The Colorado statesman., 1905-07-08
THE EPWORTH LEAGUE
IN INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION
Fifteen Thousand Visitors Pack Dem
yer Churches = Excursions to
Carry Them All Over
Colorado.

Derver, July with three largely
attended meetings, the seventh inter-
national convention of the Epworth
League opened in Denver yesterday
morning. 1t seemed as though every
one of the $4,000 visitors, the conserv-
ative estimate of the arrivals up to
last evening, attended the meetings, so
great were the crowds and so con-
tagious was their enthusiasm.
Trinity M. E. church was the scene
of the largest gathering, presided over
by Bishop Joseph F. Berry of Buffalo,
New York. Governor Jesse F. McDon-
aid made the address of welcome for
the state. and United States District
Attorney Earl M. Cranston, on behalf
of the local Methodist churches.
Coliseum hall was also well crowded
when Rev. Stephen ]. Harden, editor
of the Epworth Herald, called the gath
ering to order. He presided in the abb
sence of Bishop Isaac w. Joyce of Min
neapolis, who is i'll. Mayor Robert w.
Speer gave the address of welcome on
behalf of the city, while Halsted L. Rit-
ter, chairman of the general convention
committee, welcomed the delegates in
behalf of the local churches and organ
izations.
At Central Presbyterian church Rev.
Melvin Taylor of Montreal presided,
the address of welcome to the city and
state being delivered by Congressman
Robert w. Bonynge. Bishop Henry
w. Warren welcomed the visitors in
behalf of the local Methodist churches.
The forenoon at all three meetings
was given up to these addresses of
welcome and appropriate responses by
ran N tat Of ho mic
copal Church, the Methodist Episcopal
Church of Canada, the three divisions
of Epworthians represented in the con-
vention.
Yesterday afternoon, the services at
all three places of meeting were along
the same line. The subjects of the ad-
dresses were the same and the keynote
of all was "Evangelize."
AS characteristic with all gatherings
of the Epworthians, the morning SER
vices opened with devotional exercises
and the afternoon meetings were pre-
ceded by song services, while music was
a predominant feature at all times. 1t
is a notable fact that Methodists are
much given to song. When weary OF
listening to speakers, when particu-
larly impressed with something that
has been said, someone suggests a
song, and the audience joins in with a
will. These bursts of song are among
the principal and most picturesque fea-
lures of ,Le gatherings.
Besides the devotional exercises and
the song services, the features of the
evening meetings were addresses by
prominent divines.
At Trinity church the speaker was
Rev. Mark Guy Pearse of London,
England, one of the leaders of the
Methodist orators of the British Isles.
Bishop Eugene R Hendrix of Kansas
City was the speaker at ColiseuE hall,
while two addresses were given at the
Central Presbyterian church, one by
Prof. A. c. Knudson of Meadville, Penn
sylvania, and the other by Rev. w. A.
Quayle of Chicago.
The evening meetings were still
more largely attended than those of the
forenoon and afternoon, hundreds OF
Denver people being added to the con
gregations.
The convention lasts until Sunday
night, after which the delegates will
scatter, excursions having been ar
ranged to nearly all parts of the state.