Richmond daily register. (Richmond, Madison County, Ky.) 1917-1978, 1919-07-15
NOTHING like 1T
IN PROTETANTISM
Magnitude and Grandeur of
Methodist Centenary Celebrat-
ed Described by Miss Olmstead

NhAAooSoN3 oOSOOAOL WlOi daitC
delegation Of Madison county
Methodists, have returned from the
magnificent Centenary Celebration at
Columbus, Ohio. In speaking of it,
Deaconess Olmstead said:
The greatest Centenary Exposi-
tion which opened on June goth and
continued until July 18th, in the city
of Columbus, marks the greatest
event in Methodism. The Associat-
ed Press announced that if the crowd
each day averaged $4,000 more than
a million people will have attended
the celebration of Methodist Mis-
sions. On July 4th, when w. G..
McAdoo, John R. Mott and other
men of note were on the program, it
was officially announced that more
than 25,000 persons were on the
grounds that day. H g
The elimination Of the long fight
to make America dry nation was
fittingly celebrated in connection
with Prohibition Day, July LIST. Will
liam Jennings Bryan was the star at
traction, and in the two addresses
which he delivered, he showed much
of his old time fire and eloquence, the
audience again and again interrupting
him with prolonged applause. Ex-
President Taft, in a magnificent ad-
dress, called on militant Methodism
to rally to the support of the League
of Nations. H
Aside from the number of other
celebrities on the program through
out the "a days, there were evange-
listic services being held in an i'm
mense tent each evening, vesper SER
vices by the lake side, and on July
4th, in the great tent, having seat
ing capacity of 1000, Thomas Tip
lady, an English chaplain in the
trenches for three years, delivered a
most interesting political speech on
GA British View of Americas In
dependence Day..
Each of the eight large buildings
on the grounds, filled with exquisite
curios and architecture all planned
by one of the great scenic artists of
the day, awaited the visitor to the
Centenary celebration. The whole
world never seemed brought so close
ly together. One could step from
the building representing Africa,
where in that building alone, more
than 10 different demonstrations,
life plays, pageants, and pantomimes
were given to portray the customs
and progress Of its people and just
across the way, could be seen a large
portion of the walled cities of China
and the long procession of dragon
worshippesers coming out of the tenn
pies; then just little distance away,
was sunny Japan, the flowery king
dom, with it's daily Japanese kinder
garden going on, real live little Japs
having been brought from the Pacific
coast, and their teacher, a young
Japanese woman, the, daughter of a
baron.
India, Latin America, and even de-
wasted Europe, appealing in all Of it's
hopelessnss and the suffering through
which it has passed, met the visitors
eye and gripped his interest.
Two buildings were entirely given
over to our own country, Ellis Island
being splendidly represented, and
nightly demonstrations of the landing
and examination of the immigrants; |;
the crowded streets of New York
City, the city problems confronting
the church with regard to the boys
and girls on these streets, all were
given.
There were riots, and strikers and
labor demonstrations of all kinds to
show the great need of Christianiz-
ing our communities and cities. More
than 1000 native converts were
brought to Columbus from the coun-
tries of the world where the gospel
has been taken; 10000 young men
and women served during the "a days
as Stewards, explaining the exhibits
and taking part in the demonstra-
tions.
"The Wayfarer", pageant writ
ten especially for the Centenary cele-
bration, was considered by many as
the most superior production Of it's
kind every given in the United Stat
es, having cast of $500. Thou
sands came to Columbus just for the
purpose of witnessing this pageant.
In October, it will be staged in New
York City at the Metropolitan thea
tire, running for a whole season; it
will also be represented in moving
pictures which d. H. Griffith filmed
and presented to the Methodists as a
gift in memory of his mother.
A noted speaker present said of
The celebration. "There has been moth
ing like it in all of the history of Pro-
testantism. Even Methodism did not
iream Of the things that should come
20 pass. The utmost that was
thought of was that there would be a
celebration in which thanks
giving for the accomplishments of
The century should play a prominent
part, but the providential leading of
;he men and women of vision, both
n the Northern and Southern church,
IS, swept away the limitations ap-
set and the result is that the
ieathen world, and all the Christian
activities in the heather world as we'll
Is those Of the homeland, have come
% Columbus to bear testimony to the
virility and spiritual power
# Methodism, and to the devotion, /
'aith and self sacrifice Of its minis
ers and teachers"
Perhaps the outstanding day Of all |
lays was Life Service Day which |
vas observed with three great SER
ices. In a very large degree, this :