The Indianapolis journal., 1897-04-11
WINONA GETTING READY
GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF PREsBY-
TERRAIN CHURCH IN MAY.
over 5000 Visitors Can Re Acc0mmo-
Changes Made at Eagle Lake.

OF the Presbyterian Church was considering
where the session OF 1877 should be held
there was a strong aid successful fight
made 10 have Beautiful Winona"-some-
times called the Chautalqua of Indiana-se-
lected. There were plenty OF disappointed
croakers that predicted that Winona could
never be put in condition TO care for such
a large and important gathering as the
General Assembly but Hoosiers replied that
Indiana and Winona would astonish the
down casters" when they got here and saw
what HoOsier pluck and enterprise could
accomplish. This promise is about to be
fulfilled. Winona will surprise those who
we're there last summer if they go again
this year. Many new buildings have been
put up old ones have been remodeled and
enlarged and the little village with the In
dian name that rests snugly on the shore
OF beautiful Eagle lake will delight them
more than ever.
The General Assembly is TO meet on May
20 two DAYS after the grounds have been
formally opened WIKI the foreign-mission
conference This will be the first and per-
haps the last opportunity the children of
this generation viii have 10 witness the
gathering Of the General Assembly on In
diana soil IL is always a notable event
The assembly * composed of seven hun
dred commissioners, beside the Women's
auxiliary organizations. There is possibil-
ity that General Harrison will act as mod
orator Of the assembly, although it is said
that he has declared that he could not act
in that capacity AT any rate, he will prob
ably be chosen one of the four commits
siOners from this presbytery. One minister
and one elder is selected to attend the
General Assembly for each group of twenty
four ministers. From this presbytery two
elders and two ministers will be sent Cen
zeal Harrison is an elder in the First Pres
byterian Church Presbyterians through
out the United States would be much gratI-
fed 10 have him act the presiding officer
of the highest official body of the church.
Several matters of grave Importance to
the Presbyterian Church are TO be taken
up at the meeting next month, among them
the controversy over the home mission ques-
ton and the no less important subject
the disposition that is to be made of the
Sl.0OO0O0 building in New York city. Cen
eral Harrison is member of the commit
tee that has been looking into this last sub
ject and which will submit a report at
some time during the meeting.
Some idea of the importance of the Cen
eral Assembly may be obtained when it is
stated that fully three thousand people are
deliberations have never been known to be
closed in less than ten days. There are no
heresy trials. like the famous DR.. Briggs
case, to come up at this time, but the
meeting will be none the less interesting
THE CHANGES AT WINONA
The principal objection that was made 10
Winona year ago was that there was
no assembly hall of large enough dimen-
sions and that the hotel accommodations
We're inadequate. Both objections were well
taken. At that time winona would have
found il a difficult if not impossible. matter
10 accomplish the task of caring for such
an assemblage; but. under the skilful man.
agement Of the WinOna board. the place
has been transformed. The executive com
mittee. consisting of John NJ. Studebaker
of South Bend; Thomas Kane of Chicago;
;. &. Dickey, of this city. who was chosen
as manager. has worked long and arduous-
~. In the first place money was lacking
This raised by selling stock in the as
sociation. Mr.. Studebaker Mrs. McCor-
mick Of Chit go. Alexander Mcdonald
president of the Standard Oil Company
$. E. Williams. of Lima, Ind, Thomas
Kane. of Chicago. and number of others
subscribing literally. Assured that the mon.
ey would be forthcoming the committee
began the work of charging the buildings
\ $4,000 addition was built TO the single
hotel that Wnona boasted Ii was fitted
with electricity, provided with heating ap-
paratus. carpeted with Brussels and in ev.
cry way equipped To rank with the best
summer hotels to be found anywhere Their
Minnewawan Inn-otherwise known as the
womens building-was erected. 1t has 30
sleeping apartments. dining room capabl,
OF seating 2S0 people. "A reception ROOM d
by % feet. above which there is a Iittl,
chapel finished in yellow pine with a ca
pacity OF five hundred. The building is tive
stories high. bJiilt in seven wings, with Z
double porch fourteen feet wide and pa fee
long. facing the east, so that il will be
delightful spot for lounging in the after
Moons. 1t has cost $4,000 10 furnish tn,
wOmen's building. This money has beer
raised by a committee of twenty-five WON
en-. of which Mrs. ID. b. Wells of For
Wayne. is chairman. A rather novel plar
was inaugurated. Ii takes $50 10 furnish on,
room When any church has raised enough
money for this purpose. its name has beer
painted the door
\ HALL TQ>SEAT 2.4OO.
No one Will recognize the auditorium. /
has been turned from an unsubstantial anc
frail structure into model hall. The Iarg.
pillar that obstructed the view of the stag
has been removed and the roof is supporte,
by steel girders. a floor has been laid.
gallery built and the seating capacity in
creased TO 240O, not including those whC
may find seats the stage. The BUILDING
Is provided with comfortable opera chairs
so that the auditorium will be as pleasan
a place for the commissioners to the Gen
eral Assembly as the interior of a modern
church. The new stage, for the use of tn,
moderator and high dignitaries of tn,
church. is thirty by fifty feet in dimension
and has above IL sounding board of gooC
acoustic qualities. so that the speaker.
may be heard with ease. At either end o.
the stage are large committee rooms. Ac
commodations for the committees of tn,
assembly viii be found i'm eighteen room.
OF the school buildings opposite the audi
tOrium.
An effort IS being made TO get 5000 worth
OF stock taken here so that indianapolis
may be better represented. That amount i:
needed 10 pay for building, a two-story
A-orSAS