Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-07-15

more striking in color and more animated
In spirit All the streets in the business
district &C the city and in the neighbor-
hood of the different headquarters were
conges,cd with the thousands Of visitors.
History of the Society.
The story back Of this immense gather
ing in the land of flowers has a romantic
interest that lifts it far above the COM
monplace. But sixteen years ago this
worldwide organization had humble
birth in little, out-of-the-way church in
Maine. To-day there are $4,000 socie-
ties. with membership of T,000,O00
young people in every part of the civilized
world, from Spain to the Samoan Islands,
in the south seas, and from Australia to
Alaska.
In this time 100000 meetings have
been held by Christian Endeavorers.
Copies OF the constitution numbering
5,OOO,O 900 have been printed in forty Ian
guages, and at least 100000 copies Of
the pledge. More than 100000 associ-
ate members have joined the church, and
more than $4,000 900 has been given for
UNCONVENTIONAL purposes. Such, in brief,
is the remarkable history of one Of the
most conspicuous religious movements of
all times.
The immense meeting on the Pacific
slope has eclipsed all previous reunions.
The central meeting place was Mechan-
les Pavilion, which occupies an entire
square in the heart of that western me-
tropolis, and has seating accommodations
for 10000 persons. The second great
meeting place was Woodward's Pavilion,
which is about ten minutes walk from
the central rendezvous. 1t is an octagonal
building with a seating capacity Of 1000.
These two places of meeting were supple
mented almost every hour in the day with
gatherings in the various churches. Even
the Chinese churches and a mariners
church Hospitality throwing open their
doors.
This religious siege of San Francisco
was nothing il not picturesque. 1t was a
nineteenth century 'doings" which doubt
less made the monastic saints Of long ago
turn uneasily in their graves. The Chris
tian Endeavorer goes in for happy re-
ligion, and IL he cannot vent his exuber-
ance in long and loud hosanna he re-
sorts to 'yell' in characteristic college
boy fashion.
Most interesting of all the meetings
were the SeTNlces III OuI-OI-tllc- why places.
Prayer end song and exhortation were
made by wandering bands before the
heather temples in Chinatown. in the
magnificent gambling saloons, among the
sailors, on the wharves, In the jails and
in the slums, in the different factories, in
the hospitals-in fact, wherever the
Christian Endeayorer could plant his two
feet and his symbolic flag.
Sunrise Prayer Meetings.
One Of the features was the sunrise
prayer meetings down on the beach of
beautiful Golden Gate. Each morning
the sailors were invited to join with rep
resenta.ives of almost every port they
touch in their voyages to sing and to pray.
The complete program for the conven-
ton would gil good-sized book. or spe-
cial interest were the great choruses Of
hundreds OF voices which sang in the two
great meeting places. The first gun was
fired Wednesday night, with twelve sim
ultaneons meetings. led by twelve we'll
known div;nes from every part Of the ma
ton. At the same time Rev. ]. Lester
Wells Of Jersey City, N. j., gave sterc-
opticon lecture in Metropolitan Temple
on christian Endeavor kssong the Life
Savers"
Long before the hour APPOINTED for the