The age-herald., 1901-07-19
Thirty Thousand Men and WO- men Have Assembled at
 San Francisco EXERCISES WERE INSPIRING
The Thousands of Visitors Are Beinu Cared for Without any Great
 Trouble = Mir. Mckinley
 consratuIates Leaguers.

San Francisco, July 1s-The fifth in
 ternational convention of the Epworth
 League was opened today under the most
 suspicious conditions. The weather was
 ideal and the attendance equalled the
 most sanguine expectations The scene
 at the Mechanics Pavilion, where the
 main exercises of the day were held, was
 one not soon to be forgotten. Every
 vantage place in the auditorium and gal
 leries was occupied by enthusiastic dele
 gates and every unslghtly inch of wall
 was ridden by tasteful decoration Thun-
 derous volumes of harmonious tones
 from human throats and the vibratory
 accompaniment of the monster Stanford
 organ inspired feeling of reverential ad-
 miration and homage that entered into
 full possession of participants and on-
 lockers The railroads had virtually full
 filled their promises. and despite many
 annoying delays landed the last of the
 Eastern delegates here in time for the
 introductory ceremonies. The great army
 of invasion with 30.0OO men and women
 in the file had been provided for without
 the least trouble and in a manner most
 gratifying to all.
 During the forenoon the streets lead
 ing to the Mechanics Pavilion, the head
 quarters of the League, were thronged
 with thousands of delegates wearing the
 badges of the order, and long before the
 hour fixed for the preliminary proceed
 ings the vast structure. which will &C.,
 commodate 15,000 persons, was practically
 filled. The Alhambra Theatre and Met
 ropoltan Temple will give simultaneous
 meetings, which, each, hold 2.500 and pro- vision has been made for any possible overflow In churches. The first services
 were held this morning in the First Con-
 gregational. the Central Methodist and the Howard Street Churches, in each of which communion was celebrated Bishop Joyce president of the League, conduct ed the services In the beautiful audi torium of the First Congregational Church. Every seat was occupied and the aises were so crowded that it was necessary to close the doors against late corners. At the Central Methodist Church
 Rev. John Tigert of Nashville, Tenn,
  onto, Canada, led the congregation at the Howard Street Church.
 Singing of well-known hymns by the congregations led by the great chorus, was feature of all these meetings
 Meeting of League Officers. At 10:30 o'clock there was a special
 meeting of League officers in the pa olJ 1ata xrifh ficol suggestions was delivered by Dr. James | A. Buckley, and the feature of league work to be taken up by the convention was announced by General Secretaries J. l F. Berry, N. M. Dubose and A. c. Crews. Considerable time was devoted to a dis | cussion of work in foreign fields. All of l the speakers dwelt on the importance of | spreading the faith in the new posses sions of the United States. While this l conference was in progress a Christian | Chinese with his five children, all wearing | the Epworth League badge, attracted | much attention.
 By noon the vast interior of the Me- | chanics' Pavilion, capable of holding over | 15, 900 people, was filled with mass of hu- | manity which moved slowly and good | naturedly along the aisles. stopping at | frequent intervals to examine and par | take of some choice product of a Cali | fornia orchard; for, with lavish hospital | ity. almost everything had been provided | without cost for the visitors. The waiting | audience occupied time by singing, old | fashioned tunes being given with vim | indicative of religious enthusiasm. When | the convention proper was called to order | by Rev. Thomas Filben of Pacific Grove | not a vacant space was to be seen from | tte grand organ to the farthest gallery | Mir Filben's voice failed to fill the Audi | torium and many of his announcements | were not heard by majority of the audi | ence After a service of song led by Robert Husband and participated in by the chorus of 2000 and the audience, with the organ, cornet and piano accompani- ment General Secretary Berry read a
 number of congratulatory messages.
 Congratulations from Mckinley. President Mckinley said: 'I have much pleasure in sending to the International Epworth League convention, assembled at San Francisco, my hearty congratula- tions upon the good work the great body | of Christian men and women which 1t | represents has accomplished in the past and my earnest wish that even greater success will crown the future efforts of the league"s
 Vice President Roosevelt wired:
 "Heartiest greetings. and may good luck attend the Epworth League Tn US | efforts for social and civil righteousness Other congratulations were from Gov ernors McMillin of Tennessee Shaw Of
 Iowa, Durbin of Indiana Yates of Illinois,
 Bliss of Michigan, Dockery of Missouri, Stanley of Kansas and Vansant of Mime sota All were received with cheers. those from Mckinley and Roosevelt arousing the audience to much enthusiasm.
 Devotional exercises were led by Rev Judson S. Hill of Morristcwn, Tenn, Henry T. Gage, Governor of California then welcomed the delegates to the State Mayor Phelan then followed with a greeting on behalf of the city. Bishop Jno Hamilton of California, and Rev. j.. c. Simmons of woodlawn. Cal, also deliv- cred addresses Responses were made as | follows:
 On behalf of the Methodist Episcopal