The herald., 1898-07-11
cnURCHfS OF CHRIST
coNvRNTIoN IN SESSION AT
LONG BEACH
Large Number Of Delegates-Patriotic
Services Today-Shirking
the Sermon

LONG BEACH, July 1o.-Every day new
delegates and visitors are arriving and the
sessions Of the convention OF the Church
of Christ are growing in interest and at
tendance, the hour devoted to morning
prayer. IL a. M. having an audience that
very nearly filled every seat in the great
auditorium. The choir had been largely
Increased and the singing, led by Mrs.
Princess Long, was worth going long
way to hear. G. w. Sweeney of Oakland,
who was to have preached the convention
sermon, owing to the illness of his wife,
was prevented from attending. President
r. M. Bowling was chosen by the brethren
to take his place. Mr.. Bowling took for
his subject 1.-THE Church in the Twentieth
Century" and for an hour and a quarter
he held the closest attention Of the large
congregation with one of the most logical
and convincing addresses ever delivered
in the tabernacle. He pleaded for oneness
with God, the elimination of creeds and the
distinctive appellations Of sects and de-
nominational jealousy SO unhappily all too
prevalent among professed followers of
the Lord. He exhorted most eloquently
and interlarded his sermon with apt quo
tations and illustrations bearing on the
subject, the 'Amensv from the audience
showing 1t was in touch and sympathy
with his well-expressed ideas.
The Sunday services opened with sunrise
prayer Elmer Thompson of Azusa leader.
At 9:15 there was union Bible school. with
C. c. Chapman as superintendent, large
audience being present at both services.
At II a. m. there was morning worship, j.
w. Ingram of Pasadena leading, consist
ing of sacred songs. Scripture lesson. pray
er and the solo, 1.-The Sewers and Reapers,"
a beautiful and pathetic song. by Mrs.
Princess Long.
At o'clock in the afternoon communion
service was held, at which OBLIGATED Elders
c. Chenoweth and A. j. Wood, presiding;
Deacons Harvey Morrow, Elmer Thomi-
son, L. H. Turner, J. T. Hood, o. P. Lock-
hart. W. H. Miller, ]. F. Painter and DR..
J. B. Cook. In the evening, from to
o'clock. the Young Peoples Christian En-
deavor society held forth, L. H. Turner
leader. the balance of the evening being de-
voted to thanksgiving services, in compli
ance with President McKinley's proclama-
ton. Most Of the members of the other
churches were present, making the largest
audience Of the season.
Tomorrow night, Monday, there will be
patriotic services, in which Rev. A. In
wood, other divines and prominent citizens
will make short patriotic addresses in
keeping with the stirring events now trans
piring. A large chorus will be present and,
led by Mrs. Princess Long. will sing patri-
otto songs. Mrs. Long singing 1.-THE Star
Spangled Banner
Rev. A. C. Smither the other evening
scored the people who leave at the evening
devotional exercises at the conclusion of
the last song and just before the sermon of
the evening is begun, thereby distracting
and disturbing the rest of the congre-
cation. besides embarrassing and discon-
certing the speaker. He denounced their
lack of manners in vigorous terms, and his
words had effect. as very few left that
night. While the practice spoken Of is GER
tainly reprehensible. 1t is asserted, on be-
half Of those guilty of the dereliction in this
case, that while, as a general thing, they
can almost at any time hear a good SER
mon, 1t is only at long and rare intervals
they can have the pleasure of listening to
a singer such as Mrs. Princess Long.
Judge w. T. Kendrick and daughter.
Mary c.. of Los Angeles, were at the ses-
sions today.