The Meeker herald., 1896-03-14

!
MAJ element. Gambling houses and
= dram shops are frequently among the
INST establishments in new COM
munity. 1t must also be confessed that
removal from old homes and associa-
tiohs TO new and more primitive
home has a tendency among honest
and respectable settlers to smother
scrupies and breed evil Indifference
10 Christianizing and elevatinx
agencies These conditions, IL un-
checked and uncorrected, fix upon the
new community by their growth and
expansion IL character and disposition
while dangerous to -psaca- and arfiar
In the early stages OF settlement, de-
velop into badly regulated municipali-
ties corrupt and unsafe territories and
undesirable states. These are serious
considerations In Il country where the
people, good or bad, are Its rulers, be-
cause the conditions to which I have
referred would certainly menace, with
In n circle constantly enlarging, the
safety and welfare OF the entire body
polite, II we could not hope that
from the first be on the ground to
oppose the evil influences that are apt
to peryade the beginning of organized
communities.
'These churches and this religious
teaching were never more needed than
now on our distant frontiers, where
the process of forming new states is
going on so rapidly. and where new
comers who are to be the citizens of
new states are SO rapidly gathering to-
gether.
For these instrumentalities ut the
outposts of our population. 80 vitality
important in view of Christian men as
well as patriotic citizens, we must de-
pend to very great extent on home
missionary exertion. How can we ex-
cuse ourselves IL we permit this exer-
don to languish for the lack OF proper
support! II we turn from the objects
Of home missionary labor to the sItua.
tton Of those actually toiling in distant
fields for God and humanity and a
purer. better citizenship, our sympa.
thy with their work must be further
quickened and our sense of duty to
them and their cause actively stimu-
lated. They are the men and women
who have left home and the associa.
lion OF friends under the direction of
organized mission boards to teach
Christianity In sparsely settled sec.
tions and to organize churches where
none exist, enduring discomfort hard
ships. poverty and danger for the sake
OF a cause to which In very comfort
able and Inexpensive way we profess
to be attached. These are our sol.
diers at the front, fighting our battles,
and we who stay at home cannot es-
cape the duty of providing for them
and reinforcing them In every way IL
we are to continue them In our service
"Our hearts have recently been pro.
foundly stirred by the dangers that
threaten the devoted men and women
who have gone from among us to
preach and teach Christianity In for
eign land. Our sympathy with them
and those with whom they labor and
suner 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, to whom we
owe duty and which can be reached.
1T seems to me that IL the Christian