St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1889-05-10
EVENING SERMON.

| Celebration of the Anniversary of
| the Nj. f. Book Concern.
The evening session of the conven-
ton was devoted to the celebration of
the university of the Methodist book
concern. At 7:3O o'clock the meeting
was opened by praise andEprayer serv-
ice, lead by G. w. Miller, of Center
ary church. This service was an en-
thusiastic one, purely spiritual, and de-
voted to prayer and song, and to great
extent took the place of the
prayer meeting usually held in
the church on Thursday evening.
About ten minutes was consumed
in an experience meeting, and to show
|. something of the good management
which DR.. Miller has over such, there
were some twenty spoke, besides having
verses sung from some eight or ten
hymns. At 8 O'Clock the second
part of the services began, with j. T.
Wyman presiding; seated by his side
was DIR. W. P. Stowe. of Chicago. and
they looked out over as large agathering
as has come together during the cOnven-
ton.
DR.. Stowe was the first speaker on the
topic, but before : he spoke, how,
tFtI, tHo duuieHCO was 0hGOi IoihOu
by solo from L. A. Darling.
In speaking of the education of the
people, he said they were being edu-
Gated on current events; it was spread
out before them every morning, and re-
hashed and served again every evening,
but in the knowledge that concerned
the spiritual life they we're sorrOwfully
lacking. This, he said, was the mission
of the churches, and of the Methodist
church in particular. Thus he came to
the topic of the evening, and gave
history and synopsis of religious litera-
ture. The book concern commenced
100 years ago on a borrowed capital of
s6OO and had grown to an organiza-
ton second only to the church
itself. 1t is now worth $1,000, 600 as
net capital besides enormous dividends.
He closed his address with COMPARE
son of the good that good books are do,
ing and the evil that the bad do and
may do. Speaking of the public library,
he said that it had been found that two
thirds of the Boston library was fiction,
and that three-fOurthS of this was
visionary, if not harmful, and that this
library was good illustration of all.
Even the Sunday school libraries were
not wholly pure.
After music, Rev. Earl Cranston, of
Cincinnati, spoke humOrously on the
same subject. Starting, he said he
might speak good while, as the COM
pany probably wouldn't come together
again at the next centennial of the
book concern. His speech took the
funny side of the expense of the pres
ent and of 100 years ago, and deduced
from it that the value of human life
was greater now than then. He told
numerous stories, making long adj
dress telling Of the book concern. DR..
Spencer was called on to sing song in
CLOSING. To-morrow's programme is as
follows:
Mornings: 3O-Consecration services, led
Young Peoples Methodist Society for Meth
o Chicago, Supt 7. +. II. A. Followed BY dis,
cussion. 1O-"Should Higher Education be
Religiouss'' Rev. George H. Bridgman, Presi-
dent Hamline university. :3O.-"The
Christian Devotion and Loyalty of the Laity
the Bulwark of the Church, Hon. &C. Hick-
man: followed by discussion. 1880
1.-THE Problem Of the New South, Rev. Levi
Gilbert, ID. d.
Afternoon - 300 Thanksgiving: one
minute speeches by delegates as to the help
fitness of this convention, and suggestions
on Christian work: conducted by Rev. W.
A. Spencer, D. D. 3:OO-"The Salient Points
-.sWoman's Home Missionary Society, what
it is doing in and for the Northwest; Mrs.
r. K. Evans, president; Mrs. S. B. Warner.
secretary, and others. 4:30-Reports of
committees, resolutions, business, adjourn
ment