The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-11-08
THE CONVENTION OPENED
DELEGATES FROM ALL PARTS OF
UNITED STATES AND CANADA.

list Church Finely Decorated for the Con-
vention-Addresses by Mayor Hendrick
Rev. Mr.. Phillips, Rev. Mr. James, DIR.
Grigg, Rev. John Q. Collins and Others
An Enthusiastic Meeting Of Christian
Workers-The Program for To-day's
Exercises.
Yesterday marked the opening Of the
ninth annual convention of the Christ
ian Workers Of the United States and
Canada. The sessions are held at the
Calvary Baptist church in this CITY.
The delegates began arriving on We'd
nesday might, and when the convention
was called to order at 9:30 a. m. by Rev,
R. A. Toney Of Chicago, about $50 were
present. Delegates continued to arrive
during the day. and many did not ar
rive until last evening.
The church was appropriately trims
med for the occasion IN banners, ever-
green's and bright trimmings Around
the gallery front was stretched a white
streamer bordered with red and in-
scribed with mottos, while at intervals
between the inscriptions were lunches
Of evergreens. The chandeliers under
the gallery were trimmed with small
flags. Around the pulpit and chanceI
the decorations were particularly note
worthy. At each side of the chancel
was festooned an evergreen loop Just
back of the pulpit and elevated was a
Tyre done in bright colored paper flow@
ers and over the baptismal font was Al
large star i'm the same material with al
white dove in the center and the in
scription ''Redeeming the time surely
come quickly" around the perimetre.
The predomfnating colors in the deco-
ration were red and white with paen-
tiful sprinkling of evergreen.
The decorations were designed and
arranged by Augur, and were, it is need
less to say, most tastefully done.
The convention opened with the sing-
ing of a hymn, and after prayer a solo.
Cleanse Thou Me-" was sung BY Rev
f. M. Lamb of Kennebunkport, Me. Al
1015 the devotional exercises were con-
cluded, and the opening address begans
the first being by Gov. O. Vincent Coffin.
welcoming the delegates in behalf o1
the state of Connecticut. Governor COT
fin spoke a vein entirely in sympathy
with the work and aims Of the conven-
tion, and said that Connecticut was. in
deed honored by the presence OF Sd
many Christian workers, who represent
the good citizens of so many parts o1
this country.
All who are charged with the duty Of
administering the affairs of civil govern
ment, and who sincerely desire to pro-
mote the best good OF the people, musH
everywhere and at all times, welcome
the powerful aid that organizations like
the Christian Workers are calculated tu
afford them. We have a multitdue OF
organizations and an enormous amount
of machinery in these days devoted to a,
large variety of moral reforms. The
work proposed by them is certainly of
great Importance and great good is aG-
complished. but is has sometimes seem-
ed to me that if the times, means and
energy thus employed were all coneen-
trated in a constant aim and effort to
plant all feet firmly upon the solid
rock or religion, far greater results
might be secured In all phases Of moral
reform, in the uplifting and purifying Of
human government and of humanity
itself.
Governor Coffin then said that he had
always hoped that the time would some
when the fact would be recognized that
there is in the hearts Of all who love
Goa svpor,o t1,ry J,ir.Hfr 4 ON, ~
i'm a heavenly union. God speed the day
when such hope shall have become real
ity, when we shall rejoice at the cor
rection of an error which has stood as
one of the chief obstacles to the progress
of Christian truth.
Rev. ID. M. James of Fair Haven
spoke in behalf Of New Haven ministers.
He compared the attitude of New Ha-
Ven ministers towards other denomina-
tons in former times and spoke of the
different state Of affairs to-day. In well
coming the delegates he said:
''We welcome you because we believe
you have come to do us good and not Ill,
and we bave no fear that the orthodoxy
of New Haven shall be injured by your
presence. We welcome you because Of
TIE uUIeu Illeu anu women you UflnS 10
New Haven, and we regard 1t ais an es-
pecial favor that we are able to see
you. We welcome you because of the
scope of work covered by this conven-
tion."
Mayor Hendrick was unable to ba
present on account of business engage
ments. and his address was read by
Rev. John C. Collins. In the address
the mayor welcomed the visitors '4to the
most beautiful city in the state, if not
in America" and city noted for its
churches and schools, its grand old his
toric university, and city historic in its
revolutionary ancestry. He also said
that in 1857 but a short distance from
the Calvary Baptist church the first SER
mon was preached by John Davenport
under tree soon after landing, and
from which the First Ecclesiastical So
ciety was organized in 1889, and which
still exists.
While we have had many conventions
in our city, in character, in meaning and
in its beneficial results the ninth annual
meeting of your society will not be sur
passed in it's substance and imports
ance.
In the absence of President Dwight
from the city, Professor Blacknnan of
Yale university, representing Yale, for
,naII,, 1.re1noned the Christian Workers