The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1899-07-06
LEX llRll gAlBS.
Eighteenth Inssraasisnal goassn-
| ton Of Christian Endeaxorers.
PRESIDENT MKIHLEY'a MESSAGE.

desvor Society Has Achieved" -
Detroit, July 6.-The afternoon Of
the preliminary day Of the eighteenth
annual international convention Of
Christian Endeavorers was showery,
but toward evening the sun broke
through the clovda and the travel from
all parts Of the city to the Christian
Endeav0r grounds began. Al shutdown
long waverins lines Of young people
wended across the green fields about
the white tented city, all converging
toward Tent hndeavor, where the vel
coming rally was held. The great
tents capacity of 10000 was quickly
filed, and after that crowd of out
sidsrs obtained sight and hearing
through the dropping Of the tent walls
at either side.
The Christian Endeavor red and
white was suspended In hundreds Of
broad streamers from the lofty roof.
to the caves. FlaUs Of all nations,
draped with the stars and Stripes,
hung overhead at intervals. The
coats Of arms Of the states were at
tached TO the tent poles. The Chris
tian Endeavor monogram shone from
large red and white electric globes
over the resonator suspended above the
speakers platform. Higher up the
Union Jack and Stars and Stripes in
terminglsd. A thousand white capped
young men and maids composed the
choir on the big stage. the front Of
which was occupied by the onicers and
clergy.
Promptly at 7:8o the comparative
silence was broken by tho swelling
strains of THE Son Of God Goes Forth
to War" followed by There Shall Be
Showers of Dlessiag," Onward. Chris
tian Soldiers" etc., in all Of which the
great crowd enthusiastically Joined.
Devotional exercisSs were led BY the
Rev. J. @. Butler, d Washington, the
welcome of local conmittse was ex.
tended by william II. Strong, chair
man. Mr.. Strong dwelt upoh tie beau-
ties OF Detroit and greeted the dele
gates not only on behalf of the local
Christian Hndeavor societies. but also
on behalf Of the young peoples re-
ligious societies. allied to special de-
nominations, which had collahorated
in all efforts Of the general committee.
Rev. Charles @. Newman eloquently
welcomed the convention in behalf Of |
Detroit pastors. closing with these
words: you are thrice welcome
May we prove as worthy hosts as you
are worthy guests, and when you have |
closed your convention and are ready |
to depart may you have 1t as truly to |
say that you are welcome as We say |
n now at tfe hepjnnin1"
Mayor Maybury in welcoming the
Endeavorers; eloQuently extollsd the
work of the society, and his address
frequently evoked words Of applause.
There was enthusiastic applause
when Secretary Baer read the follow
ing telegram from President Mckinley:
REV. Dr.. Francis q. Clark: On the
occasion Of the eighteenth internation-
al convention Of your society. desire
to express my cordial interest in its
work, my best wishes to those as
sembled with you in convention, and
my earnest hope for the continuance
and increase Of the great results which
the efforts Of the Christian Endeavor
society has achieved"
Next on the progrom came responses
in behalf Of Endeavorers from foreign
lands. As Rev. William Patterson, of
Toronto, came forward to speak for
Canada some one struck UP "God save
the Queen" The Canadians on the
platform took up the strain, and In
moment the huge tent was reverberat-
ing with the swelling chorus Of the
British anthem. fhe friendly relations
between Canada and the United States,
particularly with reference to religious
matters, formed the burden of DR.. Pat
terson's address
Rev. DR.. H. J. Tressider, secretary Of
the London council of Christian En-
deavor, answered the greetings in be-
half of Great Britain. Perish the mad
dream" said he, that a conflict should
ever co4e between our two countries
1t is the work and the duty of the
Christian Endeavorers to make i'm
possible such an idea"
For Australia response was made by
Rev. Joseph Walker, Of Queensland;
for China, by Elwood G. Tewksbury, a
missionary in the vicinity of Pekin;
for Turkey, by Rev. Lyndon s. Craw-
ford, for many years missionary in
that country; for Japan, by Rev. Otis
Carey; for Mexico. by Rev. c. Scott
Williams. and for the United States
by Rev. Arthur ]. Smith, of Georgia.
At the close Of the big meeting the
crowd thronged to the platform to be
presented to the mayor and the officers
of the United Society. This closed the
first day Of what promises to be one of
the most notable gatherings in the
history of the organization.