The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1896-07-05
Christian Endeavor Convention.

icaIly.
Christian Endeavor Convention.
There will be convened in Washington
on next Thursday. July Q. a convention
very much greater. in point OF numbers
in attendance, than the recent St. Louis
convention or the forthcoming Chicago
convention. And there Is little room for
doubt that IL will be dominated by a spirit
OF unseldsh devotion to the public good
that Is seldom seen at political conven-
tions. II goes without saying also that
the Washington convention will be brim-
ming with genuine healthy enthusiasm,
and will be totally wanting in wire pull
ing and log rolling, OF which the public
have seen some tiresome examples lately.
The Washington convention referred to
IS, OF course. that OF the Christian En-
deavor Society. The meeting this year
will probably be the largest IN
the history Of the organization.
Last year the annual meeting
was held in Boston. and there was an
attendance estimated at 5000 or more
| It Is calculated that at the forthcoming
meeting the attendance will not fall short
Of 10000 The increased attendance will
be a marker of the rate at which the so
ciety has grown during the last twelve
months.
/ Some comparison with the St. Louis
| convention will afford a clearer concep-
ton OF the SIZE Of this great gathering
| OF Christians. The hau OF the St Louis
convention had a seating capacity OF H.
600; and it was impossible for all Of the
delegates to hear the speeches made on
the stage. It would take a hall nearly
! eight times as big as that at st. Louis
to hold the Endeavorers, and the speakers
would be necessarily compelled to talk
through a megaphone. to make them
selves heard. But they will not attempt
to hold their meetings under single
roof or, indeed. under a roof at all,
strictly speaking. For they will meet in
several tents, in which duplicate pro-
! grammes will be gone through with.
! Three immense tents. each capable OF
seating 1900 people have been erected
| on a lot near the executive mansion, and
it seems likely that others will have to
be provided. or all of the. church build
ings in the city win have % be laid I'M
der contribution.
In connection with the convention, by
the way. an organization of meddlers
| have forced themselves into notice.
There are always some disagreeable per-
sons poking their noses where they have
no business. trying to spoil some
body else's pleasure. In this instance 1t
is the Woman's Rescue League of Wash
| ington. The Washington Christian En-
deavorers very naturally desire to make
| their visiting coworkers have as good
a time as may be possible during their
stay in the city. and have therefore ar
| ranged several features OF entertainment
| Among them are bicycle runs during the
several days of the convention. The runs
will be over beautiful and smooth roads,
and will take the visitors to many points
| of interest. A more innocent amusement
could not have been devised. But the
Woman's Rescue League at a recent
meeting denounced the scheme as obi
| cycle runs for the DEVIL" said the
wheel was an instrument of Satan, or, to
uses the precise language. the DEVILS
advance AGENT" characterized wheel rid
ing by women as immoral and calculated
to swell the army of outcast women and
used other like expressions. The 1900
women riders of wheels IN Washington
are justly indignant at the insult offered
them by the meddlers. and have deter
mined that they will assist In making the
Endeavorers' runs the greatest and most
successful things of the kind ever seen
in this country. 1t is estimated that since
the opposition has cropped out one days
parade OF the riders will show not less
than 10000 wheels in line
But. to return to the Christian En-
deavorers; the size OF this convention,
made up of only representatives of local
branches, win illustrate how vigorous has
been the growth of this young giant of
| Christian associations. 1t was founded
in 1881, and is therefore only fifteen years
old. Yet its membership is more than
2.OOO. 900. and may be found in all quarters
of the globe. Its members are taken
from all the evangelical denominations
and they work together in harmony.
John MOst's Friend.
| Tobn Nro-4 +la ~, r-ts-. ,, -