St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1910-01-05
c. E. In India.
Christian EndeavOr worlds Convention.

This convention was held in Agra,
India, Nov. 20-24. 1909, in the State
Camp " Inch had been kindly lent by the
Viceroy of India. The camp equipage
consisted of one very large Durham tent
and several smaller ones. with large
number of tents for the European and
Native delegates The whole camp was
arranged on plain near the Tai Mahal
and was made beautiful by large num-
Der of palms and other plants from the
Tai gardens. One large pavilion tent
was used for dining room. superintend-
ed by a European caterer. Another was
used for the Hindustanic services while
the larger Durham tent was used for the
English services. Several large tents
were used for the exhibitors, in which
there were articles from all parts of
India, including Burma.
The morning the convention opened
more than a thousand India Christians
marched round the camp with flags and
banners from many parts of India, then
lined the road on which DR.. Clark and
other Americans were to arrive, on both
sides for a long distance, SO that the Wis
itors received a hearty welcome as they
passed on to the great Durham tent,
where the opening exercises were to be
held. The chairman, Rev. H. Anderson,
of Calcutta, president OF the India Union,
made the opening address welcoming
the delegates from all the foreign lands.
He was followed by Mr.. Cobb, the COM
missioner of Agra, and several native
delegates. Responses were given by DR..
Clark and representatives. from England,
Scotland, Wales, Germany, Australia,
Canada, Ireland, New Zealand, Sweden
and other lands. DIR. Clark asked the
American visitors to rise and he called
out names from Maine, New Hampshire
and Massachusetts. l listened in vain
for Vermont as he went on with other
states of the Union. The Americans
waved small flags with the stars and
stripes as they were introduced.
The noon day service was presided
over by the Church of England Bishop
of Lucknow. A native preacher from
Lahone gave an address on Christ the
Fulhlment of India's Need" He was
followed by a missionary on "Christ's
Message to the Youth of India"
At $50 exercises on the opening of the
exhibition were held, presided over by
Mrs. Cobb, wife of the commissioner.
The evening service had Mr.. Lathrop
from Boston as president. Addresses
were delivered on the following subjects:
"The Indian Church; It's past Progress"
The Indian Church; Its Future Mis-
sion;" 1.-The East and the West United in
Christ"
Sunday morning sermons on practical
worth in India, were preached in English
and Hindustan. In the afternoon unit
ed praise service was held. which was of
great interest and a wonderful sight.
More than 1000 English and Indian
Christians filed the large Durham tent to
overlooking. The various choirs were
placed in groups among the audiences.
L.
Assamese, Telszu, Hindi, and Urdu
speaking Christians, WEIGH, English and
Others, each chorus in it's own tongue.
Responsive readings and hymns sung by
the chorus chOlrS were iuterSpersed with
songs from the entire congregation
Towards the close of the service "All hail
the power of Jesus name" was sung, the
first verse to the wierd WEIGH tune, the
second to the tune most familiar to Am.
orleans then an Indian arose and led the
last verse in the Urdu version. One re-
marked that The volume of song which
rose from a thousand loyal Indian hearts
was to that congregation thrilling eli
max to the end, an aim of the Worlds
Christian Endeavor Convention to
Grown Him Lord of ALL
Monday morning DIR. Clark gave his
address as President of the Worlds union.
It was packed full of entertaining in
formation concerning the union, what
it stands for and exhortations for fu-
ture service. He was followed by Will
liam Shaw of Boston, secretary OF the
Worlds union. Besides giving his report
he read messages of greeting that had
come from all parts of the United States
and other countries represented there even
from Gold Iceland to hot India He
said that he had been told that $500
would support 20 Indian secretaries for
year, to give their time to work for
Christian Endeavor objects, so he pro-
posed that 20 persons should give SIS
each for this work. In few minutes the
secretaries were provided for, thus giving
a fresh stimulus to the work in India.
In the afternoon the delegates visited
the Tai Maha1. 1t had be expected
that after this the Hon. Charles Fair
banks, who was visiting India, would
deliver an address, but to the disappoint-
ment OF the Americans especially, he was
unable to he present, but sent long tel
egraphic message to the Convention,
which was read by DR.. Clark.
The remaining exercises of the Conveu-
ton were mostly with regard to Chris
tian Endeavor methods, the Indian Ma
tional roll call and responses by unions,
and a conservation hour led by DIR. Clark.
This closed one of the most wonderful
gatherings of Christians that ever met in
any part of the world.
L. S. Parker.
Hardoi, India,
Nov. 80. 1909.