The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-20
Thousands Grouped on the Monument
Steps for a Photograph Make an
Inspiring Sight
DELEGATES FROM THE SOUTH
THOSE OF ASSOCIATE REFORM
CHURCH TAKEN INTO CONVENTION.
Banner Presented to MOnOn-
gaheIa Presbytery-Mrs. Mary g.
POrter's Ovation.

The delegates to the Christian Union COM
vention are now all in the city and it is
quite patent to the observer that there are
some thousands of them, but that the orig
inal estimates of the attendance were some-
what absurdly exaggerative is even an ad-
mission though a reluctant one of the lead
ing members Of the organization itself. The
local executive committee, or rather ID. l..
Cowan, who bears a large part of the re-
sponsibility of affairs upon his shoulders,
now estimates the number in attendance at
5000. The enrolment of the delegates has
been practically completed, though 1t Is
given out that the total has not yet
been ascertained. 1t is safe to say that
there are about $500 delegates present In
cludng the voting and nonvoting classes,
while perhaps several thousand strangers
not connected with the society have taken
advantage of the cheap rates prevailing on
all railroads to visit the city.
The delegates are stopping almost exclu-
sively at the Denison, English's and half
a dozen of the minor hotels. They have
apparently shown an aversion to going into
the private houses thrown open to them and
all the vast work conducted under e. w.
Wiers supervision for the housing of the
delegates over the city has proven to be
time and labor wasted. Many householders
made special arrangements and went to
considerable expense in anticipation of
their transient guests, and as accommoda-
tions for 5000 were thus elaborately pro-
vided there are some enterprising ladies in
the city who feel some disappointment.
Judging from the books prepared by the To-
cal committee nearly all the residents In
the downtown section of the city appear to
have prepared rooms and laid in supplies
for the guests that never came. 1t is said
that some of these householders have made
a vehement declaration that they never will
again offer to accommodate delegates to
any sort of a convention in the future.
OF course it is not to be taken as a crit
icism on the psalm singers that the local
committee grew overenthdsiastic as to the
possible numbers that would he in the city,
nor is the inference to be drawn that the
present convention is smaller than the
Christian Unionists usually hold. In fact
it is the largest gathering of psalm singers
that ever assembled in the world and also
the most enthusiastic, energetic and spirit
uaIized body that the United Presbyterian
Church has known in its history. The no.
tells where the delegates stop, and partlc-
ularly the Denison, present a very enllVsn-.
ing and picturesque scene during the meal
hours and the brief interludes between the
various sessions of the oganization Nearly
one-half of the delegates are ladies end
most of them Young ladies at that They
fill the downstairs corridors and the par
lor rooms as well. and as a consequence the
usual loungeFs of the masculine species feel
constrained to forego their cigars and there
lrf71cr at 10
before. 1t is a perfect levee, in fact, in all
the prominent parts of the hotel, and this
eetting acquainted and exchanging of greet
ings is one of the most pleasing features
of the whole gathering. The home societies,
i'm the churches as is the universal case with
Young peoples organizations, are made up
principally of young ladies, but it seems
that the men are generally chosen as dele
gates At least the convention has dispro-
portionate representation of the male sex,
but this is partially due to the presence
of many ministers and young "theologs."
as well as of professors of colleges belong
ing to the church who are not, properly
speaking. members of the convention.
MANY ENDEAVORERS PRESENT.
Perhaps one-third of the convention iS
comprised of Christian Endeavorers. Many
of the United Presbyterian churches in the
large cities have Tndeavor societies instead
of Christian Union organizations, the reason
being that they prefer to be connected with
the greater organization with which they
ccme into intimate contact in the cities.
There is no distinct difference between the
two organizations save in name and in the
kind of music they sing, the Christian
Unions tenaciously holding to the psalms
for their songs, while the EndeaVorites sing
both psalms and hymns. The large city
churches of the United Presbyterians are
also as a rule, more liberal in their views
than those in smaller places. The FIRST
Church of Cleveland, for instance, has a
fine pipe organ, which Is a departure from
the doctrine that instrumental music should
have no place in the church. This church
sends quite q body of EndeaVOrites TO the
convention. among whom are Mr.. ana Mrs
T H McAiichaei Mrs McMichael is a
very pleasing lady who possesses rich So
prano voice and takes an active part in the
chorus work at the hall She IS also no.
table woman in the gathering. having been
recording secretary OF the Columbus con-
Vention of two years ago. She was also
vice president of the Women's convention of
the United Presbyterian Church at Indlan-
ola Ia this year, at which convention she
had complete charge OF the music Mrs.
Mia Meek is president OF the women con-
Vention for next year, which Will meet at
Spring Hill, in this state, IN May. MfS.
McAichael is very much interested in the
Junior work of the church. She says that
the Christi3u EndeaYorites consider them
selves as much members Of the convention
as the Christian Union1sts, the eonstitu-
ton of the convention providing for their
reception as well as for the delegates or the
EpWOrth Leaguers or any other young
peoples organizations. She also says that
no efforts looking 10 union of the TWO or
ganizations will be made
Or. w. IL. Mcmillan, however, who Is
nastor Of the second Church. at Allegheny
city. one Of the very few gray-haired gen
tlemen who may be seen in the gathering,
is espeCially desirous of bringing about
union of The Christian Unionsts with Chfis-
tian EndeavOrites There Is a feeling of
exclusiveness manifested. however he
said among the &. Us and have no
great hopes OF seeing anything accom-
plished looking to q merging OF the organ