Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1893-07-06
MIGHTY HOST GATHERS.
international Convention Of tie EpW0Fth
League Opens in Cleveland.

international Convention OF TIE cpW0FJh
League Opens in Cleveland.
CLEVELAND, O., June 29-To-day
marks an important era in the religious
movements of the present age. 1t is
the beginning of the first International
Epworth League Conference to be held
here to-day and the following three days.
By tonight it is expected that 5000
delegates will be present. Before the
conference is over it is thought that the
number will be doubled. Delegates are
arriving thick and fast. All day to-day
constant stream poured into the city
At O'clock Music Hall presented
lively appearance. Last evening the
state Prohibition convention concluded
it's deliberations and the Epworth COM
mittee on decorations lost no time in
taking down the temperance banners
and other decorations peculiar to the
cold-water people, and banners more
appropriate. for the ;Epworth League
were substituted. The beautiful hall
was fairly covered with bunting and
graceful banners, bearing words IA
miliar to all delegates, were prominent
bout the stage and along the galleries
At 2 O'Clock Wilson M. Day, of thi
city, called the conference to order an,.
in a few words of hearty greeting well
coined the visitors to the city in which
the Epworth League was founded.
! Mayor Robert Blee was next intro
duced, and in an appropriate address
extended cordial welcome in behalf of
the city. Gov William Mckinley was
received with prolonged cheers4as he
advanced, and in his peculiarly happy
| 81 ha Io1a roc in, he.
half of the state of Ohio. He said:
Mr. PRESIDENT AND MEMBERS OF THE Ep-
WORTH LEAGUE: l am glad and honored to well
come you to ne state of Ohio. A visit to
is nerestnK exeites the
memories and associa tons. Such visit is sug-
gestise of retrospection and introspection, and
| if intervening years have been successful to
congratulation and felicitation.
| You could have had no better state in which
to be born than Ohio-no better place in Ohio
fact that the Epworth League started here, and
rejoice in its marvellous success and affectionate
! ly welcome the daughter to her home and to our
! hearts We share in the pride which the
Christian world feels for the great achievements
| already recorded, and of the certain promise of
still greater ones yet to be recorded,
The purpose of your organization is worthy
of the highest commentator. However we
may differ in our religious beliefs, your aims
command the approva! Of those who respect
| good conscience and the value OF good char
acter The league seeks to build up the moral
nature and to promote the intellectual culture
of the youth Of the ne land 1ad;+n 1t looks 9hs
Young people, and neglects neither. 1t is
calculated to secure well-rounded manhood
and WomanhOOd. 1t provides moral and mental
equipment. 1t engages the mind with useful
and elevating thoughts. 1t unites righteousness
and reason, piety and patriotism, and gives
strength and purity to the church and to the in
situations of the country. 1t enlsts the youth
and strengthens the. spirit and courage of one
| of the greatest religious denomination of the
{1,fAp,o iyofn Unl1 Jp1i nod
army to battle for the noblest cause i'll which
mankind ever engaged-the cause of the Master
and of man. It keeps; young manhood pure,
life This arouses the nobler instincts OF our
nature and it promotes by its uplifting hand the
best developments and contributes to the hlg hest
| destiny of the age. 1t never blasts but bright
ems character. 1t is not only national but an
International agency for good. The whole
world is it's field. 1t has effaced all sectional
lines within our own country and embraces all
nations and tongues where Christian altar Is
erected and the songs of John Wesley are sung.
It has ignored all lines of the Methodist Church
! South and the Methodist Church North; and the
Young people of the Epworth League of both
sections have joined in unbroken union forever.
1t is broad enough to include MethOdlstS under
every name and under every CLINE; and here TO-,
day you, have the chosen representatives OF all
| Methodist ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS only from the
United States, but from Eng from Canada,
Japan China India and Italy, and all are well
come to the Buckeye State.
What motto you have adopted, It is itself
| an nspiration-"Look up; lift up 1t encour-
ages the best aspirations, and is worthy to be
emblazoned on your banners; and if embedded
| in your hearts and minds 1T will lead you to
greater conquests for church and citizenship
! and country.
| What a glorious sentiment the one you have
subscribed to. the one you have adopted l. from
| Simpson, ave live to make own church a
power in the land while we live to
Christv' That broad Christian liberallty lies
at the basis of your league work. Keep
it there. Believing in our own devoted
" attached to our own, we yet love every other
| church and religious organization which lifts
! up and broadens out Misunderstanding to all
the fullest religious liberty the fullest freedom
| claim for ourselves-the right to worship God
| according to the dictates of their own con-
! science.
| since your organization in this city on the 10th
! of May, 1889! The widest dreamer would not
have prophecied it. You have II 900 chapters OF
| the Senior League with membership Of 7CO 600,
and 1,40O Junior Leagues for the little children
| who in their tender years dedicate themselves
! to right living and pure life.
Every organization OF this kind is a mighty
force for good. 1t is an education; 1t is teach
er and school and sanctuary 1t is preparation
for life's conflicts which await us all. young Or
! old 1t reaches individual life and strengthens
| it for good. 1t creates the habit Of doing right,
and like any other habit, it grows stronger with
! living. and that those that live right get the
most out of life. 1t demonstrates that Christian
| character is helpful. not hurtful, In every ave-
! nue. emergency of life.
| The demand of the time and the need of the
! hour is the young man securely grounded in
honesty and Integrity, the man Of pure charac'
| ter. 1t is the highest thing we can have, the
| best thing any of us can have. The safest com.
panon the strongest friend. 1t lasts longer and
| wears better than anything else
| Religion and morality are no longer scoffed at,
no longer the badge of weakllngs and enthusI.
asts, but of distinction, enforcing respect, even
| from those who do not believe in the Christian
They priceless COS
| sinrS ."hf"h vOnng man can have. They
constitute coin which always passes current,
| which neither depreciates nor corrodes, which
demand The young man who possesses these
| qualities does not have to wait long for employ
ment and when once employed, with industry
and ability promotion awaits him.
The mighty growth of this league will require
the clcarest heads and purest hearts. II it would
meet the expectation it has created in the pub
lie mlnd and keep the splendid pace it has al