Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-05-16

of the glorious gospel of the blessed Lord.
After my fathers death. Brother Hobbs
was for many years my pastor in the city
OF Bloomington, Illinois, and there is
revival of old memories in my heart to-
night as try to respond in fitting terms
TO his warm and hearty words OF wei
come.
We thank you, sir, and the good people
for whom you speak, for your good cheer.
70 be made to feel that these kind words
are not merely cold formality, empty
sound, but that they express the honest
heart of the people of this splendld city, Is
real help to us in the work we are here
to do. For what is better than TO be made
to know that you are not crowdlng some
one. 1t is luxury indeed to feel perfectly
at home, and your words of welcome
make us feel so tonight. We come here to
discuss the best methods Of Sunday school
work, a work which has for its main OBJ
ject the uplifting of christian character,
and in such a work among our people,
we can do no harm. We sincerely trust
that our brief stay will not be unpleasant
or entirely Improbable to you. The i'm
pressions left cannot be otherwise
than beneficial to your pehple. We
have heard much of your beautiful
city 1t is the marvel of the east and the
pride of the west, and it will be treat to
Us to see this wonderful exhibition OF
pluck and energy. We shall see with
pleasure your wondrous growth, your
splendid dwelling and business houses,
but with greater pleasure we Will behold
your churches, schools and colleges, the
evidences of your culture and religion.
| The presence of so many institutions OF
learning, and so many beautiful churches,
and the entire absence of the dram shop,
testifies to every stranger who comes
within your gates that you are an intel
lectual and moral people. For the schools
and churches of this land promote intel
lectual and moral growth, while the dram
shop retards the former, and breaks down
the latter. 1t is a matter OF congratula-
ton to all of us tonight that we can hold
this convention in a city of more than
80 900 people without the curse OF an open
dram shop within its limits
and whose joints and dives are
being swept out as rapidly as a revolution
from bad to good policy was ever made
successful and complete. Our work will
be better done on account of these pleas
ant surroundings, and every hour OF our
stay will be up to the full measure of en-
. joyment incident to occasions like this.
But we of the Christian church have a
special interest in your city. Garfield col
lege is here, and here the Christian people
will of this state will send their children
to be educated We want to send the glad
news everywhere that this institution of
learning which bears the name of one dear
to every American heart, this institution
of learning which is the special pride and
love of the deciples of Christ throughout
the state of Kansas, and upon which they
will lavish their wealth. is established in a
city whose people will guard their children
aSaintt the evil influences which come to
them IN the school of the street.
The impression which we get of your
city during our stay here, we will carry
home with us to tell those who feel this
deep interest | have mentioned. | hope
there will not be single bad impression
made upon any one of us while we are
here
But am admonished that this response
is already too long. We are assembled for
work. The business of this convention
should be we'll considered, and our time is
short. May the choicest blessings of our
Heavenly Father rest upon the homes of
the good people who bid us welcome here,
that much good shall be done for His
cause at this convention, and these good
people made glad that we came and sorry
when we go.
Elder J. II. Garrison, editor of the
Christian Evangelist ST. Louis, will preach
tonight instead of Thursday night as an
nounLed in the program.
The Sunday school board meets this
morning in the pariors of the Occidental
hotel
The convention will visit Garfield uni
versity Thursday starting at o'clock a.
m. from corner of Douglas avenue and
Main street, and return after an address
by w B. Hendrix to the session of the
convention at 10 a. N.
Information of interest to the delegates
will always he announced by the chair at
the proper time.