Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1905-06-17
SPLENDID MUSIC
PROMINENT. FEATURE
Chorus Under Professor D. 3. Towner,
OF Chicago, Participates in Program
Hon. Samuel Mahon Delivers Ad.
dress Of Welcome to Delegates
sessions at First M. e. Church.

A half hour concert by the sunday
schools of the city under the direction
Of Prof Edward Weeks and the in
spring music of the chorus of $50
voices under the direction of Prof. d.
B. Towner of Chicago. were features
Of the opening exercises of the first
session of the fortieth annual conven-
ton of the Iowa State Sabbath School
association held at the First Methodist
Episcopal church last evening. The
hundreds of enthusiastic Sunday
school workers from all over Iowa and
many visitors from Ottumwa packed
the large auditorium of the church and
there were but few vacant seats in the
balcony.
President A. F. N. Hambleton of
Oskaloosa presided and Major Samuel
Mahon of Ottumwa delivered the ad-
dress of welcome. The response was
Pearce of Chicago gave splendid adj
dress. The Hon. William Gackaberry
of Sioux City conducted the scripture
reading and the opening prayer was
by Rev. William Orr of Clarinda.
Inspiring Music,
The music of the students of the
Sunday schools of the city under the
direction of Prof Edward Weeks was
most enjoyable and met with hearty
appreciation. Prof D. B. Towner had
charge of the large chorus and the
several selections were given in a
splendid manner that evoked the
heartiest applause from the large audi
ence. The effective rendition of a
solo by Prof. Towner was one of the
most enjoyable features of the SER
vice.
About 500 delegates are in the city
to attend the convention and from the
enthusiasm manifested and the hearty
manner in which all enter into the
spirit of the meeting assures a most
successful and profitable convention.
Major Samuel Mahon delivered the
address of welcome and spoke in part
as follows:
Il wish first to congratulate Prof.
Towner for the inspiration Of the glor-
ious singing of this chorus. We are
glad to welcome this convention for it's
company, it's instruction and associa-
tons, 1t would have been a bold
prophet fifty years ago. who would
have prophesied such an assemblage
as this for Ottumwa. Then Iowa was
almost wilderness. Tonight we have
delegates representing the two and a
quarter millions of people of the state
gathered here together in the cause OF
Christ. All of the evangelical churches
of Iowa are represented. Although we
may belong to different divisions to
separate brigades, sill we can frater-
niZe, we can help one another. feel
like taking off my hat to the Sunday
school officers and teachers. 1t is a
labor of duty and of love.
1--WE welcome you to our city in the
the name of our industries, our COM
mercial industries I'VE welcome you on
behalf of our schools and they are our
pride; we welcome you on behalf
of the Christian people who are
working hand in hand in this great
movement; we welcome you on behalf
Of the whole city. I was pleased to
see the two emblems side by side in
the great convention, the flag and the
cross. You are working along national
lines as we'll as religious lines. Right
eousness eXalteth nation. May these
two emblems ever go together in the
march of progress and civilization and
right"
A. F. N. Hambleton, of Oskaloosa.
president of the association, responded
to the address of welcome. His adj
dress is given in full in another part
Of this paper.
w. c. Pearce Speaks.
W. c. Pearce of Chicago, formerly
prominent attorney, now interna-
tional teacher training secretary, gave
an address that was listened to with
the closest attention and met with
hearty appreciation. He said in part:
81 am glad to be with you this even.
ing. / believe that next to Illinois,
Iowa is the best state In the union,
and / know that tonight am speaking
to the best people in Iowa A friend
Of mine once told me that the best
people in the world belong to church.
And this is true The best people in
the church are working in the Sunday
school, the best people in the Sunday
school attend the conventions, and the
best people that attend the conven-
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