Omaha daily bee., 1902-10-17
WELCOME CHRISTIAN HOSTS
Judge HSlOOnb, Mayer NoOr,s and oitissnI
VOics Public Sentiment.
BIG CONVENTIONS AUsPIcIoUs OPENING
Generous and ApprecIatIve Responses
to the Generous Reception
Extended by the city
and state.

entertaining cities. A choir Of more than
100 leading a congregation so powerful in
voice that its ensemble was as measured
thunder Dgnitaries Of church, Of state
and Of municipality Joining in words Of
welcome. Distinguished visitors respond
ing thereto.
Such are the reasons for declaring au-
spiclous the opening at the Coliseum last
night of the international convention Of
the Christian churches-a convention that
now gives every promise Of overshadowing
all predecessors in omaha's history.
Grim and uninviting as is the exterior Of
the ancient building, its interior appear
ance last night was one Of such cheering
brilliance and all-engulhng commodious-
ness that the disappointment over the fall
ure Of the Auditorium to materialize in
time for this meeting was almost forgotten
AS early as Z o'clock there began to flow
in through the scst doors a stream that
gained in volume az the minutes passed
and that had no ending until an hour later.
The ushers did well their part, filling the
rows solidly from the front and making a
compact mass OF the audience-a mass
which finally extended from wall to wall,
beginning at the foot of the ample stage
and continuing two-thirds the length Of
the great chamber.
Long before all had arrived, in fact
promptly at the promised hour Of 1880, the
song service was opened, and by $3.50 the
benediction had been pronounced and there
remained only the general reception, which
gave hundreds an opportunity to meet other
hundreds, and incidentally gave the street
car company a chance to care fairly we'll
for a crowd which, had it desired to en-
train at once, must have quickly swamped
the meager capacity Of the Dodge line.
ChOirmaster Makes n Hit.
w. E. NJ. Hackleman of indianapolis, as
conductor Of the music Of the convention,
was the first speaker" Of the evening
His words were few, for he had only to
give the request that the women remove
their hats. With this he won the initial
applause OF the convention. Turning i'm
mediately thereafter he signalod the choir,
recruited from the church singers of the
three cities, and I'VE Are Marching on to
Zion" stirred the souls of the Christian
throng, with instrumental accompaniment
by two Rianists, an organist, a cornetist
and a violinist Before Its echoes were
gone there followed THE Sword Of the
Lord" then Redeemed then Trust and
Obey" then my Jesus, / Love Thee"
then blessed Hour OF Prayer" and finally
"Will There be Any Stars?" a solo by Rev.
Frank Wilkinson, singing evangelist.
Rev, w. T, Hilton. pastor OF the North
Side Christian church of Omaha, succeeded
the musicians in occupancy of the front Of
the rostrum, and said:
A little more than a year ago the Dis
ciples of Christ felt need here of some
thing to give further impetus to our work
One man said we could capture this con-
vention. We consulted the Commercial
11tt nd oil, said rrAttId lot
we could be successful, but did not believe
We could. We consulted the papers and
the papers gave us a glorious pledge Of
aid, but could hold out small encouragement
as to our ability to get the great gather
ing so soon after Minneapolis had enter
continued to say we could after we got
aboard the train for the convention city
and he continued to say we could until-we
did. And ever since then, when difficulties
have arisen, he has again said, We can"
He has led us always and is still leading
us. / want TO introduce that man who has
been our perpetual inspiration. His name Is
c. S. Payne and he will now address you.
Payne is Modest.
Mr.. Payne was greeted with rousing
cheers but attempted no address. He in
clines to works rather than to words and
after requesting that there be the best Of
order preserved throughout the convention
in order that none might miss wgat was
being said, he retired in favor of Judge W.
w. Slabaugh, whom he introduced as the
man who had stood shoulder to shoulder
with the foremost workers in the great un-
dertakng. Judge Slabaugh was equally
pointed and modest, saying:
Preparing for a convention is to us as
marriage is to most people new and novel
of workers went to Minneapolis under
Brother Paine and brought back the con-
vention, the Disciples here have toiled tire
the CitiZGnEhin
press, without which no great movement
can succeed; Now, with the sunshine Of
these beautiful days, Gods benediction
seems upon us and our 1abors crowned.
Judge slsbaugh then presented to Rev.
Harvey o. Breeder, pastor OF the Central
Christian church OF Des Moines, president
of the convention, a gavel made from the
wood used in the construction Of the con-
vention building; to Mrs. Nancy e. Atkin-
son, Indiana, vice president Of the Chris
tian Woman's Board Of Missions another
made from the wood o. the first church
built In Omaha by the Disciples and to F.
NJ Rains OF Ohio, corresponding secre-
tary OF the Foreign Christian Missionary
society, another from the same historic
source
Former Governor Silas A. Holcomb, one
of the judges of the supreme court, was
then introduced by Chairman Paine, who
designated MIN "A loyal disciple ana one
entitled to speak a word of welcome on
behalf OF the state.
Judge Holcomb. after felicitous greetings
and a general review OF the good agencies
| OF the state, among which he emphasized
particularly the educational provisions,
| said:
HOIcOmb Speaks for state.
You have captured our hearts; you are
welcome TO our homes and that which we
may contribute to your comfort and happi-
| ness Is freely bestowed. 1t Is altogether
| unnecessary that you should encompass
J our goodly city and land with your buglera
| and armorbearers. The blowing of horns
| and the baring OF trumpets have been ef-
| fectively done by the local committee on
| arrangements. We should, IL we could, Kill
| the fatted calf, not because you are re-
| turning prodigals but in order to give ma
| terial proof OF the substantial character OF
| our unbounded hospitality and of the great
! pleasure II affords TO obey the precept
| which says Il Is more blessed 70 give than
| 10 receive. We are unable to do all We
| otherwise would in this regard because
| Notwithstanding fat cattle are roaming over
| a thousand hills, in countless valleys and
| over the broad prairies, the mammoth
1 packing establishments in our adjoining
| sister city OF South Omaha insist that ali
| the fat calves as we'll as all kline shall be
| driven on It's shambles, there 20 be
slaughtered dressed and prepared for the
! table and distributed to you and me ir
|