Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1928-10-10
TEXT OF PRESIDENTS ADDRESS
BEFORE EPISCOPAL CONVENTION
Influence of Church at Home and in FOREIGN
Fields Commended-High Motive
In Life Urged.

President Coolidge's address before
the General Convention of the Episco-
pal Church today follows:
Members of the Convention:
This General Convention of the
Episcopal Church, which is held once in
three years, represents organized re-
ligious life and missionary effort in
every part of the globe. Many thou
sands are taking part in it. Considered
by itself alone, it constitutes an activity
of the greatest Importance. But when
we remember that it is but one of many
similar organizations, some larger and
some smaller, all devoted to the service
of religion, we cannot escape the con-
cluSion that the major forces of the
world are actively and energetically en-
gagged in promoting the spiritual adj
vaneement of humanity. When we re-
member further that this movement is
steadily advancing through the years,
steadily increasing in the ST. .ngth of
its main body its innumerable
auxiliaries, we realize that it provides
complete and devastating answer to the
We cannot doubt that the world is
growing better.
But because we have made a very
large progress, because we are confident
that we are going In the right direction,
is no reason for failing to comprehend
the enormous work that yet remains to
be performed and the long distance that
must still be travelled before the goal
of human perfection is reached. AS
we look over the world We see that
there are almost whole continents in
some areas still to be reached and large
masses of people everywhere still to be
given the advantages OF modern ciyili-
cation.
while 1t is well for us to look abroad
and carry to other people knowledge
of our faith, we should not forget that
our success in that direction will be
largely measured by what we do at
home The light which we shed for
others will depend upon the intensity
of the fame which we create for our
selves. The ability to help others to
see comes from the clearness of our own
vision. The greatest service that we
can possibly perform for the world is
to perfect our own moral progress. IT
we can do that, we need have no fear
concerning the helpful influence we
shall supply to others.
1.-THE most casual survey of our own
country reveals the existence of condi-
lions which require constantly increaS-
lem of the training of the youth of the
Nation is one that is now and will be
forever recurring In spite of our great
school system, our secondary inst1tu-
tions, our colleges and our universities,
many of our young people are still
growing up with the most meager ad-
vantages of education. There are large
settlements of people in our great CEN
ters of population still living under
foreign conditions.
Although they are jewellers within
our borders, they have never vet really
come into the United States. We have
provided by our institutions for gen.
uine method of self-government, but
there are many of our people who,
through indifference or inability, are
not receiving the full benefits of such
system. In the midst of high pro-
ductive capacity and constantly eX-
banding material resources there are
yet those who, through ignorance or
misfortune, are not able to participate
to the extent of their deserts in our
economic progress. The forces of evil
are constantly manifest and their OPP
portunities for activity enlarge with the
increasing complexities OF our modern
modes of life.
1.-THE officers of our governmental
agencies are constantly alive to these
problems, and through legislation and
administration are alert to meet their
demands. But those who have given
these subjects much thought are con-
stantly reminded that an additional
element is needed If they are to meet
with the desired success. The advance
| ment of knowledge, the increase in
science, the growth and distribution OF
wealth, the enactment Of laws, While
they may all be commendable or even
necessary in themselves, do not alone
meet the problem of human existence
or furnish sufficient foundation for
human progress.
Man Is more than all these. He
| requires the inspiration of higher
motive to meet the demands of Splr-
itual nature. They might furnish a
| partial explanation of an Alexander, a
Caesar or a Napoleon. They fail ut
terly to account for Hampden or a.
| Cromwell, Washington or Lincoln,
or for the long list of sacrificing mis-
Sionaries, saints and martyrs who have
devoted their lives to the higher cause
of humanity. Organized government
and organized society have done much
and can do much. Their efforts Will
always be necessary, but without the
| inspiration of faith, without devotion
to religion, they are inadequate to serve
the needs of mankind. 1t is in that
direction that we must look for the
permanent sources of the ministrations
of charity, the kindness of brotherly
love and the remuneration of conse-
Grated lives.
Our country is thoroughly COM
mitted to q life of action. We expect
our people to put forth great energy
and great effort in perfect1ng the ma
terial structure of our national life, IN
enlarging our production, in increasing
our comm rec, in strengthening our
agriculture, in improvin~ our transpor--
tation, In organizing our finances. But