The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1899-07-11
A GREAT CONVENTION.
Baer Replied to Detroit News
paper Criticisms.
TENTS WERE NEVER SO CROWDED.
Had Delegates Stand Up and They Were
the Most of the Crowd-Meetings Held
with Rain Coming Through the Tents.
The Trustees Met.


ton of the number of people brought
into Detroit by the Christian En.
deavor convention cropped out at the
outset of last nights meeting in Tent |
Endeavor, when Secretary Baer took |
occasion to publicly criticise the Detroit |
newspapers for saying that the influx of
delegates from other states was not |
nearly SO great as had been anticipated |
in the local committees estimates. Mr.. |
Baer said he had no statement yet to |
make about the attendance as compared |
with other years. He promised to make |
one later, but he called on all Endeav.
orers present to rise. A large majority |
of those present stood up, which Mr..
Baer assumed to be proof Of his view of
the attendance question. The news.
papers estimate Of total visitors is co..
200 In round numbers. Mr.. Baer de.
MED that anybody connected with
Christian En- deavor committees had ever
told Detroit people that they had reason
TO expect $4,000 Endeavorers. At all
events, the secretary insisted that the
Christian Endeavor tents had never be-
fore been so crowded and overflowed at
every one OF the main meetings.
Bishop b. w. Arnett (colored) pre-.
sided over Tent Endeavor meeting.
Rev. DIR. Quayle of indianapolis, one of
the speakers on the evening program,
was announced to have been called to
Kansas, to the bedside of his dying
father. Silent prayer was offered in be-
half of DIR. Quayle. The devotional ex-
ercises were led by r. r. Patterson of
San Francisco; the moments of media
ton and prayer by Rev. George E. Soper
of st. Paul
The address of the evening was by
President John Henry Barrows of Ober-
| lin college. During Its delivery, the
rain again descended, increasing until
| the noise on the roof almost drowned
the sound of DR.. Barrow's voice, and he
was compelled to desist. Umbrellas
were raised all over the tent, but COM
| paratively few left, and the crowd
stayed and sung song after song, over
| coming all sounds of the storms and all
ideas of increasing discomfort. At
length the rain ceased long enough to
allow DR.. Barrows to proceed.
The meeting IN Tent Williston took
the form of a memorial service. Eulo-
gies were delivered upon the life and
character OF Gladstone, Frances E. Will
lard and George Mueller. DIR. Clark
| presided and the devotional exercises
were conducted by Rev. e. ID. w. Jones
OF Allegheny City, Pa.
"Showers of Blessing" and "There's
Sunshine In My Soul Today" were the
favorite hymns sung by Christian En-.
deavorers enroute to the "quiet hour"
in Tent Endeavor. The tent did not
shut out the rain entirely. Rev. DIR. j..
Wilbur Chapman, leader of the "quiot
hour" and Ii. G.. Smyth, the New York
gospel singer, stood on the speaker s
platform, hats on, directing the pro-
ceedings, shielding themselves with
umbrellas from the streams of water
that dribbled through the big sheetiron
resonator overhead. Tent Endeavor was
broad and long eXpanse OF shining
umbrellas. Scarcely anybody found a
dry spot to SIT upon. For long time
the mutfled roar OF falling rain on the
roof precluded hope OF speaking or audi
BILE prayer, so the people sang instead,
led by four brass wind instruments.
After time there was short, partial
cessation OF the downpour and the
"quiet hour" was carried out, amid sur
roundings which made the title mis-.
. nomer.
Hundreds of young people braved the
elements and appeared at the grounds
for the two main 10 o'clock gatherings.
/, The rain practically ceased soon after lC
o'clock, the tent seats became partially
! dried out and the programs proceeded
. with both the great main tents com.
fortably filled. The speaking was not
> wholly from the platforms. The hum.
blest delegate in the audience had their
chances as against the pulpit orators ON
the stage.
Tent Endeavor was the scene of O
! practical school of methods" addresses
: alternating with open parliaments in
bringing out concensus OF opinions and
4 past ana prospective achievements
t Soon after the break OF dawn the
: trustees of the United Society of Chris
tian Endeavor gathered in the Hotel
Cadillac 20 discuss several matters left
undetermined at Wednesdays meeting
!, ! The most important of these was the
= consideration Of a protest from the min
q isterial alliance of Toledo against the
opening OF the gates OF the Ohio centen,
nial on Sunday. After some discussion
\ and contrary to the expressed wishes OF
= the Toledo representatives who were
present, q general resolution was au
" thorized, protesting, in the name of the
Christian Endeavor society, agains
= opening the gates of any national expo
sition or fair on the Sabbath Another
resolution was authorized protesting
: against the seating of Congressman
! elect Brigham H. Roberts of Utah
Both resolutions were roughly drawn
When completed, the texts will be sub
mitted to the general convention.
The trustees consumed some time IL
the discussion OF matters concerning
the 1900 convention at London, and tn,
methods and rates of ocean transporta
ton, but adjourned without definit,
ton.
: There is understood to be plan un
der consideration for the chartering o
several large ocean steamships to carr,
the American Endeavorers to England
Secretary Baer says the idea is to maxi
a straight fare for all parts of the ship
and have the second cabins and steer
ages fitted up as nearly as possible on al
equality with the first cabin stat
Q, rooms, and also to allow the passenger
l. full privileges Of the upper decks ant
3 provide them with all possible conven
fences. Es4tN
The afternoon feature of interest 70