The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-07-23
GREAT ENDEAVOR CONVENTION.
Rev. George Guild Gives a Graphic
Description of the Great Cleve-
land Gathering.

The Endeavor rally at tho Presby-
teriau church last evening was a great
success, the spacious editice being
crowded The choir gave an excellent
rendition of Professor Davies quar-
tette, THE Radiant Morn," after
which Charles Chandler, one Of the
convention delegates, read paper on
the work in general followed by Miss
Cora NJ. Decker, who read a very in
teresting paper on the detailed arrange.
ments Of the convention.
After solo, Rev. George E Guild,
as one of the delegates, gave an excel
lent address, and began by describing
the conservation services, which he said
were magnificent. He asked thsm to
picture the large hall where they were
neld. with large platform raised hold
ing the president. his assistants, 500
singers. thirty members of the orches-
ira aud two piauofortes completing
the musical arrangements. There were
over II 900 on the floor Of the hall, all
of whom were Endeavorers, inasmuch
as they could not be admitted without
the necessary passes He then illus
trated how the opening song, Bring
ing in the Sheaves" was sung by the
multitude and asked his audience to
render the same song upon similar
lines. This was done by the right SEC
tion taking one part of the refrain,
which was then taken by the left Sec
ton, the choir rendering the principal
part of the chorus
The reverend gentlemen then pro-
ceeded with his discourse. One news
paper of Cleveland had called the con-
vention Sublime" one aud that ii
rolled on like mighty wave" and this
he endorsed heartily. At the preplra-
tory services fifteen churches were
overcrowded The convention was IA
great one, owing to the attendance, 49,
700 delegates we're registered outside
tue state of Ohio and 2l 600 were regis
tered and received their badges within
the state of Ohio, so that there were
about 10000 authorized delegates as
sembled within one city. The attend
ance was wonderful as the times were
hard" and people would not travel for
pleasure and not unless compelled to.
1t was held soon after the great ex
position, where people were satisfied
for many years, and the fact that the
strike was in full force tended to mill
tate against the attendance also. The
western delegates were guarded by
forty deputies.
The convention was great in the sec
ond place owing to the object for
which it was convened. 1t was not for
political purposes. for any great
problem of education, etc, but for
Christ and His church." and 1t WAS
remarkable that the 40 900 comprised
the richest culture of America gath.
cred together in single city.
The convention was great In enthu-
siasm. Representatives enthusiastic In
the cause came from all parts of the
United States Canada, the islands of
the sea, Japan, China and the mission
fslds of the world. In fact, said the
speaker, it represented all the Chris
tian nations in the world. They were
enthusiastic also for the reason that
ninety-nine out of every hundred at
tended the almost continual sessions
| despite the temptations to lounge after
their travels or to walk to see the
sights of the great city, and especially
when many of the delegates had to
travel four or FIVE miles to their board
ing houses.
The convention also was great in
character and the theme of addresses.
Think of these subjects: "Glorifying
of God" "What Has Your Society
Done for Educating Good Citizensf'
Common Sense in Church Life and
Work." Strategic Work in Missions" I"
women in Temperance, aud "TEe
Movement Among the Jews" The
convention also was the best yet held
aud was superior even to that held in
Montreal or New York. One feature
that made an impression upon him was
that there were more men than women.
Men of 80 years are generally so en-.
crossed in business that they think If
they went into any religious work the
business would 90 to smash They
ought to remember that the first thing
in life was 10 serve God and he was
glad to observethe very numerous class
Of men Of that age who were present.
The conference was great in what it
represented. The 10000 had all taken
the solemn pledge Of the league, but
more than this they represented two
millions who also had made that pledge
and this must be- means of great in
fuence wherever it was exercised. The
speaker also referred to the good i'm
pressions made by the convention.
Special hymns in connection with the
Endeavor league wers afterward sung.