The Billings gazette. [volume] (Billings, Mont.) 1896-1919, 1904-06-03

C-6l ueVCu pldycu CAuICu, Dut WOTh-
ed with an earnestness and zeal that
compelled the respect and admiration
of all. 1--WE extend to you a hearty
welcome and the use of our churches
and as far as possible our homes"
said the speaker" and we extend to
you the courtesies of our pulpits and
ask that you fill them next Sunday.
For the time at least we will forget
that we are Congregationalists, Pres
%byterians, Baptists, ~Episcopalians and
even Christian Scientists, and will
sit with you in the fellowship OF
Christ. We are partners in a great
firm, shareholders in an immense or
ganization to build up Gods kingdom
on earth, and are united in one great
cause. We have the same gospel and
are en%deavoring to build up the gen.
eral church and further Gods work"
An injury to one branch of the gen.
eral church was an injury to all the
Others, said Mr.. Miles, and that which
benefited n also benefited all others.
The different societies of young peo-
pie had made the church more effect
i've, more attractive, more spiritual
and to that degree had benefited the
cause of religion everywhere.
Once more speaking in behalf of the
other churches he babe the visitors
a cordial and warm welcome.
President MetcaIf's Response.
President Metcalf was o intro
duced and spoke as follows:
81 know that l voice the sentiment
of every delegate to this 10th annual
convention of the Montana Epworth
league when l thank you all for these
hearty words of welcome to the beau
tiful city of Billings. | assure you
that we have come here believing
and knowing that we would find a
sincere spirit OF hospitality prevail
ing.
1T might not be out Of place for
me to state briefly why we Epworth
leaguers gather in these annual con-
ventions. In the first place, our work
lies among the young people of Mon.
tana; our field is statewide. We are
naturally and primarily a denomina-
tional organization, and we thorough.
ly believe in the. peculiar mission OF
our W Methodist Episcopal church
But our principal endeavor is not to
make Methodists of the young men
and women we work with, but rather
to put into practical operation the
Divine mission to seek and save that
which vas lost. Therefore we stor
not within church bounds, but evel
seek to win the young people OF GU,
state to paths of right living by the
power of love enshrined in hearts
and p%ersonified in lives, which are
inspired by the. motto, Look up; lit
up
I'VE come together each year as
delegates from the various chapters
scattered in every section of this
grand commonwealth primarily te
gain help and inspiration from asso
citation together. Combined with this
essence of success in a common cause
which we imbibe from a feeling OF
companionship and cooperation in the
same great work, we seek and find
practical thoughts and valuable les
sons-ideas which have stood the test
of practice and have been successful
in other communities, and which we
can put into operation in our owr
fields of WORK with the consciousness
that faithful labor will bring results
Il trust that above all things this
will be a practical convention. We
have striven for that in the prepare.
ton of this programme. And let me
at this point, especially urge upon
you who are delegates the necessity
of your doing your part to achieve
the desired result. Resolve fright
here and now that you will take
part of some sort in every session
Thus you will gain for yourself the
greatest good from this convention
and will give help and inspiration tt
others.
II can we'll believe that the people
OF Billings are glad to entertain this
10th annual state convention of the
Montana Epworth league A body o
hearty, pure-minded, noble-spiritet
young people will tarry here for these
five days and will form pleasant an6
lasting friendships. But more thai
that this convention represents al
idea. which. we can truly thank Cod