The Indianapolis journal., 1896-03-04
Carnegie Music Hall, New York,
Crowded with Presbyteriaps to
Hear Eminent Speakers.
MIR. CLEVELAND PRESIDED
AND EULoGIZED THE FRONTIER
WORK OF THE MISSIONARY.
Addresses by Rev. Talmage. the C1er-
teal speII-Binder, and Prof. WASH
ington, the Negro Eloquent.

>
NEW YORK, March 3.-One of the most
important meetings held in recent years in
favor of the home mission movement or the
Presbyterian Church was that which took
place in Carnegie Music Hall Tonight The
Importance of the occasion was emphasized
by the appearance as presiding officer of the
meeting. of President Cleveland. Every
available spot in the hall was crowded. and
an overflow meeting was held in the lower
hall. The platform was crowded with promi-
nent ministers and laymen OF the Presby-
terian Church.
When President Cleveland appeared, at
O'Clock accompanied by Rev. DIR. John Hall.
of the Fifth-avenue Presbyterian Church, he
was received with tumultuous applause. the
whole audience rising and waving handker-
chiefs. When the applause had subsided. DIR.
Hall introduced President Cleveland as chair
man of the meeting. whereupon the applause
was renewed again and again.
THE PRESIDENTS ADDRESS.
When the cheering had subsided. Mr.. Cleve-
land said:
II desire TO express my appreciation of
the privilege of participating in this con-
ference and OF the Opportunity thus afforded
me of testifying TO the value and usefulness
of the work Undertaken by the board of
home missions of the Presbyterian Church.
My interest in the subject and my famil-
iarity with home missionary effort are not
the surroundings of a Christian Presby-
terian home, and were stimulated by a
fathers faithful labors in the cause My
early Impressions are not. however, the only
basis OF the testimony 1 give tonight in
favor of home missions AS your fellow
citizen, interested. 1 hope, in all things that
deepen the religious sentiment OF our people
and enlarge Christian influence, 1 fully real
lie the transcendent Importance of this
agency in its operation on the hearts of
men for the salvation of their souls. The
long roster of those who have been led into
the way of righteousness through the in
trophies of successful endeavor. ''''' ''-''
But IL Is not only as your fellow-citizen,
but as the chief executive officer of your
am entirely certain that / serve well our en-
tire people, whose servant / am. when
here testify to the benefit our country has
received through home missionary effort, and
when join you in an attempt to extend and
strengthen that effort. No one charged with
the duties and responsibilities which neces-
fail TO appreciate the Importance of religious
teaching and Christian endeavor In newly
there where hot and stubborn warfare be-
tween the forces of good and evil is con-
stantly invited. In these days the vanguard
OF occupation In new settlement is never
without its vicious and criminal element.
Gambling houses and dramshops are fire.
queDtly among the best establishments in
fessed that removal from old homes and
associations to new and more primitive
home has tendency among honest and re-
spectacle settlers to smother scruples and
TO breed federation Of evil and indifference
to christianizing and elevating agencies.
THESE conditions IL unchecked and uncor-
rected. fix upon the new community by their
growth and expansion character and dis
position which. while dangerous to peace and
velop into badly regulated municipalities. cor
States. ' anu 'e''' A''s
These are serious CONSIDERATIONS in a
country where the people, good or bad. are
its rulers, because the conditions to which
have referred would certainly menace within
circle constantly enlarging. the safety and
welfare of the entire body polite If We could
not hope hat churches and religious teach
to oppose the evil Influences that are apt to
pervade the beginning of organized COM
munities. 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 newcomers who are TO be the CIT
together. For these instrumentaities at the
outposts of cur. population. SO vitally impor-
tant in the view of Christian men as well as
patriotic citizens, we must depend to a very
great extent on home missionary exertion.
How can we excuse ourselves If permit
this exertion 20 languish for the lack of
''If we turn from the objects of home
missionary labor to the suituation of those
humanity and a purer. better citizenship, our
sympathy with their work must be further
quickened and our sense of duty 10 them and
their cause actively stimulated. These are
the men and women who have left home and
the association OF friends under the direction
OF organized mission boards to teach Chris
tianity in sparsely settled sections and to
organize churches where none exist. endur-
Ing discomfort hardship. poverty and danger
for the sake OF cause to which in a very
to be attached. These are our soldiers at the
front. fighting our battles and we who stay
et home cannot escape the duty of providing
Tor them and reinforcing them in every way
III We are to continue them in our service.
our hearts have recently been profoundly
stirred by the dangers that threaten the de-
voted men who have gone from among us
10 teach and preach Christianity in foreign
land our sympathy with them and those
more painful because the arm of complete
relief has not thus far been able to reach
them. Our missionary impulse should be
While we win not turn away from them nor
allow discouragement to destroy activity in
aries in cur own land who need our aid. to
reached.
''It seems to me that IL the Christian peo-
rle OF our land estimate at its real value the
work which the board of home missions has
In charge. and IL they can be made to realize
It's extreme Importance, the means to carry
on and extend this work will be equally
forthcomng.. and / hope that such ar, un-
usual Interest may be aroused in behalf OF
the cause by the movement of which this
rSeeting is a part as Will suggest to many
heretofore Indifferent that among the more
comforting of their possessions will be a
share IN the triumphant Improvement of
home missions"
After President Cleveland's address a
prayer was offered by Rev. W. c. Roberts.
secretary of the board of home missions.
Rev. DIR. Sheldon Jackson. superintendent
of missions for Alaska. then spoke of the
mission work he had done on the banks of
the Mississippi and of his work in Alaska
Referring particularly to the object of the