The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-19
THE OPENING MEETING.
TomIinson Han FILLED Last Night

worked for months to make the ninth annu-
al convention of the Young Peoples Chris
tian Union glorious success had any
fears or doubts as to the outcome they must
have been dispelled by the suspicious be-
ginning at Tomlnson Hall last night. Long
before the time for the meeting TO begin
the hall was nearly filled, and a constant
stream of delegates wearing gray ribbons
pinned on with the badge OF the union,
designating the State from which the wear
ers came, were ushered to their seats by
the white-capped ushers. Each person was
handed an official programme of the con-
vention, which contained on the front page
a map Of the city with an index of the
places of interest. and in the back pages
Psalms for congregational singing. in which
the audience was to join later on with the
great choir.
After the delegates were seated comforta-
bly, they looked about them to get an i'm
preston of the scene. On the stage sat the
$50 singers of the choir on elevated seats.
An additional stage in front contained
chairs for the general committee the speak
ers' stand and a piano and organ, the only
accompanying instruments to the voices of
the singers. a line of ported plants lined
the stage, which was masked in front
with white. Stretched across the front of
the stage, high above the heads of the
speakers, was an immense white banner
bearing the motto. Whose we are and
whom we serve" Either end bore the G. T.
monogram of the society. Flags were
draped back from the ceiling to the gallery
rail on both sides of the stage. Festoons
of pale blue and yellow reached from the
three sides of the stage to the ceiling. where
the ends were brought together, forming
a pretty canopy BACKGROUND for the choir
and speakers. one striking device was an
illuminated monogram of the union, mean
descent lamps bringing out the letters
&C u" interviewer together. Silk flags
We're fastened against it. While the decora-
tons were simple, they were effective. A
few bits of coloring along the gallery rail
would have left nothing to be desired. In
such convention the audience itself is the
most interesting feature. Pretty girls,
strong, wholesome-looldng young men and
a few children sat beside old men and Wom-
en-, all with glad, cOntented faces and hap
by smiles. The assemblage was in str1k-
ing contrast to the great political conven-
lions that have been held in that hall, and
the sober, orderly d'smeanor of the audi
ence was different from the tumultuous po-
litical bodies that sometimes gather there.
by the time the deleBdt9s Were cQ.lIio i "a
bly, settled and acquainted with their nelgh-
bors 1t was time for the opening praise
service to begin. Meantime. Ioyernor ana
Mrs. Mount, Chairman John G.. Quay, Rev:
c. n. Sims and the members of the general
committee had found seats. john q. quay,
of Denver. Col, presided over the meet
ing. He raped the square table before
him with . slender caIe
II had hopes, he said, that some gener-
Gus man would present us with gaVel.
GAVEL FROM THE AUDIENCE.
A delegate in the audience was ready for
this emergency, and arose in his seat near
the stage and lifted up gavel.
Here it is" said he. The hammer is
of shittim wood, representing the Old Tes-
lament, and the handle of Olive wood, rep
resenting the New Testament, the books on
which our church is founded"
Mr.. Quay accepted the gavel with bow,
while the audience applauded. InHclear, deci-
sive words he said that everybody had
looked forward to this occasion, had talked
was now about to realize its full signih-
canoe. Looking into the sea OF faces be-
fore him. he said assured him that the
convention was to be glorious success.
eve have here" said Mr.. Quay the flower
of United PIesbyterianism, and 1t is no
common flower" RE complimented the gen.
eral committee and the local committee for
the successful efforts that had been made
TO care for the delegates and provide for
their comfort and pleasure Mr. quay then
turned the meeting over to Hugh H. Nc,
Granular, musical director, who mounted
his stand and directed the chorus IN the
opening Psalm-the Young Peoples Chris
tian Union sings Psalms, not hymns-'I
viii Joy" When the chorus was T te9o lee
Then the delegates in the gallery sang
alone followed by the delegates on the main
floor and lastly by the choir, all taking up
the refrain together The voices of thou
sands of earnest singers filled Tomlinson
Hall with the religious melody. There were
a number of other songs, sometimes by the
choir sometimes by the audience and again
by all together Mr.. McGranahan, a sing
shall he Satisfed y" his wife accompanying
him The praise service closed with re-
sponsive reading from the programme and
an invocation by DR., MeDill, president OF
the school at Xenia o. He implcged God to
give the convention spirit OF prayer ass ang
ha meeting.
prayed that the desire of all hearts might
be for spiritual growth that the speakers
might be guided to say the right thlng ana
be guided to do the right thing at all times.
He prayed that the grand meeting IN Whlcn
they were about to participate may 90 some,
thing to advance the cause OF christ ana
When the praise service was finished
Chairman Quay said that the Governor OF
fbe State of indiana. James A Mount,
honored the convention by appearing 10 pa
the delegates welcome on the part OF the
civil authorities. while the welcome of the
Christian life of the city was to be given
by Rev DR.. c. N Sims. 80,
the Chautaugua salute
kerchief from his pocket and on signal
kerchief rom his pocket and on, ssignal
began waiving it above his head as Gov
error Mount and DR.. Sims advanced to ac-
knowledge the unique and hearty salute
with bows.
THE GOVERNORS WELCOME.
The applause was hearty and prolonged
as Governor Mount stood 1Orth TO SPEAK
In part the Governor said
Il esteem ii an honor, in behalf of this
commonwealth to welcome to our capital
city the Young Peoples Union of the Uni
ted Presbyterian Church of the United
States There seems to be great deal
of union in this name, which suggests
that the spirit of concord, of good will and
of Christian fellowship must dominate
this association. Forgetting geographical
bounds and former prejudices, the young
people of the United States are being
equipped to meet new responsibilities, leaV-
ing behind the alterations and discordS of
the past Denominational differences are
being eliminated and efforts to unity Chris
tiau work exalted.
4" In essentials union nonessentials liber-
ty in all things charity, is becoming mere
and more the spirit governing Christian
work More than three millions of young
Christians belonging to the various church
organizations are a potent power in pro
noting the hallowed influence of Bible
truth and securing to the world the bless
ings that attend obedience to divine law.
This grand army of young Chrlstians
marching under the gospel banner is seek
iug to- make the world better. offering the
perfect life as a model and the divine law
as a safe guide TO this branch of our
young workers which has hOnored this fair
city of homes and churches with its pres
ence ! bid most cordial welcome.
May ] not be permitted to eXtol tbs
wisdom of your choice in selecting this
the greatest inland city in the world,
city located in the center of q great com.
monwealth in which no place can be found
beyoLd the sound of the school bells that
call our children to free schools more than
half of each year State with the largest
free-school fund which by constitutional
rE.s.. lob nv