The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1915-03-31
At METHODIST Conference,
PRESIDENT EXPRESSES HIS CON.
f1DENCE IN BODY OF AMER.
loan CITIZENS.
Says That They Serve rs Stabilizcrs,
When More Excitablc Ones Try To
Rock Ship OF Statc-Says People
Must Look to Future.

Washington. March 25.-Full con-
hdence In the great body OF calm
people of the nation who serve as
"stabilizers'' when the excitable ones
try to rock the boat" in these peril
days. was voiced tonight by Pres
ident Wilson In an address before the
Baltimore conference of the Metho-
dist Episcopal church, South, In an
nual session here. The president APP
pealed TO the nation for support In
administering his Office, saying: IF
L a speak for you l am powerful;
IL L cal not 1 am weak" He said
II was possible for n people to be
impartial when "a quarrel Is none of
theirs" He referred also to danger
of missionaries I'm some foreign lands
OF which he said he had thought
much OF late.
Bishop Warren A. Gambler of At
lanta. Ca, In introducing the presi-
dent. declared that the members of
n conference were behind him as
patriots. Secretary Daniels occupied
a seat on the speakers platform dur
ing the session.
The president said I'm mart.
Il have the feeling as 1 look upon
you that 1 have had in many other
conferences, hat 1 am looking In the
faces Of men and women who are
not interested In the temporary things
but are interested In the permanent
things, who give very little though,
i hope and believe. t the things that
separate us and give a great deal OF
thought to the things that unite us
things that are good for the healing
of this nation not only but for the
healing OF all the nations.
This Is a council Of peace, not to
form plans Of peace-for IL Is not our
purpose to form such-but to pro-
claim the single supreme plan of
peace. the revelation of our Lord
and Savior Jesus Christ. Because
fears will never have any ending until
men cease to hate one another. get
that feeling OF reality in the brother
hood OF mankind which Is the only
BON hat can make us think Justly
Of one another and act r%ighteously
before God himself.
II value The churches of this coun-
try IA 1 would value everything else
That makes for the stability of our
moral processes. There are n great
many people-not so many that they
give me n particular concern-but
nevertheless a great many people, who
In the language of the day are try
Ing hard to rock the boat The boat
Is too big for them to rock. They are
OF such light material that they can
not rock II very much. but they are
going through the motions, and 1t Is
Just as well for them to look around
once In a while and see the great
steadfast body of self-persuaded
Americans not to be hurried into any
uncertain line OF action, sure that
when you are right you can be calm,
sure that when the quarrel Is none
OF yours. you a be impartial. sure
that the men who spend their passion
most Will move the body polite the
least and that the reaction will not
be upon the great body OF American
citizens. but upon themselves.
so that I look upon you in the
present circumstances as u great part
OF that stabilizer OF the nation. You
know that somebody has just invented
a thing called a stabilizer that is used
In connection with a%eroplanes and by
come process. the mechanics of which
i have not had explained to me. and
perhaps could not understand II I had.
corrects the reaction of the ma
chine. so that when adjusted 1t de-
termines the plane upon which the
plane Is TO o and the machine can
not be upset.
something like that Is the func-
ton OF the great moral forces In the
world-to act as stabilizers when we
40 up in the air.
II have come to you tonight. then.
may I say for reinsurance. to look
upon an u~ndlsturbed body OF men
who have their compasses and know
the moral charting OF the world. We
know what haven we are bound for.
We know the only legitimate processes
by which one can work his way
against the trade winds OF evil in the
world TO the haven desired. So / am
sure that l shall go away from here
reinforced.