The San Francisco call., 1897-05-22
Annual. Session of the
Coast Students
Conference.
Pacific Grove Welcomes Rep
resentatives From Many
Colleges.
Leaders In Gospel Work Present
to Give Counsel to the
Delegates.

PACIFIC GROVE, CAL, May Zl.-Ine
little city among the pines is full OF life
ana interest now, for the delegates TO the
second annual Pacific Coast Students
Conference have arrived. The young men
came on the evening train, full OF the
breezy enthusiasm and heartiness OF the
typical student. They were quickly
busted in getting settled in the quarters
which had been prepared for them by
their advance agents. but as larger num-
Der arrived than was expected upon the
first evening there was some delay and
confusion, and several of the young men
were obliged to go supperless 10 the pre-
liminary meeting in the chapel OF the M.
E. Church.
The first session of the convention was
called to order by Chairman c. c. Mich
ener of New York City, who is also college
secretary of the International committee
of the oung Mems Christian Association.
After an opening prayer and hymn Mr..
Michene. delivered short opening ad-
dress, in which he made few suggestions
regarding the methods of working, and
playing also, during the conventions He
| introduced as the speaker of the evening
F. l.. Willis of Omaha, NeDr.
Mr.. Willis spoke of the marked advance
of the Y. M. c. A. work among the
| students of the great colleges and univer-
stiles of America and the amount of good
| being accomplished by this work. He
touched in a general way upon the aims
of the Y. NJ. c, A. and the object of the
convention, which was to aid in further
ing these aims.
| II. ]. Mccoy. secretary of the San Fran
cisco Y. NJ. @ A, and Robert E. Lewis ol
Chicago delivered short talks.
| F. L. Willis was chosen presiding Of
/ ficer of the convention ana upon taking
the chair asked as a notable feature OF
this the first session, that each delegate
| introduce himself to him personally.
After the introductions Mr.. Willis an
nounced that the afternoon proceedings
would consist exclusively of athletic
| sports of various kinds, the programme to
| be decided upon from day to day. The
work of the convention would be carried
! on from A. NJ. to 1880 p NJ. and the plat
| form exercises would be held in the even
| ing of each day.
| Among the notable persons who will ad-
! dress the convention at these platform
| meetings are: Bishop William Ford
Nichols of San Francisco, Rev. Z. S. Chap
man Of Oakland, Rev. George c. Adams,
| DR.. E. r. Ollie and Robert F. Lewis, oil
Chicago, formerly college secretary oi
Massach setts, and who will have charge
| of the Bible cirss.
More time will be devoted this year
| than last to the equipping OF men for the
| responsible work of Bible classes Mr..
Lewis has charge of the. missionary insti-
| tute. which will be the feature of the con-
ference this year, as he is the travelin g
secretary OF the Students VoIun teer
movement.
An exceedingly valuable series of lect-
ures on the development of missionary in
terest will be presented. The courses of
study to be pursued by missionary classes
during the coming year will be outlined.
Mr.. Lewis will follow up the work begun
by Mr.. Eddy last year.
The music during the conference will be
under tho direction of 4. L. Willis, who
has had much TO do with the Southern
students conferences.
Another feature of this years conference
will be the delegation meetings. AT these
meetings the delegates from each college
will meet at the close of the day to gather
up the chief impressions and to apply
them to the work of the home associations.
The informal meetings which were held
each evening at twilight at Cazadero,
known as hillside meetings, will be
repeated here.
The ultimate aim of these conventions
is to demonstrate the practical side OF
Christian work among college men, and
to train the undergraduates for the posi-
tions Of leaders and organizers of Young
Mems Christian Association work in their
respective colleges. For this reason, par
ticular attention will be paid to athletic
exercises of every kind during the con-
veution, and pleasure will go hand in
hand with work. There are about fifty
delegates here already, and more will
arrive to- morrow.
Between seventy-five and 100 are ex-
| pected, including men from the city asso-
| Citations, as well as from all the colleges.
| To-morrow's programme will consist of
a session OF the Missionary Institute at
| A. NJ. and association conference at 9 A. M
| DR.. George c. Adams will address the
| platform meeting at 10 A. NJ and at II 20
| there will be Bible class instruction.
| The athletic exercise, will consist to-mor-
row of walks and drives, taken ad hbitum
| by the delegates, and will consume the
| afternoon. Early in the evening the life
work meeting will be held in the open air,
| with addresses by several of the delegates,
and at o'clock the delegation meetings
| will be held.