Mexico Missouri message., 1917-06-14

The women of the Christian
Church have only recently undertake
en- the evangelization of vast area
of South America, as large as the
States of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wis
consin, and Michigan, according to
the speaker representing the conti-
nent to the south.
At the conclusion of the formal
addresses, which occupied full
hour, the really spectacular portion
of the program began. Seated in the
spacious Sunday school room, the
doors thrown wide, connecting the,
two rooms, making one vast place of
assembly, were two hundred men
and women of Saline county. At
given signal, Professor Albert E.
Buss of St Louis blew a blast on his
cOrnet All was attention thruout the
building. The organ struck the first
notes of the Professional, and the
contingent from Marshall, headed by
Rev. Harvey Baker Smith and Mrs.
Smith, and those from Pettis county,
with Rev. ]. Stuart and wife,
arose and started on the march
around the rear of the audience, and
down the aisles to the rostrum, sing
ing the grand anthem. Mrs. Smith
and Mrs. Mill each carried a small
gilt cross. On the platform was
large white cross, Illuminated by fif-
ty high power incandescents. 1t was
toward this emblem of the divine
that the company wended its triumph
ant way. The choir of the Mexico
church was distributed along through
the line, and verse after verse of the
sacred song fioated from the throats
of the singers, adding tone to the
mighty volume of music. The organ
ist brought all the power of the bel
lows against the pipes, and the pedals
were in mighty action. Professor
Buss pumped his lusty lungs against
the mouthpiece of the silver-toned
horn, as, verse following verse, and
step after step, the vast throng of
workers advanced to the front. Ar
irving before the sanctified group on
the platform, there was instant 81
lence. Rev. Mr.. Smith spoke in be-
half of the delegation from Marshall,
Offering the services of those who
came, as missionary workers for the
cause in the dark countries. Rev.
Mr.. Mill voiced the sentiment of those
who came after him. A prayer was
said by Mrs. w. B. Brown of Kansas
City, representing one of the Nation
al workers. Then the professional
began its slow return to the reserved
section, singing a glad anthem of
the redeemed. AS the party turned
from the platform, each took light
ed candle which burned brightly, and
presented vividly delightful spec
tacle. Arriving at their place of ap,
pointment, they stood, two hundred
strong, while the flag feature of the
pageant was presented upon the plat
form. First came the Christian Flag,
pure white, with a corner of blue.
emblazoned with a cross of red. An
appropriate message regarding this
flag was delivered by one of the cast.
Then Mr.. Buss struck up "Old Clio
ry." At this signal two immense
American flags were carried from the
rear of the platform, borne by two
Boy Scouts. With the Christian
Flag, fianked by the two American
Flags, short messages were said re-
garding loyalty to the flags, and Rev.
Mr.. Smith came to the front and made
a short plea for volunteers for the
mission fields. Two young ladies
came, offering their lives for the
service of their King. Kneeling before
that great cloud of witnesses, the
hands of the clergyman were placed
upon the heads of these young people,
and prayer of dedication and sanct-
ification was said. Rising silently,
the usual prayer of benediction of the
Christian Womap's Board OF Missions
closed the service.
There were more than two hundred
people in the pageant, and the audi
ence numbered easily fifteen hum
dred. The convention will close
Thursday night.