The morning news., 1897-07-26
WAS IT WORTH 1T Z
Immense Cost OF the Christian EN-
deaVor Convention.

From the Chicago Times Herald
The visit of the Christian Endeavor dele
gates to the coast has cost not less than
$5,oOO,OOO at the very lowest estimate. Pos
sihly many who spent from $lG0 TO 500 on
the trip would pay five-dollar subscrlp-
ton TO church or mission fund with re-
luctance, but even to people of this sort
the trip across the continent will have a
most broadening effect Those who trav-
eled through western Kansas and Nebras
ka and the barren Dakotas and other Bad
Lands must have found IL hard to believe
that Christian men and women were liv
ing in some of the most uninvftiug places
as serenely as do the God-fearng whose
lines are cast more pleasantly. Many of
the western counties in states and terri
tories are mission fields now. and the men
and women who teach and preach there
are supported by the subscriptions of the
church boards and church people. Not
one of the preachers is paid more than
$50 or $50 month. Recently one of this
class visited the state meeting OF Kansas
Congregationalists. He was quiet and
modest, but earnest. He didn't ask for a
cent but the simple story of his privations
touched the hearts and pocketbooks Of all,
and dollars were pressed upon him.
Worldly folks have an idea that all work
is done fer gain. They cannot understand
the spirit which prompts men and women
OF talent 10 toll for others, often under
going prvatons and suffering want-real-
ly lacking food and clothing. There are
heroes in the short grass countries who
90 about ministering TO the needy clad
In the cast-off garments sent them by
eastern people. Men have been seen plow-
ing in full-dress suits and occasionally
humorous soul has worn cuffs about his
ankles and beamed kindly upon his friends
from the deep recesses Of a three-inch col
lar Discouragements do not dishearten
western people of this sort. The ones who
are the worst Off complain the least There
Is more calamity talk from the rich farm
ers in favored sections of this great coun-
try Of ours than can be heard from the
entire population Of the Bad Lands. Inc
scalawags left with the money-lender and
those who remain intend 10 fight the good
fight. even as darkness deepens and night
comes on apace. Their hopes Will outiast
failure-their courage Is immortal. NO
one can visit the short grass country ana
not return to the land of plenty with
feeling of contentment and resolve never
to complain again.
As the Endeavorers moved westward
they learned that every westerner holds
his allegiance TO his parent state and
stands on the threshold of his adopted
commonwealth to welcome the easterner,
the southerner and the northerner to the
fullest enjoyment of his home The good
friend. stranger greeting stranger. all
mankind greeted as brothers-no south, no
north, no east, no west, no color line drawn
has not failed to impress the Endeavor
delegates Talk of dividing our country
on sectional lines because of political diff
ferences is most unreasonable so long as
churches stand and Christian citizens are
undismayed. AS the excursionist crossed
the praries In July they found all about
them evidences Of the greatness Of our
republic. AS the Fourth approached pa
triotism and love OF country was every
where manifest. In Nevada, where the
broiling sun beats down on the treeless
mining districts, the citizens came across
lots in wagons for fifty miles or more
to celebrate. The cowboys and Indians
united In shouting for old glory. and the
mountaineers waved our flag from the
highest peaks and made the canons ring
with their noise. The Endeavor trains
were halted whenever possible and the
delegates took part In the festivities OF
the western patriots with delight. They
noted that saloons were more plentiful
than churches; they saw the cowboys ride
ana shoot and saw many men very drunk.
When IL came their turn to do. something
they sang and prayed. At one station
their song was:
The dying thief rejolced 10 see
That fountain In his day.
And there may /, though vile as he
Wash all my sins away.
Long before the hymn was done many
OF the rough fellows suecumbed to it's in
fuence. for II was grandly sung by a train
load Of people
Al one homo ON a mountain summit a
little boy lay sick in a house near the rail-
road track. When the train stopped fifty
or more Endeavorers got of u and stand
ing by his window sang Scatter sun
shine All Along the Way" As the train
pulled away everybody Joined In singing
God BE With You TIL We Meet Again"
And the last glimpse had OF the little
sufferer revealed his pale face agiow with
light and happiness his hands clutching a
violin as II TO hold In Il the music he had
heard II was worth while to sing TO the
cowboys and this sick child Travel makes
a cosmopolitan Christian. New lands, new
faces rid one Of narrowness and cant ana
provincialism The Endeavorer's visit 10