Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-12-27
THE MEDLEY OF IDEAS
Represented in a Mid-Winter Council
of Queer Religionists
WHO DESIRE TO SAVE SINNERS.
Date of the Second Coming of Christ the
Chief Subject
THAT is TO BE SETTLED UPON
ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DIsPArcH.i

ESPECIAL TELEGRAM TO THE DiSPATCH.i
FINDLAY. O., Dec. ga queer relig-
ious convention began a five days session
in the town hall at Blufton, village 16
miles west of this city, at o'clock this
evening. The gathering is composed of
faith cure believers, Sanctifcationists,
Second Adventists and the advocates OF
several other peculiar doctrines, and meets
as the third mid-winter convention of the
Ohio Christian Alliance. 1t is claimed bv
the delegates that the Alliance is in no
sense an ecclesiastical body or in any way
antagonistic to the churches, but is fra
ternal union OF believers on Jesus Christ as
Savior. sanctifier, healer and coming
Lord.
To this end the meeting is to promote the
wide diffusion OF the tenets of faith en-
bodied in salvation through Christ for all
who believe; complete salvation through
Christ for all who fully yield themselves to
him; Divine healing through the name Of
Jesus for those who believe and obey him;
Christ's personal and pre-fnillennial COM
ing are to afford bond of union and fellow
ship for all who hold this common faith and
life. The meeting of the convention tonight
was largely preliminary and the actual
work of the organization will not begin
until tomorrow. The proc eedings will be
carried on alternately in English and Ger
man, and it is not expected that the conven-
tion will adjourn until New Years morning,
as arrangements have already been made for
a watch-night.
Avery Notable Gathering.
Over 300 delegates were present at the
opening meeting tonight, and more inter-
esting crowd from q worldly point of view
could not be imagined. Faith Cure people
were consulting with Sanctifcationists,
Second Adventists with Christian Scientists,
and disbelievers in any of the doctrines
were crowding the mourners in an effort to
get front seat, while over the whole assem-
bly, an air OF aueerness prevailed, which
made the gathering seem anything but re-
lIgious convention.
The personal appearance of the men and
women attending the meeting as delegates
would Immediately impress a stranger with
the fact that the convention was remarkable
in more ways than one. The women largely
predominant IN the convention and have much
to say IN the exercises. Advocates OF the
doctrines to be discussed during this gather
ing of specialist" are present from all
over the country, among the most prominent
VI.
Funk, of New York, President of the Ger
man branch OF the Christian Alliance;
Charles Warren Ryder, of Providence, R.
l., leading Sanctifcationist; c. H. Nc
Donald, of Boston, a faith cure evangelist,
and many others of lesser note in the world,
but not in their own estimation, Judging
from the frequency with which they sought
the presiding officers eye during the OPEN
ing exercises OF the convention, and de-
manded that their views be embodied on the
organization.
Visible Appeals to Sinners.
Over and behind the table of the presi-
ding officer, who tonight was B. P. Lugibihl,
of Bluffton, o., were banners bearing the
following Inscriptions: Let the sinner
come and learn how rich feast the Lord
has provided for all those who put their
trust in Him." christians come and make
an everlasting covenant with God and enter
into q closer relation with our adorable
Lord" LET the sick come and learn of Him
who has born our griefs and carried our sor-
rows" "Himself took our infrmities and
bore our Sickness" (Matthew. viii; 16, ~;
''Let all Christians unite in asking the
Lord to make the place of His feet glorious,
that sinners may be converted, believers
sanctifed, the sick healed, the coming of
Jesus hastened."
Three sessions day of the convention will
be held, commencing tomorrow morning at
o'clock. The first meeting of the day will be
devoted to business and the afternoon and
night to addresses, lectures, discussions, and
interchanges OF opinions on such doctrines
and topics as are held in common by the
delegates. The second and personal coming
of Christ will engross the attention of the
convention more fully than any of the other
features, and it is expected that some sort of
a declaration regarding the probable time of
Christ's coming will be promulgated.
As the meeting has brought together
large body of radicals in their respective
beliefs. the discussions promise to be as re-
markable as the gathering.