St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-07-24
The Christian Endeavor Convention.


EDITOR OF THE CALIFORNIAN. - In
looking over the list of Vermont dele.
gates to the great convention here |
find none from our old home town,
St. Johnsbury, and | wondered if any
of your Christian Endeavorers would
like birds eye view OF A few OF the
many proceedings OF the last week.
The great white lot was thing OF
beauty, with its many trees, in the
midst OF which were placed the three
immense canvas tents and from the
tops of which were futtering the
stars and stripes and c E. flags.
Almost unparalleled was the privi-
lege granted the c. E. Of having this
ground for place of worship, the
grass from which one must keep off
the grass" trodden down under
by thousands OF earnest Endeavor-
ers.
The greeting to the convention
was given by W. H. H. Smith, chair
man of the committee OF 90. Right
royalty were they greeted in the
name Of the President of the United
States who had sent this message,
1--WE will do all in our power to make
this convention success" in the
name of the Vice President, who gave
us the unique privilege Of using the
Capitol steps and grounds to hold
meetings.
The response to this welcome was
made by Rev. r. !. Service, D. D.,
former Vermonter, but now of De-
troit, Mich, a man whom all Yer
mont may be proud to own,
Loud applause and waving of hand
kerchiets welcomed DR.. Clark, who
asked that he might be introduced.
AS well introduce a man to himself,
it was said, as to introduce Dr. Clark
to company of Christian Endeav-
orers, for Father Endeavorer Clark"
is known far and wide His annual
address was grand. Fidelity and
fellowship, one and inseparable, are
the ideas formed. The flags inter
woven about this platform, the stars
and stripes and Union Jack show
loyalty"
To tell all would take more time
than would be allowed in this. 1t
is hard TO know what to tell about
that would interest most, for there
is so much. One great and mighty
feature of the convention was the
chorus of four thousand voices, di.
vided in four sections. One of the
directors was c. O. Excel, the song
writer, and | want to repeat just a
little OF one of the pieces he sang.
at pays to serve Jesus,
speak from my heart;
He'll always be with
If we do our part.
I'll love him far better,
III serve him more truly
Than in days of yore,
I'll do as he bids me,
Whatever befalls,
I'll be true soldier
I'll die at my post"
Sunday, the large auditoriums o
all the churches were taxed to the
utmost to care for all the people
Our party were among the numbers
who went to the First Congrega
tional, OF which DR.. Newman is pas
tor. You who saw and heard hin
at ST. Johnsbury will know how cor
daily hewould welcome vast mum
Der. The Massachusetts delegation
which numbered over one thousand
had their headquarters at his church
On Sabbath morning B. Fay Mills
spoke and he held the audience spell
bound in spite OF the torrid heat
which was so great that one was
ready to believe what an Endeavorer
said, "You could walk four miles in
Washington and not find shady
spot on either side of the street"
The trained choir of fifty thousand
voices and the blind organist are a
strong attraction at Dr. Newman's
church. DR., Bschoff has been blint
since he was four years old, and his
playing is simply wonderful As he
came to his seat at the organ hun
dreds in the audience were singing
Scatter sunshine" as it was early
and the different delegations do {
great amount of singing. He seateC
himself at the organ, arranged hi
stops and placing his hands on thu
keys started into the song exactl,
where they were singing and pIayec
through the entire piece. 1t wa
certainly as graceful a compliment
as is often paid an audience. Then