Washington Post
Print
Comment (0)
E-Mail
Report
Contributed by barbara-dave
Description: Church Cornerstone Page 2
Newspaper published in: Washington, D. C.
Page/Column: 2
Washington Post May 4,1914 Church Cornerstone Page 2
BIBLE GUIDE TO CLARK
Speaker Declares Scriptures Rest and Inspire Him.
PRAISES RELIGION OF TODAY
Presiding Member of House, in Speech at Cornerstone Laying, Declares End of Controversial Sort Has Come - Reads St. Paul’s Epistles When His Brain Becomes Fagged - Began as Youth.
Declaring that he inherited his religion as he did his politics and expected to die without changing either, Speaker Champ CLARK yesterday outlined the religious trend of the day, and pronounced it good, in a speech at the cornerstone laying exercises of the H Street Christian Church, H and Sixth streets southwest. Speaker Clark is a member of Vermont Avenue Christian Church.
"There are many kinds of religions," said Mr. Clark, "but I thank God that the end of the controversial sort has come, and that we have reached a day of practical religion. A generation or so ago each denomination kept jealously to itself, but now we have reached a hearty tolerance that is reflected in the union meetings seen on all sides.
Declares It Is Necessary.
"I think that religion is as necessary to the human soul as bread is to the body. I firmly believe that if all religious influences were banished, the world would be a pandemonium in a twelve-month.
When I get brain fag I read St. Paul's Epistles and the Proverbs of Solomon. When I was a boy I wouldn't read the Bible. I began to read it as a youth almost by accident, and I have been at it ever since. I found it a mine of wonderful thoughts and inspirations wonderfully expressed."
Changes Wrought by Parable.
"There have been great changes wrought in the hearts of men in recent years that have made for tolerance and mutual helpfulness, and I believe that important parts in these changes have been played by the parable of the good Samaritan and that wonderful rhapsody of St. Paul's on charity in the thirteenth chapter of I Corinthians."
Speaker Clark said that another great influence for good has been the fraternal secret societies. Those who oppose them, he said, do so through ignorance. Thousands of men, he asserted, have gained a greater familiarity with the Scriptures through their lodges than they would have gotten otherwise.
Creates Need for Charity.
Speaker Clark pointed to the great growth of charitable activity in recent years as another indication of a change toward practical religion. In this connection he laid at the door of the increased movement of people to the cities much of the need for charity.
"A hundred year's ago," he said, "there was little need for charity. The country was largely organized on agricultural lines, and I wish that were the case today. Few suffered in the country, and in the rare cases in which they did the neighbors put them on their feet. Now everybody is flocking to town the world over, and the movement is building up great cities, in which extreme wealth and abject poverty are side by side."
Praises Missouri Mule.
Mr. Clark made but one reference to the Mexican trouble. It was to sing the song
of an unsung hero - the Missouri mule - which, he said, has made the greatest impression of all on the natives of Vera Cruz.
Mrs. Clark accompanied the Speaker, and sat beside him on the platform.
Speaker Clark was introduced by the Rev. Henry F. LUTZ, pastor of H Street Church, and by the Rev. Dr. Earle WILFLEY, pastor of Vermont Avenue Christian Church. Addresses were also made by the Rev. George A. MILLER, pastor of Ninth Street Church; the Rev. Walter F. SMITH, pastor of Whitney Avenue Church, and the Rev. Andrew GOTTSCHALL, pastor of Benning Christian Church.
Miss Summy Lays Cornerstone.
The cornerstone was laid by Miss S. A. SUMMY. Benediction and prayer were offered by Mr. LUTZ. The church, when completed, will cost, with the site, $33,000. At present only the Sunday school room is being built. This, with the site, will cost $19,000.