The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-07-11

Dcen Ill dClluu olIlCo XII
day, June Goth - day and
night - remarked that he
did not know why he and
other officers had been as
signed to this work be-
cause he said there was
really nothing for him
and the other officers to
do - except, perhaps, to
assist those who might be
overcome by the heat.
Quite a tribute to the be-
havior of a great crowd of
people - averaging over
10000 a day since the
Centenary Celebration
opened-is it mott
The City of Columbus,
with its 100000 popula-
ton, could not sustain an
average attendance in ex-
cess of 10000 daily -
therefore, any thou
sands of visitors had to
come and did come from
all sections of the coun-
try.
As an illustration: on the
train from Chicago to Co.
Iumbus, l met a man and
his wife and three chill
dren. who lived in North
Dakota. They were on
the way to attend the
Cen tenary Celebration.
As a matter of fact | met
people from practically
every state in the Union.
The great crowd - over
10000 - that attended
the Centenary Celebration
on July 4th expressed it.
self as nightly pleased that
the attendance exceeded that
at the Prize Fight Toledo.
by more than 10000.
The world sure does move
onward, and 1t seems to be
moving in the right direc-
tion.
The most remarkable scene
! have ever witnessed was
that on July 4th and 5th
when thousands upon thou.
sands of people patiently
stood in line under . broiling
sun waiting for an opportu-
nifty 10 purchase an admis-
sion ticket to see the
GREAT PAGEANT, written
by Rev. DR.. J. e. Crowther,
and wonderfully staged.
Another remarkable thing
about this Pageant Is that
the story it tells Is founded
on life as portrayed in the
Rible-and yet thousands of
people wanted to see 1t and
did see it, filing the great
Coliseum. with its $500 seat.
ing capacity. every time 1t
was presented.
Another outstanding feature
OF the Centenary Celebration
is that it assembled so many
striking attractions that D.
w. Griffith-one OF the Mas.
tiers in Motion Picture life
kept a force Of experts 1t the
State Fair Grounds for more
than two weeks taking mo-
ton pictures that will intro
duce patrons Of movie pic.
lures houses all over the
world 10 the really wonder
full events that were a daily
part OF the exposition.
The Victory Parade on the
evening of July 4th, in which
over 5000 people took part
was a realization Of q dream
Of ten years ago when the
managers OF this Centenary
Celebration conceived the
idea that it would be an in
spring event to show the
people Of America what had
been accomplished by Meth.
odist missionaries in foreign
lands.
1t is striking statement
that there were as many PEG.
pie in this parade-remember
the number, 5000 - as III.
Methodist missionaries had con-
Ncrtrd during the 6rst dtt1 years
Of their efforts in heather lands.
And now it is equally striking TO
say that converts arc made 1T
the rate OF 10000 a month
through this one great agency
Mud think Of $4,000 people wit
ncssing this parade! Think also
Of 800 people piling into the
coliseum to see the big Pageant
at the same time! Think also OF
the big tent being filled to capa-
city at the same time where PEG.
pie went to hear Bob Jones.
tho Great Southern Evangelist.
Think also Of the moving picture
houses filling UP with interested
and eager crowds a the same
tmc.'
But tho ono great outstanding
feature that towers far above all
others is this:
Th" Centenary Celebration has
. brought together IN a snicnol9
bond Of unity tho North ana
South Divisions OF tho Methodlst
church which have been scparat-
cd in their activities for many
years. 49,,
And this fact. coupled with the
approval given in rich measure
10 tho Centenary Celebration and
It's big motive power In worId
reconstruction by the rcpresen-
tativo. Of other REL1GlOIS
FAITHS. is moH Significant:
celebration that started on