The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1933-03-02
Rev. G.. E. Martin
Sees characteristics
Indicating He Is

Pastor Devotes Sermon to Life,
Character of President Elect;
Training, Background, Exper-
fence, Determination, VigOr
Seen as Great Assets.
Editors Note-The following SER
mon was given by Rev. G. E. Martin
of the Methodist church Sunday eve
ming. 1t was so we'll received and
contained so much encouragement
that we at once sought permission to
print it in full.
Some may have wondered why I
should speak this evening upon the
subject announced. think l can give
some perfectly good reasons for do
ing so. First, Mr.. Roosevelt is to be
the president of the United States
which is one of the greatest offices in
the world held by man. Second, the
church should give its prayers to the
man who undertakes such task at
this time and give him every help
possible. And third, little mixture
of religion with patriotism should
not be out of the way. The word tells
us that we are to render to Caesar
the things that are Caesars and to
God the things that are Gods.
Mr.. Roosevelt was born January
80, 1882, thus he is in his fifty-second
year which is in the very prime of
life. He was born at Hyde Park, New
York some 85 miles north Of New
York City. At Hyde Park he has
beautiful estate of some 500 acres.
His mother, Mrs. James Roosevelt, is
still living.
Mr.. Roosevelt was born in home
of wealth and was Graded in luxury
to quite an extent. He had what
wealth could give him in his early
life, magnificent and stately home,
an education in the finest schools,
many facilities for recreation, the adj
vantages of travel both at home and
abroad. 1t is said that every Scots
man is born with a silver spoon in
his mouth. This man it would seem
was born with gold spoon in his
mouth.
Had CompaniOnship
The parents lavished upon their
only child every care possible almost.
1t is said upon good authority that
they gave to him a rare companion
ship. Yet it seems that all that
wealth was able to do for Inn, did not
spoil him or ruin him as it does so
many times. 1t did not kill his am
bition to be something in his own
right. He has been able to use all
that wealth gave him as stepping
stones to achievement, prominence
and service.
At the age of thirty-nine he was
stricken with infantile paralysis. His
lower limbs were paralysed. Most
men would have considered their work
done. When his secretary, Louis
Howe, was drafted by the family to
ask the attending physician if he
could get we'll, the doctor gave this
reply: every few people possess the
courage and determination to make
the fight. If his will is strong there
is undoubtedly a chance" To which
Mr.. Roosevelt replied when told of
the report-"Very well, when do the
treatments begin?" His secretary
says that for three or four years, no
matter how tempting it was to skip
just one treatment, he did not relax
his effort. He also tells how he saw
Mr.. Roosevelt using such will power
to move his toe that streams of pres
piration would run down his face.
This shows the mans effort to get
back the use of his legs.
Has Self Control
His misfortune has no doubt been
a blessing in many ways, in that it
developed tremendous powers of con-
centration which have taken him over
all obstacles. He has will-power that
few men possess. His wife says "He
has great self-controp and wives are
people who know about these mat
tiers.
The question has been asked, els he
a we'll man." We might answer by
saying that the insurance companies
consider him good risk for they
have insured his life for half mil
lion dollars.
1t is a bit interesting to compare
the steps taken to reach the presi-
dency by Theodore Roosevelt and
Franklin Roosevelt. Theodore started
his career in the New York legisla-
ture. Franklin in the New York SEN
ate. Both men served as assistant
secretary to the navy. Both served
the state of New York as governor
and from this office became president
of the United States. Both travelled
much the same way. One was Re-
publican and the other Democrat.
Of course his mother can tell some
very wonderful stories about her
Cranky" who will soon be in the
White House. She tells for instance
how he was playing with another boy
on certain occasion. She had been
watching them at play for some time