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Welcome At Detroit

Welcome At Detroit image
Parent Issue
Day
7
Month
July
Year
1899
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Welcome at Detroit

Endeavorers Heartily Greeted by the People of the Michigan Metropolis.

Song Opens the Annual Meeting

Ten Thousand Present at the Gathering in the Big Tent, Where Welcoming Speeches and Responses are Made - Colors of All Nations Decorate the Great Pavilion - "God Save the Queen" Sung for the Canadians.

Detroit, July 6. - The afternoon of the preliminary day of the eighteenth annual international convention of Christian Endeavor was showery, but toward evening the sun broke through the clouds and the travel from all parts of the city to the Christian Endeavor grounds began. At sundown long wavering lines of young people from various directions, wended across the green fields about the white tented city, all converging toward Tent Endeavor beneath whose broad, spreading canvass the welcoming rally was held. The crowds poured in through the four entrances on either side, and down the six broad sawdust-covered aisles, until the great tent's capacity of 10,000 was filled. After that a crowd of outsiders obtained sight and hearing through dropping of the tent walls at either side.

Decorations of the Great Tent.

The Christian Endeavor red and white was suspend in hundreds of broad streamers from the lofty roof to the eaves. Flags of all nations, draped with the stars and stripes, hung attached to the tent poles. The Christian Endeavor monogram shone from large red and white electric globes over the resonator suspend above the speaker's platform. Higher up, the Union Jack and star? and stripes intermingled. A thousand white-capped young men and maids composed the choir on the big stage, the front of which was occupied by the officers and clergy.

Exercises Begun With Song.

Promptly at 7:30 the comparative silence was broken by the swelling strains of "The Son of God goes forth to war," followed by "There shall be showers of blessing," "Onward Christian Soldiers," etc., in all of which the great crowd enthusiastically joined. Devotional exercises were led by the Rev. J. G. Butler, of Washington. The welcome of the local committee was extended by William H. Strong, its chairman. Strong dwelt upon the beauties of Detroit, and greeted the delegates not only on behalf of the local Christian Endeavor societies, but also behalf of the Young People's Religious Societies, allied to special denominations, which had collaborated n all efforts of the general committee.

Rev. Charles B. Newman eloquently welcomed the convention in behalf of Detroit . pastors, closing with these words: "You are thrice welcome. May we prove as worthy hosts as you are worthy guests, and when you have closed your convention and are ready o depart, may you have it as truly to say that you were welcome as we sat t now at the beginning."

Mayor Mayberry welcomed the Endeavorers on behalf of the city government in a speech that was loudly applauded.