The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-03-18
State Convention of Travelling
Mems Association
Opens With Cafeteria Luncheon
at the Y. NJ. c. A.
BRINSMAID COULD NOT COME
President of the Organization
Is Ill in Iowa.
The Local Sessions Will Extend
Over the Sabbath.

"Who reads this book and loveth not,
"Hath all his liftime trouble,
"Who loveth and obeyeth not,
"Shall have his judgment double"
Touched by the religious sentiment
contained in the foregoing lines in
scribed in a Bible in his room in
downtown hotel, placed there for the
benefit of travelling men by the Gid
cons, William s. Wilsey, residing near
Saginaw, last evening returned to his
home to give himself up to the sher-
if, expecting to face a charge made
by Charles Castle, a neighbOr. Will
sey says he will unite with the church
after he has paid the penalty for this
trouble with his northumberland
Rapids. Mich, paper.
The Gideons, a Christian travelling
mems organization, founded in 1893
by two drummers in a double bedroom
in a hotel at BoscobeI. Mich, began
arriving in Topeka early today to at
tend the annual state convention in
session this afternoon. evening and all
of tomorrow. A cafeteria luncheon
was served to the early arrivals al
1880 o'clock at the Young Mems
Christian association, followed by a
prayer and song service led by J. H.
Luxton. The remainder of the after
noon was spent in a. business session.
Late this afternoon officers were
elected.
j. b. Brinsmaid Away.
The Christian travelling men will
miss J. B. Brinsmaid of Topeka, presi-
dent of the state organization. at the
convention this year. Recently Mr..
Brinsmaid was transferred to Des
Moines, Iowa, and at present is i'll
and unable to attend. c. A. Vancil of
Topeka, vice president and chairman
of the Bible committee, will preside at
all meetings. Other state officers are:
c. J. Allen, secretary-treasurer
Hutchinson; J. c. Ellis, chaplain, Nor
ton. The Gideons have camps at
Wichita, Topeka, Salina, Hutchinson,
Ottawa and Chanute. There are $50
members of the organization in Kan
sas
g A reception will be given to the Wis
itors by Topeka camp at $50 o'clock
at the Young Mems Christian Assoc
CATION a Z O'Clock the annual ban
quet viii be held. Mr.. Vancil acting
as POSTMASTER. Chaplain Ellis will
pronounce the Invocation.
J. c. Bennett to Speak.
This will be followed by an address
BY J. c. Bennett of Chicago, a ma
tional officer. His subject will be.
whats Yoar Line?" Other speakers
OF the evening will be Perry L. Gross,
Abilene; ID. f. Shirk, Topeka; the
Rev w. NJ. Jackson, Topeka; L. NJ.
Griffin. Salina.
At $50 o'clock Sunday morning the
morning conservation service will be
held, led by w. A. Boyd of Holton. At
II 40 the GideOns will attend Sunday
school services at the various
Churches. At 1915 o'clock the an
nual sermon will be delivered at the
Rotwin Presbyterian church by the
Rev. Harry l.. Nelson. In the after
Hoon the Gideon camp fire will be
held, led by J. c. Bennett, Chicago,
and L. II. Griffin Salina
= Until the inception of the Gideon
organization no concerted effort was
ever made for the moral rlplift and
salvation Of the travelling men, 1t is
estimated that there are between 500
600 and 500. 900 commercial travellers
n the United States. of whom prob
ably not more than ten per cent are
Christians. Only a small portion of
this number have so far been per-
suaded to join in this specific effort ir
Christian service
BY Personal Influence
The test of the efficiency of the
gideon organization is in the personal
tntluence and services of the indi-
Wdual Gideon. The commercial
Traveller hOnOrs any good work done
By his fellow travellers and is there
fore more easily influenced by it.
& But it is the Gideon Bible found
IA the room of nearly every hotel in
the United States that is the most ia
nous Sooner or later the Bible IND
its memories of home and mother and
the church and meaning of the book
IS driven home to the commercial
Traveller while he is in his room. The
book is always present and some time
or other it is read. Men have been
saved from committing suicide from
taking part in drunken debauches
and from other vices. according to
their own confessions. because at the
proper moment the Gideon Bible in
hotel room caught their eye and
drew back memory's curtain and
placed in their minds thoughts of the
eeaching of the book, absorbed in
=, Il