The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-03-04
HOME MISSIONS.
Find o Most Earnest Defender IN
President Cleveland.
OPENING OF NEW COMMUNITIES
Presents a Wide Field For
Missionary Work.

Important meetings nelu In recent years
in favor OF the home mission movement of
the Presbyterian church was that which
took place in Carnegie Music hall last
night. The Importance of the occasion
was emphasized by the appearance, rs
presiding officer OF the meeting Of Presi-
dent Cleveland. Every available spot in
the hall was crowded, and an overflow
meeting was held in the lower hall. The
platform was filed with prominent minis
ters and laymcn of the Presbyterian
church.
When President Cleveland appeared, ac-
companied by Rev. DIR. John Hail. he WAS
received with tumultuous applause, the
whole audience rising and waving hand
kerchefs When the applause had sub
sided DR.. Hall introduced President
Cleveland as chairman of the meeting,
upon which the applause was renewed
again. When the cheering had subsided
Mr.. Cleveland said:
Il desire TO express my appreciation of
the privilege OF participating in this con-
ference and for the opportunity thus af-
forded me OF testifying TO the value and
usefulness OF the work undertaken by the
Board OF Home Missions or the Presby-
terian church.
"My interest in this subject and my IA
miliarity with home missionary effort are
not newly acquired. They early came to
me in the surroundings of u Christian
Presbyterian home and were stimulated
by fathers faithful labors in the cause.
my carly impressions are not, however,
the only basis OF he testimony l give to-
night in favor OF home missions. AS your
fellow citizen interested / hope, in all
things that deepen the religious sentiment
OF our people and enlarge Christian in
fluence, l fully realize the transcendent
importance OF this agency in its operation
upon the hearts Of men for the salvation
of their souls. The long roster of those
who have been led into tho way of right
eousness through the instrumentality Of
our home missions are rich trophies of
successful endeavor.
"But 1t is not only rs your fellow citi-
zen, but rs the chief executive of your
government, that desire To speak, for I
certainly serve well our entire people,
whose servant am. when hereby 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.
blessings OF Religious Training.
''No ono charged with the duties and
responsibilities which necessarily weigh
upon your chief executive can fail to APP
preciate the Importance of religious teach
Ing and Christian endcavor in the newly
settled portions OF our vast domain. 1t Is
there where hot and stubborn warfare be.
tween the forces of good and evil is con-
stantly invited. In these days the van.
guard OF occupation In u new settlement
Is never without its vicious and criminal
element. Gambling houses and dram
shops are frequently among the first es.
Establishments in n new community.
1T must also be confessed that removal
from old homes and associations TO q new
and more primitive home has a tendency
among honest and respectable settlers to
smother scruples, and 10 breed liberation
OF evil and Indifference TO Christianizing
and elevating agencies. These cocTitions,
IL unchecked and uncorrectcd, fix upou
the new community by their growth al
expansion character and disposltit
which, while dangerous TO peace and or
der in the early stages of settlement de.
velop into badly regulated municlpaN-
ties, corrupt and unsafe territories and
undesirable states.
"Thcse are serious considerations In
country whore the people, good or bad, a.
Its rulers because the conditions TO which
l have referred would certainly menace.
within q circle constantly enlarginp. the
safety and welfare OF the entire BODY
polite Ii we could not hope that churches
and religious teaching would from the
first be on the ground to oppose the evil
influences that are apt TO pervado the be-
ginning OF organized communities.
"Thcse churches and this religious teach.
Ing were never moro needed than now on
our distant frontiers. where the process of
forming new states is going on SO rapidly,
and where new conlors who are to be the
citizens OF new states are SO rapidly gather.
ing together.
For these instrumcntalitcs Mt the ont
posts OF our population, so vjtally import.
ant in tho view OF Christian men, rs we'll
rs patriotic citizens, we must depend. TO ~
very great extent on home missionary ex
ertion. How can we excuse ourselves II
we permit this cxertion To languish for
the lack of proper supportp
Our Duty to Workers In FOREIGN Iand..
"If we turn from the objects OF homo
labors to the situation of thos,
toiling In distant fields for God and hu.
aud purer, better citizenship.
our sympathy with their work must be
further qulckcncd and our sense OF duty
to them and their cause actively stimu-
lated.
These are tho men and women who
have left home and the association Of
friends, under the direction OF organized
mission boards, 20 teach Christianity In
sparScly settled sections and 10 organize
churches whore none exist, and enduring
discomfort, hardship, poverty and danger |
for the sake OF n cause 20 which, In n very |
md inexpensive way, we pro- |
foss TO be attached. Those are our soldiers |
nj the front, fighting our battles, and we |
who stay mt home cannot escape the duty |
Of providing for them and rc-onforcinQ |
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 20 preach and |
teach Christianity In foreign land. Our |
.vtnpathy with tbCtn mud tbose with ,rbn,,,