The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-07-07
Endeavorers Hold Their Morn
ing Meeting Under Umbrellas.
''Quiet Hour Carried on I'm
der Difficulties.
ALL DECORATIONS SAG
And Banners Look Tired With
Their Weight of Water.
Delegates Finally Compelled to
Give It Up.

Detroit, July 7.-"Showers of blessing"
and There is sunshine in my soul to-
day. were the favorite hymns sung by
the Christian Endeavorers this morn
ing en- route to the Quiet Hour" in
Tent Endeavor. However abundant the
spiritual showers may have been the
physical rains were certainly cOpiOus
enough to drench everything in sight
and the utter incapability of the En-
deavor tents to exclude rain was fully
demonstrated.
Rev. DR.. J. B. Chapman, leader of
the "Quiet Hour" and H. C. Smythe,
the New York gospel singer, stood on
the speakers platform. hats on, direct
ing the proceedings. shielding them
selves with umbrellas from the streams
of water that dribbled through the big
sheet iron resonater overhead. Tent
Endeavor was a broad and long expanse
of shining umbrellas. Scarcely any
body found a dry spot to sit upon and
it rained inside the tent almost as hard
and in places harder than out of doors.
The long decorative bands of white and
red sagged and dropped like sponges
and the banners all looked tired. The
audience appeared large enough to fill
the tent. but it was mostly umbrellas.
For a long time the muff1ed roar of
falling rain on the roof precluded hope
of speaking, or audible prayer, so the
people sang instead, led by four brass
wind instruments sticking out from un-
der more umbrellas on the stage. After
a time there was a short, partial cessa-
tiOn of the dOWnpOur and then the
"Quiet Hour" was carried out amid
surroundings which made the title a
misnomer.
Hundreds of young people braved the
elements and appeared at the grounds
for the two main ten o'clock gather
ings, but pOstpOnement for the time be-
ing at least was inevitable.
BUSINESS MEETING.
Detroit, July Soon after the break
of dawn today the trustees of the United
Society of Christian Endeavor gathered
in the Hotel Cadillac to discuss several
matters left undetermined at Wednes-
days meeting. The most important
business was the consideration of a pro-
test from the Ministerial Alliance of To-
Iedo against the opening of the gates of
the Ohio Centennial on Sunday.
After some discussion, and contrary
to the expressed wishes of the Toledo
representatives who were present a
general resolution was authorized pro-
testing in the name of the Christian
Endeavor society against opening the
gates of any national exposition or fair
on the Sabbath.
Another resolution was announced
protesting against the seating of Con-
gressman-ele Brigham H. Roberts. Of
| Utah Both resolutions were roughly
drawn; when completed the text will
be submitted to the general convention
for adoption.
The trustees consumed some time in
| the discussion of matters concerning
the 1900 convention at London and the
methods and rates of ocean transporta-
ton, but adjourned without definite ac-
ton.
There is understood to be a. p1an nm
| der consideration for the chartering of
several large ocean steams hips to carry
the American Endeavorers to England
secretary Baer says the idea is to make
a straight fare for all parts of the ship
and have the second cabin and steerage
| fitted up as nearly as possible on an
equality with the first cabin state
rooms and also to allow the passengers
| full privileges of the upper decks and
provide them with all possible conven-
| fences.
The rain practically ceased soon after
| 10 O'Clock, the tent seats became par
/ italy dried out and the programmes
proceeded with both main tents COM
| fortably filed Today's speaking was
| not wholly from the platforms The
| humblest delegate in the audiences had
| their chances as against the pulpit ora
| tors on the stage. They promptly i'm
proved all opportunities given by the
| open parnaments to shout out their eX-
perlenceS in religious work and their
| plans for future efforts toward regen-
! Grafton of the world.
Tent EndeavOr was the scene of a
practical School of Methods" ad-
| dresses alternating with open parlia-
| ments to bring out consensus of opin-
| ions and past and prospective achieve
| ments
The topics and the leaders were as
] follows:
New ideas for the prayer meeting
| committee William Z. Sweet, Denver,
| Col.
New views for the lookout commit
| tee" w. H Ball, Philadelphia
open parliament conducted by W. C..
| Perkins, Baltimore-"No Novel sociaIs -
Rev. E Leo Fleck, Dayton, o.
| Open parliament, conducted by John
| A. Carey, Baltimore-"Fresh missionary
meetings" H. N. Lathrop, Boston
| Open parliament, New plans con-
! Quoted by H. H. Grotthouse Dallas,
| Tex: Some new committees" S. J.
| Duncan-Clark, Toronto, Ont.
! The theme of the meeting in Tent
| Williston was Best things" a practi-
| cal school of methods at which Treas
! urer William Shaw of Boston pre-
| sided.
| Ten of the best things that can be
| done" by the various society commit
| tees were described in brief talks by
| Rev. Otis A. Smith of Bay City, Mich. !;
| Rev T. H Hanna of Steubenville, o. :;
| Rev E w. Clippenger. of Warrens-
| burg, Mo; Rev. A. c. Miller of Ply
| Neb. Miss Jennie Mason of Indianapo-
! lis and Rev. DR.. ]. F. Cowan Of Bos-
| ton.
An address on the BEST conservation
! meetings" was given by Rev. A. c.
Z Kenpton Of GAINESVILLE, Wis.
! A. G.. Leffingweu of Appleton, Wis,
| conducted a short open parliament on
| The best thing your society ever did, .
! calling forth responses from many del
| egates-
by Rev. J. H. o. Smith of Chicago.