Birmingham state herald. (Birmingham, Ala.) 1895-1897, 1896-07-10
THE ENDEkVOR CONVENTION
Collapse of the Big Tent ''HilIiston'-Great
E. Meetings at Nlght-'FrSco Bidding
'35 for the Next,

Washington, July 9.-The collapse of
the big white tent. "Williston," at
o'clock this morning, due to the heavy
fall Of rain last night and the severe
windstorm that followed, somewhat dis
concerted the committee of arrange
ments with regard to the formal opening
of the fifteenth annual International
Christian Endeayora convention, which
occurred at $3.50 o'clock today. Arrange
ments were hastily made to occupy Cen
tfal hall until the Williston can be dried
and re-erected. Extra seats were hur-
riedly placed in other tents, notices were
posted announcing the change in plan
and the work of the convention proceed
ed without delay.
'Endeavor' was packed long before
the hour Of opening with a crowd of
brightly dressed, eager faced delegates,
as were the avenues leading to the sew
eral entrances.
The presentation of the prizes banners
for the greatest growth in the state So
cieties, which followed the addresses in
each tent, was scene of great enthu-
siasm. The lucky delegations were loud
ly cheered by the competing delegations,
one after the other
For the greatest proportionate Increase
in the number OF societies for the last
twelve months the banner passed from
Assinaboine to Scotland For the great
ties surrendered the banner to- Pennsyl-
vania, The junior banner for the great
est absolute increase in junior societies
goes from Assinaboine to Mexico.
Following adjournment in the big tents
came the noon evangelistic meeting at
Central Union mission. This afternoon
| was given up to UNCONVENTIONAL rallies,
representing twenty-eight separate sects.
From six to twenty speakers appeared
on the programme of each meeting.
Both of the great Christian Endeavor
| tents. each holding 10000 people, were
crowded tonight when the convention
met at 1880 o'clock, and as many more
| people were turned back to the city I'M
| able to gain admittance. The big tent,
WiliSton which had collapsed after the
| storm last night, was not yet in shape
| and the programme arranged for that
| tent was transferred to the Metropolitan
| Methodist Episcopal church.
| AS on the night before. when meetings
| were held in twenty-five churches, the
| auditoriums were wei, filled, and in some
| cases arrangements had to be made
hastily for overflow meetings. The topic
| at all the meetings tonight was Chris
| tian Citizenship" and many of the speak
| ers made pointed illusions to the COM
! pick political situation before the coun-
| try.
| At each meeting certain time was given
| to a discussion of the claims of San Fran
| cisco as the seat of the next assembly,
| and 1t was formally announced in con-
| nection Herewith that the trustees had
| made a decision In favor of San Fran
| cisco. 1t is said that satisfactory rate
| approaching $50 for the round trip from
| Chicago has been guaranteed by the San
| Franciscoans. The convention in going
| ito California will stop off one Sunday In
Salt Lake City. and returning will spend
a Sunday in Tacoma and Seattle. The
| delegations here from these towns are
| flooding Washington with literature de-
| scriptive of the beauties of their cities.
| The programme for tomorrow morning
| includes the regular meetings in thirty
| three churches, the Bible book study and
| three great meetings in the tents at 9:30
| o'clock in the interests of Junior workers
| The afternoon is given up to conferences
on various topics and in, the evening
the usual line of meetings in the tents
| and churches. t Inls