The Bennington evening banner. (Bennington, Vt.) 19??-1961, 1911-06-02
1.-THE WORLD IN BOSTON"
Paper Read by Allan Bourne Before
Dorset Bible Class


has been kindly given for publication
in the Banner for the benefit Of those
who will appreciate a resume of that
great exhibition, THE World in Bos-
ton"
This grand exhibition was prompt
ed and inspired by the success of
"The Orient in London the great
Missionary exhibition organized in
behalf of the London Missionary So
ciety and held in Agricultural Hall
in the summer of 1908. This huge
enterprise attracted attention
throughout and beyond the English
speaking lands, and advertised the
methods and results OF modern mis-
sions as perhaps they have never
before been advertised 1t was open
to the public for five and one-half
weeks and attracted hundreds OF
thousands of visitors, the majority
of whom it is safe to say, had sell
dom, If ever in their lives, attended
missionary meeting or read a mis-
sionary magazine. 1t cost to organ
lie little short of one hundred and
fifty thousand dollars, and included
every method of missionary educa-
ton yet devised.
There were lectures, sermons, and
addresses, tableaux, costumes, Hea-
then temples, bazaars, industrial,
medical and educational institutions,
halls of religion, models and dia-
grams, palanquins and jinrickshas
and last but not least the great page
ant. The purpose of this as OF all
missionary exhibitions was to arouse
an interest in Home and Foreign
Missions among the Indifferent and
careless.
Bound up as we all are in our lit
tie daily duties and trials, We have
so little time for reading and study
that we become. as it were, dead to
the world that is so busy around us.
AS far back as 1905 there was held
| in Boston conference which emery
ed into an organization known as
the Young Peoples Missionary I'm
| ion" and from this organization has
grown a central nter-denominationol
committee, representing the denomi-
| nations cooperating in The World
| In Boston" After some experiments
! local institutes were established for
missionary education and the final
organization for The World in Bos-
/ ton" was affected on March 20, 1903.
! approximately fifty different religi-
GUS bodies were represented upon
| the board OF managers. In January,
| 1910. Rev. A. Nj. Gardner Of London
was asked to become the general sec
rotary. With nearly twenty thous-
and persons taking part and an eX-
penditure of nearly two hundred thou
sand dollars, right manfully have
| they of Boston and vicinity wrought
in bringing his great Missionary eX-
hibit TO a successful representation
and a financial success. We under
stand that now this is a corporation
and is TO be exhibited in other cities
beginning with Providence. Having
| thus somewhat wearied you with the
story of the beginnings Of this great
undertaking. let me give you in part
a picture of what was to be seen.
Let me take you to Mechanics hall
! with it's corridors large and small.
Walking in you will first meet
motley crowd representing many ma
\ tons in their national costumes, ia
pan. India, Turkey, Korea, the Is
lands of the Sea. Leading off the
main corridors are courts and booths
! representing these mentioned tribes
and nations with their wares and
pictures OF life as IL really is in their
cities and towns.
Above on the second floor there are
halls in which continuous performan-
ces are going on showing the differ
ent phases of Missionary life.
In TableauX hall we found a notice
posted standing Room Only" and en-
tered to find that the Fisk Jubilee
/ Singers were giving some OF those
negro melodies that we all delight
to hear Then followed a costume
exhibition of Syria with lecture and
display of costumes as described,
/ with articles OF utility and showing
how used
Then representation OF the Hay
stack party by a bandtof young men
from Williams college representing
/ Samuel j Mills and his associates
/ dressed in costume of one hundred
years ago. with swallow tailed coats
with brass buttons, tall hats and bun
vests, and they talked Of their de
sire that the Heather nations should
have the gospel Following this
came a young man on the platform
aud told these young men Of one
hundred years ago what God had
wrought since their day
These were continuous perfor-
mances and other halls had similar
large gatherings. In the great hall
was held twice a day the pageant
of light and darkness 1t is estimat-
ed that this hall seating about eight
thousand persons had average dur
d. ing the month over five thousand at
each pageant The stage setting was
fine. In front was a large orchestra
mostly of women. To the right in
the gallery were the sopranos OF the
great choir, to the left the altos, and
below nearer the platform and on
either side the tenor and bass. These
were all in green robes with white
trimmings, with head pieces of the
same color and trimmings.
Promptly on the hour the orches-
ira gave us fine music and at the
sound of a trumpet there appeared
before the curtain the procurator
dressed in the green robe OF the