The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-03-04
Mr.. CLEVELAND ON MISSIONS.
He Opens The Home Mission Campaign in
Kew York City.
STRONG TESTIMONY As TO UTILITY
az the Boards Work IN the SPa's'''
settled Frontier by Eie,ating 'oi"i""-
niticsan saving souls-obiigauons
Assumed by Those who stay ""'"''


was fired tonight at Carnegie MUSIC nan
10y the Board Of Homo Missions OF 'he
Presbyterian Church.
,-bc announcement that President CleVe-
land was 10 preside 40 the meeting was
Of itself sufficient TO draw am immense
anaionce TO tho hall The doors were
oocood IN 7.i5 o'clock. but long before
that time the crowd began 70 gather.
Five minutes after the doors were opened
ever, seat 300 the immense hal was filed.
rne audience was "a very enthusiastic
one and tho remarks Of the various
speakers were chccrcd so The echo inc
object of the rally was 20 stir up public
iatcr,st in the work of home missions
and to raise funds for completing the
PAYMENTS ON the new building Of the
society m Fifth avenue. The meeting
tonight IS the first Of series 20 Doe held
aI over the United States.
MIR. CLEVELAND APPEARS.
= was exactly five minutes after
O'Clock whom President Cleveland APP
pcarod ON the platform. Tie was dressed
in "a black frock coat and wore turned
down collar and black size.
Tho moment the President was seen the
immense audience rose up ana cheered
Wildly for few minutes.
There was another burst or applause
when the Rev. Dr John liall intro
ducod President cleveland as the pre-
siding officer az The meeting in brief
speech.
Dr. Han. in introducing the President,
said.
My Christian Friends. VIC have with
US here one who has been twice called ns
the voice OF his ellow-countrymeu 10
the highest official position I'm The United
states and one who has, / understand
some happy family associations with our
Board on Home Missions. have tho
pleasure. therefore. bog the direction OF
he BOARD of Home Missions. and ! count
10 an honorable duty. TO invite the Presl-
dent of the United States 10 preside over
olr present meeting
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH
President Cleveland then came forward.
lie was received very warmly, but the
cheering was by no means boisterous
1Iis remarks on tho foreign missionary's
.uNerings was loudly chcerct lie spoke
as follows.
81 desire % express my appreciation or
the privilege Of participating in this con-
ference and for the opportunity thus al
f0rIeI TO testify 10 the value ana useful
moss of the work undertaken 10y the
board of home missions of the Presbyte-
Tiau church
-Afr interest 600 this subject and my
familiarity with home missionary efforts
aGe NOT newly acquired. They early came
tD mo in the surroundings of a Christian
Presbyterian home and were stimulated
by a fathers faithful iahors I'M the cause.
My early impressions are not. however,
tho only basis of the testimony / give to-
nighf for home missions. As your fol-
low-oitizen. interested hope I'm an things.
that deepen the religious sentiment of our
people and nlargc Christian influence.
FULLY realize tho transccndent Importance
~ This agency in lbs operations upon the
heart, of men FOR the salvation of their
souls. The long roster of those who have
boon lci into the way Of righteousness
Through the instrumentality of our mis-
sIon- arc rich trophies of successful en-
dcator.
STRONG TESTIMONY.
But 30 is not only as your fellow-cit-
zen but as tho Chief Executive Of your
government that ] desire 10 speak for
ann entirely certain that i serve well
our entire people whose servant 7 am
when ] here testify 20 the benefit our
country BIAS received through home mis-
-iouarv effort. and when join YOU in an
attempt 10 extend ana strengthen that
effort.
$50 ono charged with The duties and
responsibilities which necessarily weigh
upon your Chief Executive can faD TO
appreciate the Importance of religious
teaching and Christian cndeavor in tine
newiy-scttlcd portions OF our vast do
main. 10 ls there where hot and stub
born warfare between the forces OF good
and evil U.s. constantly invited. In these
days the vanguard OF occupation in a
new settlement is never without IT'S vic
i0us and criminal element Gambling
houses and dram-houses are frequently
among the first establishments I'm new
community IL must also bee confessed
that removal from old homes and assO-
iaNons 10 new and more primitive
home has "a tendency among honest and
respectable settlers 10 smother scruples
anl fo breed liberation of evil and i'm
difference 10 ChriStianizing and clevatine
agencies. These conditions. If unchecked
and uncorrected hX upon the new COM
uunify ly their growth and expansion.
character and disposition which. while
DANGEROUS 80 peace and order in the
early stages OF settlement. develop into
hadly-fcgulatcd municipalities. corrupt
ano unsafe territories and undesirable
states. These are serious considerations
ln country whore the people good OF
lad. are its rulers. because the condl-
fons 20 which Z have referred would
certainly menace. within a circle constant
B, charging. She safety and welfare of the
entire body polite 10 We could not hope
thaf churches and religious teaching
would from the FIRST Dee on the ground
20 oppose the evil Influences that arc apt
to per'ade the beginning OF organized
communities
TIE FRONTIERS