Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1900-07-11
State Convention Opens at Wat
erviI|e, Tuesday Afternoon.
Delegates Coming on Every Train and
Over 100 at Opening.
Rev W. F. Berry Speaks Of Work as Secretary
Of Maine Civic League.

~ A'i'c III the Guy Tor their State con-
Vehtlon which is being held with the
League of the Methodist church On
Pleasant street, this year. The con
Ventlon opened, Tuesday afternoon. and
VIII continue through. tomorrow
Elaborate preparations have been made
py the local society to make the con-
Vehtlon success and all the present
ihdlcatlonS promise that it viii be
lhefe could scarcely have been a bet
lei DAY for the convention than TODAY
There was a cool breeze in the after
noon and the church was very comfort
'tfle. over 100 delegates had register
cd before the opening of the first ser
vice. and others are coming on every
train.
On the outside of the church over
the main entrance was suspended 7
large cScutcheOn of the League in bluo
and white and surrounded by taste
FULLY arranged strcamcrs of the same
coluIS. The whole has been wired for
electric nights of the two colors so
that when lighted, at night, the effect
is very pleasing
me convention was called to order
by H"V. G. ID. Lindsay. pastor of the
fleaSant street church, who soon gave
place to w. :. McGeoch of Portland.
president of the State organization.
After music by the church choir. Mayor
W. q. Phlbrnok was introduced to
welcome the delegates to the city. His
address was very practical ana sensible
rs Well as original. He spoke in part
as follows:
II have come here at a loss what
to say. It is easy to extend 4 welcome
without meaning anything by it, Dur
ing the past year when it has been my
privilege to welcome various organi-
Zations to the city | have never been
guilty Of saying welcome without
meaning it. l am glad 10 welcome you
as the representatives Of 4 million ana
2 quarter Of people. What ! am about
to say viii need a word Of explanation
| am glad to see you como ana will he
glad when You are gone. If your motto.
Look up. Lift up means anything
am glad to see You and if it means
anything | win be glad to see you go.
If You look up am glad to see you and
if You lift up | will he glad to sec you
| 20 to DO good. ana for this reason
| Gi.lii IfiI you are gone. 1 nope YOU
| Win excuse these blunt words from a
| wording. but | say what | mean. If
| ! may say it the world is tired Of
| Christians who are only looking up.
| II like to SOC organization. | am a
| politician. | like to see my party, cor
porations. capital and labor organized.
| | like to see Christian men and women
organized. What are you hcre for?
| If YOU are here only for social inter-
| course to form new acquaintance or.
what il more sacred to pray and sing
together the world Will be disappointed.
| But if influences 20 out from our quiet
| city On account uf this convention
which will life up. we shall be well
pleased. | bid you a warm hearty wei
come to our beautiful little city. Walk
together: read together; linger under
the signing elms and the whispering
moplcs and then go forth to up-lift and
up-IOok."
The address Of welcome was warmly
received ana its spirit appreciated by
the convention. The response was
made by Rev q. ID. Lindsay, pastor
Of the church. He spoke in part as
follows:
Il am glad to see you and glad t"
hear the address just made by the
mayor. ! am glad t. welcome YOU for
what you are-young men ard women
pledged to loyal faithful scrvic" to the
Lord Jesus Christ. \ man may ~
successful IN any NJ the many branch
as of life ana yet ~ Il failure ana die
4 disappointed man. but a man or Wo-
man pledged to Jesus Christ must b"
an unuualifi, Il success. ! welcome you
as young people banded together for
work We see organization in every
thing 1t is necessary. 1t is the day
nf organizati ms. sometimes fear
that we carry it too far. that we have
more machinery than power; but to d"
the h 81 work we must be banded to-
ccther We should be banded for in |
SEPARATION ana encouragement l wei
come YOU for your zeal; because you !
are optimistic. Optimism gives cour- |
age and strength. | welcome you for |
what You may b. | would gladly wipe |
tn tears from tie grimy &c If a bar" |
foot urchin of the street, for the boy |
is a bundle Of immense possibilities. |
welcome YOU as the salt of the earth. !
but if the salt has lost its flavor ,
whcrewith shall il be salted?' ! wei
come you as inc ltBht q me Nofiu'
but do not hide your light under
huehcI. / welcome you as magnets to g
draw mon from sin. | welcome you as
friends If all that is good and foes OF
all that is wrong.
The response of welcome for the del
egates was made by President w. :.
McC;coch. who spoke briefly. lie said
in part:
I'VE are here to join hands and
touch hearts for inspiration and en-
couragement We are proud Of the
church which finds a heritic in no man
ana ii should be our duty to see that
il remains ever thus. We realize the
seriousness of the economic problems
Of the day ana that in these the
church should have a strong voice.
We hope the church in this city may
he as prosperous in the future as It
has been in the past.