Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1901-06-26
THE G. E. CONVENTION
HELD In DEBORAH LAST WEEK
Large Attendance from This Part of
the State, and Splendid Sessions
Throughout.

The Third District Christian Endea
vor Union comprises the counties o
Worth, Clayton, Allamakee, Fayette
Floyd, Howard, Chickasaw, Mitchell
Cerro Gordo, Winnesheik and Flank
lin, the eleven counties in the north
eastern part of Iowa. 1t is the largest
Christian Endeavor district i'm the state
and has had the honor of being called
the best one and the one having the
largest and most enthusiastic member.
ship along some lines of Christian En-
deavor work.
| A year ago when the invitation was
| given to oome to Decorah in 1901 fol
the first convention of the twentieth
century, the Fifteenth Annual Con.
vention of this G.. +. Union, all hearts
and voices responded quickly to it, and
June q, % and % Decorah witnessed
one of the largest and best conventions
ever held in the third district. Per-
haps the people of Decorah, who SO
kindly threw open their doors to take
in the delegates, who so beautifully
decorated their windows, and who in
any way assisted the Decorah Endeav-
orers to make this grand and good
convention, would have felt greatly re-
paid for their work could they have
heard the many kind words given by
these delegates; the many expressions
of love, of admiration, of delight, of
appreciation and of thanks, that came
not from the lips only, but from the
| heart.
The officers of the Union had pre-
pared the best of programs for this
meeting; they had secured Evangelist
q. n. Hunt, of Minneapolis, to sneak,
and he, though in the midst of large
meeting at Usage, came and gave many
good thoughts and words of help. The
Decorah Endeavorers had done what
they could in preparation for this Con-
vention, and all pronounced it the best
we ever had.
The delegates began to come Friday
noon, and by evening had registered to
over one.hundred and thirty-five; many
more came Saturday and Sunday, but
as they did not all register it is not GER
tain just how many were present.
The meeting opened Friday afternoon
with song service, led by our district
president, Mr.. J. w. Heald, of Nashua,
and after prayer for the convention the
first subject on the program was taken
up.
The general subject was historical.
Twenty years of Christian Endeavor
and The Church was given by Rev.
Edwin Ewell, of Nashua; "The Relig-
ious Life of Young People" by Rev. e.
H. Matlax, of Arlington; Citizenship"
by Rev. A. j. Gregg, of Frankville.
The papers were all very interesting,
especially to the Endeavorers.
The meetings of the convention, with
the exception of Sunday evening, were
held in the Congregational Church,
which had been decorated in black and
yellow, the Christian Endeavor colors.
The meeting Friday evening opened
with song service at eight o'clock. The
music of the convention, under the di-
rection of Miss Nora Riley, was care
fully selected and well prepared; it was
enjoyed very much all through the
meetings. The Address of Welcome"
Iby Mr.. w. G.. Adams was given ip
words we'll chosen. He welcomed the
delegates to the hearts and homes of
Decorah. The Response" was well
given by Miss Lura Hutchinson, of
Nora Springs. The two addresses given
by Rev. G. HI. Rogers, of Mason City,
aud Rev. o. Fl. Holmes, of Cresco, the
former on "Chrlstian Endeavor and
China" the latter on "Watchman!
What of the Night?" were listened to
with great deal of interest.
One of the most characteristic fea-
lures of a young peoples convention is
the sunrise prayer meeting. The meet
inn of this convention held Saturday
at six o'clock was one of the best; it
was led by Rev. N. f. Hannant, of
Waucoma.
AT the meeting Saturday morning
reports of the officers and societies were
given, and they showed good work
done in the district. The papers given,
"The Forward Movement" by Miss
Maritime Gabrilsen, of New Hamp-
ton, and missionary Education in the
Society,"" by Mrs. +. f. Biddinger, of
Oelwein, were very good. The address
given by Rev. s. w, Pollard, of Post
vile, on "The Reflex Influence of Work
for Missions" was also very interest
ing. and many good and helpful things
were said. The open parliament on
the pledge, with Rev. N. l.. Packard
as leader, could not be finished during
the morning session. The different
parts Of the pledge were taken up by
members of the different societies,