The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1896-03-04
CLEVELAND ON HAND
He PreSideS at the Meeting of the
Home Board of Missions.
NEEDS OF THE FRONTIER
The President Says These New
States ard Western Towns Are
In Need of Christian InfIu-
ence and the Like.

New York, March 3.-One of the most
important meetings held in recent
years I'm favor of the home mission
| movement of the Presbyterian church
took place in Carnegie Music hall to-
night. The Importance of the occasion
was emphasized by the appearance, as
presiding officer of the meeting of Pres
ident Cleveland. Every available seat
in the hall was crowded, and an over
flow meeting was held in the lower hall.
When President Cleveland appeared, at
O'Clock, accompanied by Rev. DIR.
John Hall of the Fifth Avenue Presby-
terrain church, he was received with tu-
multuous applause, the whole audience
rising and waving handkerchiefs. When
the applause subsidized DIR. Hall intro
duced President Cleveland as chairman
of the meeting, whereupon the applause
was renewed again and again.
When the cheering had subsidized Cleve-
land said: II desire to express my ap-
probation of the privilege of partici-
pating in this conference and opportu-
nifty thus afforded me of testifying to
the values and usefulness of the work
undertaken by the board of home mis-
sions of the Presbyterian church. My
interest in this subject and my famil-
iarity with the home missionary efforts
are not newly acquired. They early
came to me in the surroundings of
Christian Presbyterian home, and were
stimulated by my fathers faithful la
bors in the cause. My early impressions
are not, however. the only basis of the
testimony / give tonight in favor of
home missions. AS your fellow citizen,
l hope in all things that deepen the re-
ligious sentiment of our people and en-
large Christian influence, fully realize
the transcendent Importance of this
agency in its operation upon the hearts
of men for the salvation of men. But
1t is as the chief executive of your gov
eminent that / desire to speak, for am
entirely certain that 1 serve well our
entire people, whose servant / am,
when / here testify to the benefits our
country has received through home
missionary effort, and when / join you
in an attempt to extend and strengthen
that effort.
mo one charged with the duties and
responsibilities which necessarily weigh
upon your chief executive can fail to
appreciate the Importance of religious
teachings and Christian endeavor in
the newly settled portions of our vast
domain. 1t is there hot and stubborn
warfare between the forces of good and
evil is constantly invited. In these days
the vanguard of occupation in a new
settlement is never without its vicious
and criminal element. Gambling
houses and dram shops are frequently
among lne IrSt eStaD1SnmentS In q
new community. 1t must also be con-
fessed that removal from old homes
and associations to new and more prim-
tive homes has a tendency among
honest and respectable settlers to
smother scruples and breed evil indif-
ference to Christianizing and elevating
agencies. These conditions. if uncheck-
ed and uncorrected, fix upon the new
community by their growth and expan-
sion a character and disposition which,
while dangerous to peace and order in
the early stages of settlement. develop
into badly regulated municipalities,
and unsafe territories, and un-
desirable states. These churches and
this religious teaching were never more
needed than now, on our distant 'front.'
iers, where the process of forming new
states is going on so rapidly. and where
who are to be the citizens
of new states are so rapidly gathering
together"
Rev. T.. Dewitt Talmage and other |
prominent speakers followed