career. On
rlill concluded as follows;
Measured. therefore. from all these
viewpoints: by bis faith In Almighty
God his belief IN Christ. Christian ed
ucation. evangelism missions aud civ
ilization. his unfailing dependence
upoA Providence: his familiarity with
the Word OF God. and his sincere At
tempt 60 bring his lie into harmony
with the preceets era bat word; his
haiti OF prayer; his staple sna steady
confidence Ia the ultimate tNunph O
he right: his reproauctiss Of IN,
spirit Of the Master ss aces Ia tn,
s~entleness OF his treatment Of hll
enemies. the p~atienes With which b.
endures opposition. s~sx rssilsd. an,
reyillng not sgaia; by his revsrsac'
for the Sabbath. his eAurcs member
ship. land his respect Aad leve for a
the churches. and cooperation In thel
work. his conservation to tho eau
n peace. his love of truth AID jul
sice bis adherence Of sham aud b.
pocrks his sympathy with humanity
his adherence 10 the risAt "a God Ell
shlas him 10 see the right; his ster
trg. unqu~estionsbis integrity; h