The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-07-10
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoRERs.
Storm Blows Down One Tent-OpeninS
.ErercIses Yesterday,

Storm Blows Down One Tent-Opening
Exercises Yesterday.
WASHINGTON, D. c., July "a Sc
rlous mlshap that will interfere some
what with the plans of the programme
committee OF the Christian Endeavor
occurred Mt half past one this morning.
During q rain storm accompanied by
q high wind, tent .tWilliston,n one Of the
largest stretches of canvass on the
White lot. blew down and appears to be
a wreck. 1T is feared that 1t Will be
impossible 10 raise 1t again as 1t is
water-soaked and torn, though an Of
fort may yet be made to do so. This
tent was, calculated to hold about 10, 900
people. "a mass of telegraph and cleo
trio light wires were torn down when
the tent fell. Tents Washington and
~Endeavor also suffered from the storm
Il the contractors were aroused In.
time to save them from destruction.
Notwithstanding discourag!ng wea-
Their conditions the Christian Endeavor-
ers gathered by thousands In Washing
ton were earlier astir with wearers OF
Endeavor badges, making their way to.
the many churches set apart for the
sunrise services which begin the exer-
cises OF each day. 1t was a tribute to
the enthusiasm and zeal Of the visitors
tired as many OF them were by long rail-
way Journeys The topic attthese sun
rise services was prayer for the con-
,vention" and IN each case the meetings
We're led by members of the visiting
organizations. These special services
lasted from $50 to 7:l5 O'Clock. A short
adjournment for breakfast and q walk
about town and many of the delegates
were gathered again at the New York
Avenue Presbyterian church to particl-
pale In a bible book study conducted by
PRESIDENT g. S. Burroughs, D. D., OF
Crawiordsville, Ind: The great meet
$lngs In the big tents were originally
fixed for half past o'clock but there
were some unavoidable delays owing TO
the damage done by last nights storm.
Tent "!Villistor' was abandoned en-
rely Q to-day at least. and the En-
deaVorers who had intended to, be pres
ent there were admitted to the remain
ing tents, Washington and Endeavor.
They were caculatedfto accommodate
ten thousand people each but were
crowded even before the services began.
Ihe vast ellipsc upon which the tents
were pitched was in bad condition In
consequence of the heavy raina
IN tent Washington President Fran
CHS e. CLARK, OF Boston, Mass, presided
and Percy S, Foster. of Washington.
acted as director OF the vast chorus Of
singers. The programme opened With
a praise service. followed by devotional
exercises conducted by the Rev. Dr.. Il.
d. Power, of this city. E"Hymn OF
Welcome" especially composed for this
convention by Col. John Hay, was rem
dered with grand effect by the chorus
n thca address of welcome OF the COM
mittec OF '95 was delivered by w. H. II.
Smith, chairman OF the COMMITTEES,
which elected an appropriate response
from Rev. r. j: Service, Of Detroit, In
behalf OF the visitors. After another
hymn had been sung delegates listened
20 b reading Of the report OF Secretary
John Willis Baer, and the annual all
dress of President Francis Z. CLARK.
morning ceremonies wound up with
The singing of an anthem.
The services in tent Endeavor were
conducted by the Rev. Howard b..
Crosse, OF Boston, with on .4Excell, OF
Chicago, In charge Of the music. The
address of welcome to the visitors In.
behalf OF the District of, Columbia was
delivered by Commissioner John w.
Ross and 1was responded 10 by Prof.