The Rice belt journal. (Welsh, Calcasieu Parish, La.) 1900-19??, 1905-11-03


vention in the recitation OF the tlrst
Psalm, followed by prayer.
Prof. Crosse voiced the common sOr-
row at the loss of suCn man as hay, |
whose passing made the world prove
and announced that the Christian En-
deavor hymn which Secretary Hay
wrote for the Washington convention
in 1896, had been set to music by Percy
foster especially for the convention
and would now be sung.
President Roosevelt was not present
as he hoped for, prior to the death OF
Mr.. Hay: however, the following mes
sage vas sent to President Clark and
was read in the presence of the great
throng, from the platform:
Oyster Bay, July +, 1903.
Rev. Francis Z. Clark, ID. D., Pres.
United Society of c. E, Baltimore Md:
II am very sorry that it has been
found impossible for me to accept your
invitation to address the Christian
Endeavor convention, but will you
permit me to send through you, word
of greeting to this assembly and to
heartily wish them continued success
in the work in which they are engaged.
The work of your society, during the
quarter of century of its existence,
has been far reaching in its effect for
good. To make better citizens, to lift
up the standard of American manhood
and womanhOOd, is to do the greatest
service to the community. The stabil-
ity of this government depends upon
the individual character of its citizen
ship. No more important work can
be done. Important to the cause OF
christianity as we'll as to our national
life of greatness.
Theodore Roosevelt.
Immediately following President
Roosevelt's message, General Secre-
, tary, Won Ogdon Vagt, read the An
, nual Review of the Field. | will only
t read the part of this report that
' think will interest you:
: There are today 66,772 societies OF
r c.. +. 1889 of them are in the United
States and Canada. II, 1873 in other
! lands. Oh the ten denominations in
+ the U. 5. which have the largest num-
5 Der of societies in their order are
. The Presbyterian, Congregations
r Deciples of Christ, Baptist, Cumber
e land Pres. Methodist Protestant, Luth
= eran, Dutch Reformed, Methods
J. Episcopal and United Brethren.
:, There are 1905 societies that repor
d gain of twenty-five per cent during
S the past year, while 5.406 received
e honorable mention.
J, After Mr.. Vagt's report, the frs
< session of the convention was close
|, with music and benediction by Rev
If Samuel Mcknight of Boston.
IS Evening of july 9TH. Internationa
d Festival OF praise.
}, At the Festival of Praise over Is
900 people filled the armory to over
e, flowing. Every seat in the house wa
Of taken and hundreds of people stoo
}. during the services. SO great Wa
N the demand for seats that severe
y. thousands of people were turned ava
s. from the doors.
IL AS the various delegates entered tt
b. hall and took their seats, they mac
th known their presence by society yell
of Mr.. w. O. Atwood presided oyer tt
IN meeting and when he took the star
is the applause was SO great that he ia
to wait several minutes before silen'
at reigned.
e. There were some preliminarieS. Oh
er OF them was surprise especially d
to signed by the chairman or the decor
of ton committee. While the crowd W;
lie settling into place, some hymns we
sung and then it was announced tn
ty the ball would be darkened for a N
Sc ment. Suddenly the lights went o
to and the vast armOry was in darkness
Cd As suddenly, an arch of incandesce
lights shown out above the chOi
81 Amid the outburst of applause, on Il
le- left of the rear wall appeared, outline
nd by electric bulbs, the shield of Bali
lis more, having the battle monument
- the center. A moment later, on Il
right, blazed forth Maryland's co
of arms in colored bulbs. Next car
the Baltimore badge with its exquisi
y lines, above the organ; then the mon
" gram &C e. which is known arou
the world, shown in dazzling brillia
cy from the center of the organ in r
and white