The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1901-02-22

do not adopt the mistaken policy of
waiting for riches before beginning
to give. The Christian is born to
serve. S%elfshness is the most out
rageous of sins because most at vari-
ance to the spirit of Christ. Christ
dignified service. In use of money be
not anxiuos for the future. Christian
prayer should be for fruitful lives, not
for self.
Secretary Kitchener gave another
stirring address upon''The Christian
and His State. The key note to the
spirit and the success of the associa-
tion movement is the Christian mans
relation to his state. Our state is the
key note of the union. Formerly we
looked to the East, now all the South
and West looks to Minnesota. It fol-
lows that we have great responsibility.
Money and loyalty to our state multi
plies itself many times in influence
over the men of the Northwest. Among
the needs of the state speedily to re-
! CSlNS dOISLulCu dlS IhlSS ldlilOdu
points, two colleges and the county
work throughout the state. GOodhue
county is the only county organization
in the state, yet almost without ex-
ception the men in the convention
come from homes in towns of less than
3, 900 OF the country. We shall now
have an assistant state secretary,
greatly needed in railroad work and
working up county associations All
these and funds are needed, are being
arranged, but the greatest need is that
~unoccupied places in mems lives and
hearts be opened to power of God.
Close of the Convention.
The Saturday afternoon and evening
meetings were we'll attended. Mr..
Ober's address on boys" was pointed
and suggestive. He advocated letting
the boy develop character in the sports
and work of boys in general. A
'pinnicky" boy should be put in over
alls and turned out with the other boys
until they hammer it out of him.
Secretary Clark of the railroad asso-
Citations followed with a brief &C
count of the remarkable work among
railroad men. He read and quoted
letters of heartiest endorsement from
President Mckinley and various pro-
minent railway officials and then in
PRODUCED ten railroad men who report
ed from their respective roads. Con-
ductor Cars and his brakeman won the
house by their earnest and yet anus
ingIy characteristic. talks. Each down
to Father CIofin, the last speaker,
had most sympathetic and %apprecia-
tive listeners. Father Clofin, now of
| well-nigh national fame as the noDlest
champion Of Sabbath rest and as the
one who introduced the safety brake
throughout the West, reviewed in an
affecting manner the heroism and just
claims of railroad men. The large
house paid intense and enthusiastic
attention as this dear old man set forth
the cause SO dear to him in words of
simple e~loquence. All felt for the time
certainly that Sunday traffic was
criminal.
After a most helpful quiet hour Sun
day morning in charge of G.. G.
Kitchener, the delegates separated for
the services in the various churches in
h WOO Of tbo caoratapiaa
The mems meeting at 3 p. IN. at the
opera house was of mere than antici-
pated results. Fred B. Smith gave an
address of power. For nearly two
hours he spoke with winning and tell
ing effect on "The Strong Man" He
possesses uncommon power in laying
open mems lives and yet it is impos-
sible to account in human terms for
the scores of men who asked for
prayers and most of whom met him
later at the altar. Most gratifying was
this fruit of the convention. 1t can
not be measured in its Importance to
the city of Mankato and to the men
who thus manifested their determine
ton to live the strong life.
The evening meetings in the
churches weressagain in charge of the
secretaries and delegates. At s :45 the
farewell service was held at the Central
Presbyterian church, whose doors have
stood open to the convention through
out.
The delegates left on the night and
early morning trains with most de-
lightful memories of precious meet
ings and of the kind hospitality &C
corded them by the local association
and the homes where they have been
so very cordially entertained. No de-
tail was omitted and nj expense spared
to make this convention what it was,
a convention not soon to be forgotten.
The Mems Meeting.
Fred B. Smith gave a splendid adj
dress at the opera house yesterday
| afternoon TO an audience of men that
nearly filed every seat, ever to the rear
of the gallery. For fully more than an
hour he held that large audience by
his e~loquence. His subject was "The
S trong Man" He gave three propo-
sitions as to what constituted a strong
man. First, physically He believed
that physical strength should be cul-
tivated. God has given man his body
for a purpose, and he should take the
best of care of it. He admired great