The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1907-06-06
PILGRIMS ARRIVAL
IN ETERNAL
CITY
Rome Filled With Hundreds of
Americans-Dr. Orchards
Description of Work.

Rome. Italy, May 1.-THE United
States pilgrims to the Eternal city, to
attend the worlds Sunday school con-
vention, have arrived and the city with
its historic association is now ours
though We have scarce had a moment
for sightseeing, having to get our
selves located and our baggage un-
packed for a ten days stay. l am at
the Grand Hotel Michel
Great Missionary Provision.
1t will be of great interest to those
who have the idea that trip to Rome,
to attend the great Sunday school con-
vention means a selfish. sightseeing,
self conferred interest. This is far from
true from true missionary stand
point.
Getting concrete facts regarding the
living issues of the missionary field,
and having an abstract idea of their
value from 5000 miles distant is
very different thing and so at this
writing | can report between 100000
and $4,000 raised on the steamship
Romantic, the official boat for delegates
to the international Sunday school
convention, for larger missionary and
Sunday school work, it will give the
friends at home some idea of the spirit
OF the friends who are now enjoying
the worlds convention.
Twenty thousand dollars, covering
period of three years, has already
been pledged for missionary centers
regardless of denomination or country,
only so far that it is for the spread
of the gospel of Jesus Christ. and so
the Azores, Gibraltar, Madeira, AL
giers and Genoa have each shared
the purse possessions of the American
and Canadian friends. This does not
include that of the $50 passengers
on the Necklepanic which Is one or
two days behind the travellers on the
Romantic.
Twenty-Five thousand dollars more,
for Sunday school work was also
pledged. This series of pledges, of
twenty-five men, is plan to raise a
fund of 100000 for the three years
beginning with the international con-
vention to be held at Louisville, June
1908. The idea is to cover the $780,
900 by 100 men in the United States
giving $1,000 each. On the Romantic
were twenty-five men whose purses
and hearts belonged to the Lord, and
these friends will pay either at once,
or in three years the amount 1t is
planned, with this fund, to enlarge the
Sunday school field so as to cover a
competent field worker for Japan,
West Indies and three more men for
the United States.
Without doubt this is the most mo-
mentous event in the missionary trips
the world has ever seen and one that
will usher in new era for the for
eign work.
The great leaders in this movement
are W. N. Hartshorn, of Boston. Mass,
chairman of the international commit
tee whose pledge of $1,000 each for
himself and wife opened the way for
others. Next came Mr.. and Mrs. j.
X. Warren, of Three Oaks, Mich, Mr..
and Mrs. French. Los Angeles, for self
and wife, $1,000 each, and others COW
ering a wide range of states of the
union.
Missionaries such as Mrs. Wright OF
Azores, Episcopalian; Bishop Hartzell
Of the African missions of the M. E
church and others of the Presbyterian
Baptist and other denominations will
be greatly encouraged In their work
This trip to the Eternal city will
live In practical, earnest CO operation
as the advance guard Of q mighty up.
heaval in the fields covered by the
8. 8. Romantic. Besides the amounts
have recorded there has been taken
in offerings $632 for the seaman's or.
phan's home, the Sunday school move
ment at Honolulu, Hawaii Islands, etc
In my next letter expect to cover
in part. Impressions from short visits
to Genoa and Florence. There are
now in Rome 800 pilgrims whose pres.
ence in this beautiful city will give ar
equal impulse to missionary effort
here that has characterized the Wis
its all along the way.
John Orchard.