San Antonio daily light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1886-1907, 1895-07-18
LARGEST TENT IN THE WORLD

LARGEST TENT In TdE WOhkD
Is the One Erected in Baltimore for
the B. Y. P. q. of A.-Thou-
sands in Attendance.
BALTIMORE, July 1S.-One Of the
largest conventions that has ever
been held in this city will be the
fifth international gathering Of the
Baptist Young Peoples Union Of
America, which is to assemble here
for the week beginning today. No
fewer than 10000 visitors, of whom
5000 will be delegates, are expected
by the local committee which has
been arranging to receive them.
To accommodate this throng no
hall or edifice in Baltimore was
large enough, and the committee
rented from New York firm what
is said to be the biggest tent in the
world. The tent has been erected
on lot at the right Of the Madison
avenue entrance to Druid Hill
park, and the main sessions OF the
convention will be held there. For
the smaller meetings and the re-
ligious services, Of which there
will be many, all the Baptist
churches will be made use of, as
we'll as several churches Of other
denominations.
Every state in the union will be
represented among the visitors,
in addition to the provinces of
Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba, in
Canada, and also Mexico. This is
the first year that Mexico will be
represented in the convention. In
July, 1891, when the union was Or
ganized in Chicago, 1t had about
1890 members. Now it has several
hundred thousand and has become
a body Of such proportions that
even its own secretaries are
unaware Of its precise con-
stituency. The unions objects are
to consolidate and fraternize
the Baptist forces of the country
and to encourage the systematic
study Of the bible, Baptist doctrine
and Baptist history. The union is
in no sense antagonistic to the
Christian Endeavor movement,
and 1t includes in its host many
organizations that are alsoaffiliated
with the Christian Endeavor So
ciety. Some idea of the throng at
tending may be CLEANED from the
fact that Pennsylvania alone sends
1900 persons. From Ohio come 800
all told, Of whom 400 will be In one
party; from Chicago, $50; fromNew
Jersey, 500; from Texas, 200; from
Wisconsin, 400; from Michigan,
900; from Georgia, $50; from
North Carolina, 300, and from the
other states, smaller but equally
enthusiastic numbers. Five thou
sand young Baptist wheelmen in
New York, Pennsylvania, West
Virginia, Virginia, Delaware and
Maryland, have made the journey
here on their bicycles, and whole
societies are coming on wheels
from New York, Buffalo, Roches-
ter, Jersey City, Philadelphia, Will
mington and Richmond, Va.
The officers of the International
organization are: President, J. H.
Chapman, Of Chicago; Vice Presi-
dent, Frank Harvey Field, New
York; Secretary, Rev. F. L. Wilk'
ms, Chicago: Recording Secre.
tary, A. NJ. Brincle, Philadelphia ;
Treasurer, G. o. Staples, Milwau.
kee.
The tent is oblong in shape, en-
tirely waterproof and is strong
enough to defy Maryland wind
storm. 1t will be lighted by cleo
tricity and contain 10000 unpsint
ed wooden chairs. 1t will have NJ
floor, but be leveled and packed
tan bark, making solid, dustles
foundation for the chairs.
Today, in the big tent, it wa:
swelteringly hot. A chorus of 50t
voices opened the services, followed
by the presidents address.