The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1895-06-12
SLEPT ON THE FLOOR
SUNDAY SCHOOL CONVENTION DELE
GATES FIND SLIM HOSPITALITY.
Not Enough Homes Opened tn Them
Although They Were Promised
Quarters without Cost.


afternoon at the Tabernacle Church. The
attendance was large and an unusual
amount of interest in the work was shown.
The auditorium of the church was well
filled. despite the hot weather. and there
was no seeming lack OF enthusiasm. The
convention wasted no time in prelminaries
for. after short devotional exercises, mat
tiers of interest to Sunday-school workers
were brought forth and considered
The sessions of the convention promise
to be doubly interesting because of the
presence and participation of noted workers
obtained by the local committees. There is
the Chapman-Bilhorn choir, we'll known
here since the Chapman services last win
ter. "A. g. Shook, Of Brazil, is here to direct
the music. W. b. Jacobs, of Chicago, who
has national reputation as an organizer.
VIII speak at different sessions upon Sun
day-school organization. w. J. Semelroth.
OF the International Evangelist. ST. Louis.
Is also here. He spoke yesterday afternoon
and those who heard him say his address
was as interesting and instructive as any
ever heard upon Sun1ay-school work. Miss
Mabel Hall, of Chicago, young woman
who has wonderful faculty for teaching
small children, will speak to the convention.
and Thursday she will lead a class of little
tots and show what can be accomplished
by three days instruction. There are others
here who stand TO the front in the work
ana the association hope TO derive much
tionS.
The first session did not begin until past
o'clock. After singing "Girding the
under the direction of c. w. Ross, of
Charlottesville. John Il. McNeeley of this
city who was to have led the exercise. was
The County Convention was the subject
for the afternoon. The different questions
considered were, when to hold, how often
10 hold, what constitutes a good pro-
gramme. how to advertise it. the music and
entertaining delegates. The first remarks
upon these subjects were short. J. W.
Landrum, of Terre Haute; Crates s. John
son, of Shelbyville, and Harry McGrain, of
this city, spoke. The main subject and the
dlnerent questions embraced in it were
then admirably handled by Mr.. Semelroth
who is superintendent of the Missouri as
sociation and we'll qualified to speak upon
Sunday-School work Mr.. Semelroth spoke
for nearly two hours and was very en-
thusiastic. He said to make county con-
vention successful there should be timely
and much enthusiasm. with keen interest
In the work.
NO ACCOMMODATIONS.
The assignment OF delegates to places fol-
lowed and the committee had a very hard
time of it. as the number of delegates ex-
ceeds the places. One member of the COM
mittee said he thought it was indeed sad
when city the size of Indianapolis could
not better entertain delegates to Sunday
scnool convention Many of the delegates
mad 10 be sent to boarding houses and no.
tells and the local committees will endeavor
10 pay their bills. The hot weather is sup
posed 10 De the reason why few have
onered TO care for visiting delegates. Many
persons have left the city or are preparing
10 do so because of the weather. and this
10 do xx.;t h,
the few places offered.
mere was very serious phase to the
Tabernacle Church was fairly we'll filled.
about three hundred delegates and many
cltizens being present. Many of the dele
gates came in after the afternoons ses-
sion and a large number of them had no
place to go for the night. C.. +. Coffin,
president of the association, said it was
with deep sense of humiliation that he
announced the true condition of affairs.
MIR; Collins voice faltered while he spoke
and he asked all Indianapolis citizens to
hold up their hands. Then he asked these
II they could not accommodate one two
delegates. If nothing better was asked than
a bed on the floor. The local committees
had arrangements made for about one hun
dred delegates. The committees have urged
all the time that there would be many dele
gates In attendance, but people seemed slow
In responding to the call for assistance.
Anticipating the consequence the committee
ment of the delegates This sum was soon
exhausted, and last night the committees
found themselves with two hundred dele
and no places to which delegates could be
assigned. Many prayers were offered dur
ing the evenings session that some means
might be presented whereby the delegates
could be cared for. Many of the delegates
here assured that there would be
places for them and they are unprepared
to pay motel bills.
GLAD TO GET FLOOR ROOM.
At the conclusion of the meeting many of
them gathered around the secretarys desk
while an effort was being made to care for
them. Some were taken to homes with the
understanding that they would have TO
sleep on the floors. Many more delegates
are expected to-day. as all the railroads are
running excursions into the city, and the
most important work of the convention Is
yet to come. The committees are greatly
worried and they say unless the people of
Indianapolis rally TO their support, many
delegates will leave the city with a very
bad impression OF the city's hospitality.
Complaint is made made 9y members =, Oh , the
the convention has been treated by some of
the leading churches. Some of these. Ii was
tention TO the call for assistance, and sew
eral pastors have refused 10 announce the
convention and its needs from their pull
pits -
leadership of Prof. A q. Shook. of Brazil.
opened the session OF last evening by song
service, in which the convention took part.
In the absence of Mayor Denny, Rev. j.
A Rondthaler made the address of well
come on behalf of the city. 1t was one of
Mr. Rondthaler's characteristic addresses.
full of life and energy. he made the best
OF a bad condition by referring to the poor
accommodations IN a delicate manner. In
which he said the delegates were no less
welcome because the accommodations We're
poor Charles +. Coffin, president of the
association made brief remarks, welcoming
the delegates. He referred to the great
work which Rev. Mr.. Rondthaler has done
in this city. and closed by introducing Rev.
w. u. Parr, of Kokomo, who responded in
few well-chosen remarks The address OF
the evening was made by Rev. L. |. Coul-
tas of Roberts Park Church. this city, His
remarks were applauded vigorously. He
spoke OF the church OF the present and the
one of the future. The church of to-day
he thought. is superior to that of yester-
day The work being done is greater and
broader and the pulpit has been raised To
a higher standard. The Sunday school is
church, and those engaged in the instruc-
ton of the young are doing a good work.
The convention, he said. an evidence
OF the progress OF the churches. All the
churches were interested in the work. for
the question of creed and dogma does not
arise. The church of the future will be
more closely bound by the interest in the
welfare OF ALL The church of the future
will be ecclesiastical, but never again will
the church become en-angled with the
state. The church OF the future will be
dOgmatic. but the dogmas Will be few. The
church of the future will be more united
force for good. Some day. DR.. coultas said
to be the church of Rome, having severed
the relations with Rome and il will be