Evening star., 1916-02-22
Meeting Largely Attended.

received from Henry J. Goodman, Nor
gan A; swingIe. A; J. St John. Thomas
Francis. William George Lee, Addison
A. H. McGhan and Joseph Fifield. They
were referred to committee which
cess which assumed the character of
an informal reception was held be-
tween the business session and the
r"' -" exercises which closed the
meeting. ! ,slzazan
DR.. Vincent's Address.
The patriotic exercises opened with
the reading by Chaplin Brown of Wash
ington's farewell address This was
followed by the address of DIR. Vincent,
in which he outlined the progress of
democracy and referred to George
Washington as the type of citizen es-
sential to the euccess of democracy.
washington" he said, "championed
what seemed then the hopeless cause
Of the jealous colonies because it was
a great principle. American democracy
needs today men Of this nationwide
ana daring courage"
In childhood days as I heard from
my mothers lips the story Of Israel, my
mind was filled with wonder at the in
dications Of Providence" DR.. Vincent
read for myself the story of the United
States. the wonder deepened as 1 dis
covered the same beneficent Providence.
Az God led Israel into the promised
land so He led our fathers to a fresh,
new continent. He gave that ancient
people the Ten Commandments; He
gave our fathers the Mayfower COM
pact, the Declaration Of Independence,
q free Constitution and the emancipa-
tion proclamation. For Israers hours
Of need He raised up Abraham, Moses
ana Joshua; for our times Of need He
trained Washington, Madison, Jeffer.
son, Lincoln and = host Of others. In
the dark periods Of Hebrew history, He
was their power and victory; He gave
In the history Of our nation.
GOD moves in q mysterious w,y
Hie wonders to perform;
He plants His footsteps n the Sea,
And rides upoh the Storm
Providence Interpreted.
providence means purpose. In the
history Of Israel. it meant the teach
ing Of the world the fact Of one God,
the preparation Of the nation for the
coming Of the Messiah and the giving
of the kingdom Of God to the entire
world. In the history of the United
States. 1t meant the establishment of a
government Of the people, by the peo-
pie and for the people. The time had
come in the history of humanity when
the clock Of democracy was striking.
against Plymouth rock, it bore in its
hold the seeds Of new civilization.
During the period following the
adoption Of the Constitution to the civil
slow but steady progress. European
critic prophesied its failure, and Car
lyle gruf'iy declared. The American re-
public Is going straight to the devil
There were those in our own number
who often questioned the outcome Of
this experiment in self-government.
But as we look back now we see that
the progress was as steady and rapid
as possible. The conditions were new.
the obstacles were many. and mistakes
were made. But the history of those
days reveals q patriotic, and intelligent
and an effective attempt.
Dangerous Influences Noted.
Influences sprans up following the
civil war that were dangerous to free
government. The town meeting gave
way to the ward boss and the danger
Gus political clique. A few dollars
given to both parties. before election,
brought to big business spoils that
should have been conserved for the
people. Too often the odor of petro-
leum rather than the devotion Of pa
triots ascenued from the legislative
affairs. Tue natural resources were de-
veloped for personal gain and not for
permanent public welfare. Forests were
cut down in q few months that should
have yielded an annual blessing and
should be today abundant in their con-
trtbutions Of trees: the earth was gut
ted OF its mines and great fortunes
were piled up at the loss of other gen
the hands Of companies with little or
no return to society. Thus the tide Of
representative government went out
until the ship Of state was stranded
on the muddy flats.
But the tide changed, as the tides of
the sea always do. and the waters came
back singing Of the great ocean of
democracy beyond. During the last
twenty years the tendency toward the
people has been strong and more has
other like period in our life. The Sc
cret ballot and the primary are at
tempts Of tho people to govern. The
agitation for the conservation of the
national resources is a long look for
ward. We have taught big business a
few lessons, as that petroleum must
not be watered with rebates and that
sugar must not be adulterated with
frauds.
Only the Beginning, He Says.
.The achievements of the last few
years are only beginnings. The rights
and welfare of the people must be
and wisely established. All
forces and institutions that injure the
people must be destroyed. 1t is a tre-
mendous task, but 1t is worth the pow
der, and the United States must prove
to the world that the people are, in
the long run, the wisest governors.
TN the progress Of democracy the
time has come when not only as a ma
ton, but also in every community. the
people should form an ideal Of what