The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-03-04
pREsIDsNT oLEvE1AND
Presidss over ths Home Mission, Meeting
Of the Presbyterian Church.


NEW YORK, March S.-one OF the
most important meetings held in re-
cent years In favor OF the home nils
sion movement OF tho Presbyterian
church was that which took place N
Carnegie Music hall tonight. The i'm
portance ot the occasion was empha-
sized by the appearance, as presiding
officer OF the meeting, OF President
Cleveland.
Or, Hall introduced President cleve-
land as chairman of the meeting.
ghereupon the applause was renewed
again and again. When the cheering
had subsidized, Mr.. Cleveland said;
President Cleveland said; u desire
to express my appreciation OF the priv
ilege OF participating In this conference
and OF the opportunity thus offered me
OF testlfying 10 the value and useful
ness Of tho work undertaken by the
board OF home missions OF the Pres
byterian church.
EMy interest in this subject and my
familiarity with home missionary eff
forts are not newly acquired. They
early came to me in the surroundings
OF a Christian Presbyterian home, and
were stimulated by u fathers faithful
labors In the cause.
my early impressions are not, how
ever. the only basis OF the testimony
give tonight in favor Of home mis-
slons. AS your fellow citizen. interest,"
ed hope in all things that deepen the
religious Hentiment Of our people and
enlarge Christian influence, l fully re-
alize the transcendant Importance Of
this agency in It's operation upon the
hearts OF men for the salvation OF their
"But Il In not only as your fellow cit
izen, but as the chief executive officer
OF your government, that ! desire to
"No one charged with the duties and
responsibilities which necessarily
weigh upon your chief executive can
fail 10 appreciate the Importance OF
religious teaching and Christian en-
deavor in the newly settled portions OF
our vast domain. IL IS there where hot
and stubborn warfare between the
forces OF good and evil is constantly in
vited. In these days the vanguard OF
occupation'in q new settlement Is new
er without its vicious and criminal ele-
ment. Gambling houses and dram shops
are frequently among the hrst estab-
lishments In new community. 1t
must also be confessed that removal
from old homes and associations In a
new and more primitive home has y
tendency among honest and respecta-
Bile settlers to smother scruples and to
breed liberation or evil and indiffer-
enee TO christianlEing and elevatinS
agencies. These are serious considera-
tions in u country where the people,
good or bad. are its rulers, because the
conditions TO which ] have referred
would certainly menace within cir
Gle constantly eplarging the safety and
welfare OF the entire body polite, II
we cJuld not hope that churches and
religious teaching would from the trst
be on the grUuni 10 nposa the i.v'l 'n-
fueneca that are e pervtje the be-
c,nNIns -. 'tLnr ed commu-'t'>-
"For these instrumentalities at the
outposts OF our population, so vitality
important In the view of Christian men
as well as patriotic citizens, We must
depend to a very greRt extent on home
missionary exertion. How can we ex-
cuse ourselves II we permit this exer-
tIon to languish for the lack OF proper
support7
';it we turn from the objects of home
missionary labor TO the situation OF
those actually totling In distant fields,
for God and humanity and1h puter. BET
ter citizenship, our sympathy with the
present work must be further quick
ened and our sense OF duty to them
and their cause actively stimulated.
"Our hearts have recently been pro-
foundly stirred by the dangers that
threaten the devoted men and women
who have gonefrom among us TO preach
and teach Christianity in foreign land.
Our sympathy with them and those
with whom they labor and suffer Is
made more painful because the arm
OF complete relief has not thus far been
able to reach them. Our missionary
impulse should be large enough and
strong enough for both.
while we Will not turn away from
them, nor allow encouragement to de-
stroy activity In their behalf. let us
not forget the missionaries In our own
land who need our aid and to whom we
owe duty, and who can be reached.
ut seems to me that II the Christian
people OF our land estimate. at Its real
value, the work which the board OF
home missions has In charge and II
they can be made 10 realize Its ex-
treme Importance, the means to carry
on and extend the work will be equally
forthcoming; and I hope that such an
Unusual interest may be aroused in
behalf OF the cause, by the movement
OF which this meeting is part, as will
suggest TO many heretofore Indifferent
that among the most comforting of
their possessions viii be share in the
triumphs and achievements OF home
missions"
Several other addresses were made
before adjournment.