3
exist; enduring discomfort, hardships, poverty and danger for the
sake of a cause to which, in a very comfortable and inexpensive
way, we profess to be attached.  These are our soldiers at the front,
fighting our battles: and we who stay at home cannot escape the
duty of providing for them and reinforcing them in every way  if
we are to continue them in our service.
    Our hearts have recently been profoundly stirred by the dan-
gers that threaten the devoted men and women  who have gone
from among us to preach and teach Christianity in a foreign land.
Our sympathy with them and those with whom they labor and suf-
fer 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 discourage-
ment to destroy activity in their behalf, let us not forget the mis-
sionaries in our own land who need our aid, to whom we owe a
duty. and who can be reached.
    It seems to me that if the Christian people of our land esti-
mate at its real value the work which the Board of Home Missions
has in charge, and if they can be made to realize its extreme im-
portance, the means to carry on and extend this work will be
easily forthcoming; and I hope that such an unusual interest may
be aroused in behalf of the cause by the movement of which this
meeting is a part, as will suggest to many heretofore indifferent,
that among the most comforting of their possessions will be a
share in the triumphs and achievements of Home Missions.




			

OHS Archives/Library Pamphlet Collection

Address of Grover Cleveland and Booker T. Washington