Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1923-08-23
SERMON BY KNOX
Mr. Knox said in part:

respect to Warren G. Harding.
Thousands of similar gatherings all
over the land will be had, and the
dispatches will herald eloquent trib-
utes of respect to his memory to all
the world. 1t has been said: "Some
men are born great, some men have
greatness thrust upon them, while
others attain to greatness"
l want to speak today of the ele-
ments of greatness.
Some days ago the press brought
to us the story of an interview that
the chairman of committee of the
Lawyers club, which was to have
welcomed Mr.. and Mrs. Harding to
New York city ON their return from
Alaska, Mr.. John A Stewart had
with Mr.. Harding, in which it was
said among other things, l quote that
we may get inner light on his life:
"a few days before his last departure
from Washington / spent three hours
alone with him; he told of his plans
to visit the west, Alaska and Canada,
on mission of sheer friendship. He
talked of good viii as an affirmative
policy in all political relationships,
domestic and international. But the
real picture of Harding seeing him
self as others saw him-h0nestly,
critically discussing the image he cast,
flashed on the screen when the man
with whom he talked commented on
the dire misfortune that so many of
the unthinking should regard good will
as only amiable weakness
AS Mr.. Stewart related il the pres
ident's reply was:
'It is a pity that this is true, but
nevertheless / shall continue on that
course-to be myself, just as 1 am.
81 know my limitations; / know how
far removed from greatness 1 am; be
that as it may, l intend to approach
every problem with good will in my
heart instead of hatred.
''MOst questions which are settled by
armed force are never permanently
settled. Problems can be solved fun
damentally only as they are worked
out i'm spirit of neighborIy good
will.
Good Will Necessary.
"Good will is the only solvent of
i'll will l believe this is the time
for good will to be used as the great
and most effective political policy i'm
f1rtherance of that good understand
ing without which no permanent bet
terment in human affairs can be eff
fected
81 intend to approach every ques-
ton so far as / can, with neither
bias nor i'll will. i shall continue, no
matter what may be said of me, nor
how harsh the criticism may be, nor
1,a s,tc.f 10
will and a friendly feeling in the
settlement Of every question. People
may think Of me as they please, but
1 shall continue to be as l am, just
Warren G. Harding, as he is and as
GOd fashioned him-a man VINO is try
ing, the best he knows how, to throw
into the discard age-old discordant
ways of doing things-ways which
have never succeeded in bringing hap
piness into the world.
''If am misunderstood and another
course is demanded Of me, then l shall
accept, as / must, what fate may be
politically in store for me. But l will
not change my policy even if 1t led
to defeat for another term to the pres
idency and my RELOCATION to private
life"
This leads us to consider one ele-
ment of greatness.
Knew His Limitations
Mr.. Harding said, II know my lin
itations." It is great discovery for
man to discover his limitations. No
one can know everything.
No man can learn all there is to
know about any one thing.
The botanist may devote a lifetime
to study, and yet he has no perfect
knowledge of that study, and he can
never learn all there is to know about
it.
So that knowing ones limitations is
one element of greatness
Almost without exception, all our
presidents have been men who be-
lieved in God; and most Of them in
the Son of God Jesus Christ, the
Savior of the world.
In his trip across the continent, Mr..
Harding called attention to the need
of the world today-the need Of CIV
ing attention to spiritual things. He
as well as other great men are seeing
this.
Many men in our midst, could they
be prevailed upon to speak, might tell
us at length something Of Mr.. Hard
ing the politician, or as statesman,
but my remarks will have to do with
him as a Christian. When he took the
oath of office as president, and swore
to support the constitution Of the
United States and observe the laws of
the land, his lips pressed the Book at
his favorite passage Of scripture.
Favorite Scripture Passage
1t was in the midst Of great re-
ligious dissension in the days of an
cient Israel that the Prophet Micah
affirmed that ''The Lord hath con-
with his people," and hence
wrote:
"Wherewith shall I come before the
Lord and bow myself before the High
God? Shall I give my
first born for my transgression, the
fruit Of my body for the sin Of my
soul?
He hath showed thee, o man, what
is good; and what doth the Lord re-
quire of thee, but to do justly and to
love mercy and to walk humbly with
thy God"
Thiss M coo 90 Of scrinf11re WAS thp