Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1896-09-02
Y. P. S. C. E. CONVENTION.
Sk5whegan Streets Crowded With
Earnest Christian Endeavorers.
Opening Meetings. Tuesday-Address at TO-.
80 by Pres. Butler Of Colby.

SIX vinegar, sept. l-tSpeclaD.-T
first day of the Christian Endeavor
convention opened with favoring skies
ard bright prospects, and all are look
ing forward to successful series of
meetings. Everything possible has
tainmcnt OF the visitors. The Island
Avenue Congregational church was Sc
lected as convention headquarters and
has been profusely decorated. In the
main audience room the space over the
pulpit and platform is taken up With
red and white bunting artistically ar
ranged, with the letters &C. f." in the
center, and directly beneath are the
notices. Attempt Great Things for
Cod; Expect Great Things from
God" The Vestry IS perfect bower
of red and white. This is where the
delegates register and obtain their
badges. and here also are the booths
whore the Christian Endeavor supplies
are sold
The Methodist church. where the
meetings are held through the day
time is also handsomely decorated. on
the fGpnt of the church between the
Two entrances is the monogram &C
Il. in red and white bunting. ana
above the doors Is the word wei
come" in red letters. Inside the church
the arch over the pulpit is hung with
large steamers of bunting with the
monogram in the center while on the
walls are the notices in large letters.
The Maine Central depot was not
fnrfrAf TO 40 Of In,
Platform has been lavishly ornamentei
with bunting. The entrance to the
station is similarly decorated and the
word 'Welcome" in large letters APP
pears at both places.
At Coburn han. where the evening
services are held, the decorations are
profuse and beautiful. the draperies
Being hung from the chandeliers in the
center TO all parts of the hall The
stage is also handsomely ornamented,
md the outside Of the building and the
entrance are still further clothed with
draperies.
The delegates began to arrive. yes
terday forenoon. and the reception
committee has been on the move ever
since. The visitors We're rendered a
reception, last evening, at the Bethany
BAPTIST church, and all enjoyed a
pleasant evening, although the rain
kept away many who would otherwise
have been present. Two selections of
vocal music by Miss Sadie Ward and
two guitar solos by Miss Elsie Walton
helped to make the occasion pleasant
one
The services of the convention began
this morning, at $50. when two sun
rise prayer meetings We're held, one
It the First Baptist and the other at
the Bethany Baptist church These
were very helpful services, and a fiji
opening to the convention
At $50 p NJ. the services at the
Methodist church We're opened by A
praise service followed by the address
Of welcome. The delegates were ad-
dressed by Rev. H. w Kimball in be-
half of the local union by Rev. c. V.
Hanson in behalf Of the churches. and
l.. l.. Walton, Esq, in behalf of the
citizens of SkoWhegan. Mrs. w. f. |
Youiand of Biddeford responded to the
addresses in a few we'll chosen words. |
At 1890. Pres Nathaniel Butler of |
Colby university, addressed the con
Vention on the subject of christian |
Growth" The president said that
there We're TWO errors quite generally |
made in viewing the Christian life |
The first was that those outside the
church thought that all professors
should be perfect. and when they begin |
the new life should step from imper-
lection to perfection al bound The |
second was that Christians themselves
are apt to view the Christian life as
an unnatural one, and endeavor to
think and act unnaturally. Both of |
these suggestions are false. No man
living has attained absolute perfection.
but all should endeavor to approach
nearer and nearer to the ideal. The
conditions necessary to all growth are
food, exercise, and pure atmosphere
True spiritual nourishment and activ-
ty are necessary for Christian growth
md we should keep out of unholy in
iuences. Suffering also is one of the
hief requisites to a perfect growth |
md the greatest lessons of life come in
times of aftliction. The address was
closed with an eXhortation to learn
more of Christ. until we reach the full
growth of Christian manhood and Wo-
manhood The session closed with the
by Rev. b. c. Wentworth |