Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-27
WEDNESDAYS SESSION.

WEDNESDAYS SESSION..
Second Day Of c.E. Convention Graced
by Chapman's Presence.
The opening session today of the
fifteenth annual convention of the
Iowa Christian Endeavor society,
which convened in this city yesterday,
was held in the Grand opera house
this morning, the exercises being in
charge of DR.. J. Wilbur Chapman of
New York. The quiet hour service,
as conducted by DR.. Chapman, was
one of the most interesting and help
full sessions of the convention. A brief
song service preceded the spiritual
session, and at 500 the doors of the
opera house were closed. The next
hour was devoted to quiet consecra-
ton, and as conducted by DR.. Chap
man, the noted leader of the quiet
hour service, was the means of be-
slowing much spiritual blessing on the
individual delegates and Endeavcr
work in general.
DR.. Chapman spoke from the book
of Solomon, choosing the following
verses as his text: Verse 16 of chap
ter II; verse 3 of chapter vi, and
verse 10 of chapter VII. Following
DIR. Chapman's remarks a number of
one-sentence prayers were voluntarily
offered up to God by those present at
the convention.
DR.. Chapman will address the con-
vention this evening at s o'clock, and
the afternoon program was altered so
that he was permitted to make a
short talk this afternoon at o'clock.
The remainder of the morning ses-
sion was devoted to reports Of the
various departments of the state work,
including the annual report of Miss
Zerilda Black, of Clinton, statistical
secretary, a copy of which will be
found below.
The lookout and prayer meetings,
which were to have been held this
morning, were postponed until this
afternoon at o'clock, when they will
be held at the First Congregational
church. The remarks on state, dis
trict and county work, by President
Orr, announced for the morning SEES
sion, were crowded out and have been
indefinitely postponed.
Reports of varied extent were
made on the following departments:
Junior Work-Mrs. Julia r. Nc
Quilkin.
Christian Citizenship-Rev. N. F.
Douglas, superintendent.
Observation-Disclosures NJ Whetzel, SUI
perintendent.
Prison Workable E. Powers, ST.
perintendent.
Bible Study-Rev. R. L.. Marsh, SUI
perintendent.
Editorial-Rev. G. R. Shatto, super
intendent
Treasurer-John Renfrew.
Statistical Secretary-Zerilda Black.
General Secretary-Jennie L. Cat
lin.
The report on Christian citizenship
indicated material advancement; the
missionary work showed a very sat
isfactory expenditure OF energy and
money; the prison work was conclus-
i've evidence of the vast good that this
particular department is accomplish
ing, and, in the language of the SUI
perintendent, is abolishing the senti.
ment, Once a criminal, always Grim
inal;" the report on bible study con-
tanned many helpful suggestions, and
the report of Treasurer Renfrew indi-
Gated the need of greater activity in a
financial way in the society of the
state Mr.. RenfreW said that the con-
tributions from the societies of the
several districts had not been nearly
SO large as had been pledged, and con-
sequently there were obligations
which would necessarily have to be
met by donations. Mr.. Renfrew made
strong appeal for the financial de-
partrnent and the delegates will be
asked to contribute to the deficiency
some time during the convention. The
annual report of Miss Jennie H. Catlin.
general secretary, showed the work
turnout the state to be in fairly
prosperous condition.
A junior hour, conducted by Mrs. Ju.
liza R. McQuilkin, superintendent of
that department of the work in Iowa
was one of the helpful sessions of the
morning.
Cherokee Gets 1t.
The committee on time and place of
holding the next meeting, of which B.
G. Preston is chairman, reported late
this afternoon in favor of Cherokee,
which report was concurred in by the
convention.
Annual Report of Statistical Secretary
Miss zerilda Black, of Clinton, sta
tistical secretary of the Christian En-
deavor society in Iowa, this morning
presented the following report:
Number of societies in the state $50
Number OF societies reported, I'll
Number of societies not reported 149
Number of societies organized. 81
Number of societies disbanded. AZ
Number active members in Iowa20, 066
Number of associate members. 1851
Number of honorary members. 1,407
Total membership ..... ..... .25,334
Number uniting with the church S,499
Number Of local unions ....,.. "a
Number of county unions. 1880. At
Number taking Christian En-
deavor World $50. ......... 1854
Number taking Iowa Christian
Endeavor .,........... .. I'll
Number who give their tenth. COS
Presbyterian societies ........ 207
Presbyterian members ...... J. 1865
Congregational societies ....... 1877
Congregational membership -. 5,S73
Christian societies !. 1874