, 1907-10-15

The following letter written by the
Rev. Louis A.. Arthur of Grand Island,
Neb.,p the clerical delegate from this
district to the general convention Of
the Episcopal church, now meeting in
Richmond, Va, to. the editor of the
Laramie ~Churchman," describing the
Offering Of the M. no. is SO full Of il
terest that 1t is reproduced here for
the enjoyment Of The Republicans
wide circle OF readers.
Mems Thank Offering.
Richmond, Va, Oct. 10, 1907.
To the Editor of the Laramie Church
man."
1t may be Of interest to some of your
readers to see an count Of the mems
thank Offering while the services In
connection Herewith at this general
convention are fresh in the mind Of
your clerical delegate. Yesterday morn.
ing, "wednesday, october 81 there was
a special celebration of the holy CON-
munion at Holy Trinity church lin
which the opening service Of the con
vention was held and the great church
was again packed with men. The sing.
ing was inspiring and the scene as the
aims and pledges were brought for
ward and all realized that the mems
thank offering was about to becoms
an actually was moving. Throughout
the day there was much speculation
and discussion as to the amount Of the
offering.
Monster Missionary Meeting.
In the evening in the great audito.
rum, a secular hall, capable of seating
about 5000 people, a mass missionary
meeting was held. The attendance
nearly filled the hall, though not being
quite SO large as that which greeted
the bishop of London in the same place
last week. A large mixed choir was
present, though, really, the vast assem-
bly, needed no aid in singing the TIE
Deum and the church's old hymns.
Notable Speeches.
Bishop futile, the aged presiding
bishop, took the chair and in his mimi.
table way introduced the speakers, who
were Bishop Peterkin of West Virgin
la, Bishop Gree, coadjutor of New
1 York and MI. George Wharton Pepper
of Philadelphia, who, for the last three
years, has been the very efficient secre.
tary Of the mems thank offering move
ment. While the u~tterances of the
two bishops were pertinent and force.
r-J ~ o,,olynl 1DrU orp1oOoo ~ la
: not too much to say that Mr.. Peppers
speech was generally regarded as the
gem Of the evening. MI. Pepper is an
orator of power and his speech, as a
witness to his own conservation to the
cause of the churches missions, moved
all hearts. He told briefly the story OF
the gathering Of the mems thank Offer
ing in the last three years, the many
and various obstacles met and the les
sons now to be read in the effort, and
when he closed In most admirable and
telling phrase, 1t seemed as though
applause.
Dramatic Final.
At last came the final point Of dra'
matte effect, when Mr.. George c.
Thomas, the treasurer, came forward
to give the figures as to the amount.
The note of hope was apparent through.
out the gathering, but also a subdued
hum of somewhat anxious expectanc,
swept through the assembly as Mr..
Thomas came in front Of The circle OF
bishops on the stage to report. Hear
ty indeed was his greeting from the
throng. Wave after wave of handicap
ping rolled over the house in acknowl.
edgement of it's faithful n eficient
and devoted official. 1t vac a. greeting
of which any man might be proud aud
to which, apparently, no man could be
indifferent. After a few Introductory
remarks, Mr.. Thomas got quickly to
his figures and read the offerings by
diocese and districts.
Laramie's Generous Offering.
Laramie's offering, as reported and
read. was 1903, of which amount the
cathedral gave $135, and many have
been the congratulations since given
to the bishop and delegatesSof Lara
ME for so substantial a gift. Laramie's
gift Is greater than that Of some do
ceses of ten fold its population and
fifty fold its financial strength. After
reading the separate diocesan gifts, MI.
Thomas came to the grand total.
The Grand Total.
This he read in most effective and
dramatic form, his voice ringing clear
and true in the stretches of the great
auditorium, Two cents, twelve cents.
three dollars and twelve cents, thtr'
teen dollars and twelve cents, two nun
dred and thirteen dollars and twelve
cents, sixty thousand two hundred and
thirteen dollars and twelve cents
and then, very slowly and with great
emphasis, seven hundred and sixty
thousand two hundred and thirteen dol,
lars and twelve cents A storm Of
Applause followed the announcement.
The Women's Part.
Mr.. Thomas then called attention to