Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1893-04-25
A AEARTY WELCOME
will Be Extended 10 Christian People At the
WORLDS Fair.


wants of our Worlds fair visitors are
not to be overlooked, although it is hard
ly necessary To suggest that this is a mat
ter that does not properly come within
the province of the administrative de-
partment. The Worlds fair manage
ment has provided for the recreation and
amusement. the eating and drinking. of
the millions that it expects to entertain
as its guests, likewise for their sleeping,
their conveyance from the center of tho
city. and i'll hundred and one other
ways. large and small, for their general
convenience. They have in word made
ample provision-or what appears to be
such--for minds and bodies IL is left to
the Christian element of Chicago to care
for the souls.
The Worlds fair city will not prove
itself remiss in this important particu-
lar. and although there has been no con-
certcd movement. or rather union of
all the denominations, to the end that u
great religious feast may be spread in
Chicago this summer. yet the various
pastors and congregations are alive to
them and are already making plans so
that the great pilgrimage Of worshipers
shall not suffer for want of spiritual
meat.
was talking this morning with the
pastor of one of the largest churches on
the south side Of the city--a silver
tongued orator whose voice has been
hon rI aud ph,an fatpn hn nprau1 in,
nearly every state and territory of the
Union, man endowed with such pow
cr of moving his hearers as is vouch-
Safed to few pulpit workers nowadays.
He told me that lie expects to he in har-
ness this summer as he has never been
before in the 60 years of his life. lie
took his vacation in midwinter so that
for the rest Of the year he might be able
to devote himself. week III and week
ont, without interruption, to the cause
Of his Master.
From the first week in May until the
end of the visiting procession is vanish
ing from view his voice is likely to be
nightly raised in praise and prayer and
exhortation. His congregation would be
we were burlened in Chicago with class
distinctions. 1t certainly is wealthy
one, but its membership, whether com
municants or simply pew renters, will
cheerfully vacate their favorite location
and 20 to the rear Of the big audience
chamber, or up in the gallery if need be,
so that the strangers within their gates
ha uiu ba hog at tl,a
ices and made to feel that they are
thrice welcome. Every night the dea-
cons will meet in the parlors of the
church. and visiting believers from all
over the. world. whether they are affiliat-
ed with this particular denomination or
grasp and kindly greeting that comes
from the heart.
This is not an isolated instance, but
simply an indication of what is to be
done on a general scale to the end that
our visitors may feel that. although
they are away from their own churches
and their familiar religious surround
ings, they are yet in a Christian city, with
the warmth of Christian fraternity on
every hand. Fifteen pastors, represent
ing churches with membership of CON
siderably over 10, 900, have united togeth-
or for the purpose of securing conven-
lent location where services can be held
for those who share the views Of these
churches in religious matters. Suitable
headquarters in a central portion Of the
city, where visitors may be received and
welcomed on week days, are now being
sought. and the Auditorium, or maybe
one Of the immense armories, will be Sc
cured for mass religious services on Sun
day afternoons.
Sunday school scholars as well as their
| teachers are also to be well cared for.
| Funds have been subscribed, thanks to
the energy Of the local representatives Of
| the international Sunday School associa-
| tion and the generosity Of friends Of the
rising generation throughout the land,
for Worlds fair model Sunday school
building. Perhaps it might not be in
vi,lious in this connection to remark
that over one-half of the amount re-
qrircd was contributed by Cook county
and other sections Of Illinois alone.
| The structure will be q kind OF re-
| ligious headquarters, where Christian
workers may meet and exchange ideas
and experiences. while it will afford ac-
comnodation for Sunday school confer
ences and cvangelistic meetings. These
latter, according to the plans as ont
lined, will be under the direction OF
Dwight l.. Moody, the noted evangelist.
MONDAY revival services will be fea-
ture Of the programme, and AS the build
ing will be in close proximity to the fair
grounds the peans Of praise Of the wor-
,hipers will mingle every midday with
The strains from the monster organ in
Festival hall.
For many year to come hundreds OF
thousands Of people, scattered maybe
over the face Of the globe, may treasure
one Of the most precious Of the many
souvenirs that will he carried away from
Jackson park This will be copy oi
the New Testament. IL will be obtain
able at the exhibit Of the American Bible
society in the building devoted to manu-.
factures and liberal arts. or rather in
Department l. Of that vast structure, to
be found ia the gallery that runs its en-.
lire length. i first irstallmeni--no less
than 1900 copies--will be stacked NJ
IN the booth Of the society when the fair
gates open on the Ist of May. This sou.
venir If souvenirs can be had for the ask
ing, without money and without price.