The Portland daily press., 1893-08-31
Societies. Active. Associate.

The report of the treasurer, I'll. A. Nc
Neatly of Saco, was then read. Received
from all sources, $277 49,; paid out, $204.
rs; cash on hand, $72 "a
Miss Cora E. Bickford of Riddeford,
was then introduced as one of the most
enthusiastic of the Maine delegates to the
Montreal convention. Her topic was
Echoes from the Montreal Convention"
She said that there were two great under
lying forces that made the success of
that convention-organizati and spirit
Only the former could care for 16, 900
delegates as we were cared for. only the
latter could have kept the sweet
harmony OF that wonderful con-
vention. Upon the approach to Montreal
the cars were boarded by scouts" SO
called; delegate to answer all questions
that the visitors might care to put them.
Miss Bickford delighted her hearers
with an eloquent and patriotic de-
and the grandeur of that great assemb-
lage of the thousands OF young soldiers
of SO many different nationalities and
from SO widely separated and mighty
states, yet all inspired by one common
purpose, and all filled with the glorious
harmony of the nobiest object of human
ity. One notable feature of the conven-
presence of young Christians with
Smiling faces and music upon their lips,
in a city where to the majority of the
people to be religious means to be pensive
and nun-like. Montreal never heard the
like before when these young Christian
Endeavorers walked through, the streets
singing their songs of joy. This has been
criticised, but the songs were above
criticism One of the many enjoyments
of the convention was picnic ON top of
Mt. Royal, at which the mayor of the city
made speech, in which he said that 1T
was, in his opinion, the first cold water
picnic ever held on the top of that noun
tain, and it was thus held in honor of the
State of Maine.
After another delightful solo by Rev.
Frank M. Lamb, Mr.. Foss introduced
Rev. J.. S. Bean of Gorham, as one with
out superior in this state, to speak up
on the most important theme of The
Past, Present and Future OF Christian
Endeavorers."
Mr.. Bean said that he had rather be
present than in heaven itself wherever it
may be.
| am embarrassed at the outset by the
| richness of my theme. trust | may be
able, at least. to say some things that
will do me good. To speak upon this
prophet 1t is well for us to remem Der
Something of the general movement Of
thought that preceded the birth of this
association | am not here to recount the
achievements of this nineteenth century,
but we must remember simply that
thought had been accelerated thereby.
They are so wonderful. SO marvel
lous, that had they. existed alone we
might have stood agkast at the tnougn6
that materialism was running away with
US And, though Christianity gave birth
to this great thought of the time, it has
been said that the church had fallen be-
hind and lost it's place alongside, the
materialistic giant of the past century,
,;sin~ within the church more than out
side Che church We had come to where
there must be an eruption of spiritual
power, a quickened life appeared in the
Young people of the church. There was
read i1stment and reconstruction in the
church. 1t was believed that the church