President M'kinley's Message
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.
President M'Kinley's Message.
He Sends the Endeavorers His Best Wishes - Other Greetings Spoken.
There was enthusiastic applause when Secretary Baer read the following telegram from the president of the United States. It was addressed to Rev. Dr. Francis E. Clark: "On the occasion of the eighteenth international convention of your society I desire to express my cordial interest in its work, my best wishes to those assembled with you in convention, and my earnest hope for the continuance and increase of the great results which the efforts of the Christian Endeavor Society have achieved. William M'Kinley."
Next on the programme came responses in behalf of Endeavorers from foreign lands. As Rev. William Patterson, of Toronto, came forward to speak for Canada some one struck up "God Save the Queen." The Canadians on the platform took up the strain and in a moment the huge tent was reviberating with the swelling chorus of the British anthem. The friendly relations betwen Canada and the United States, particularly with reference to religious matters, formed the burden of Dr. Patterson's address.
Rev. Dr. H.J. Tressider, secretary of the London council of Christian Endeavor, answered the greetings in behalf of Great Britain. "Perish the mad dream," said he, "that a conflict should ever come between our two countries. It is the work and the duty of the Christian Endeavoreres to make impossible such an idea."
For Australia response was made by Rev. Joseph Walker, of Queensland; for China, by Rev. Elwood G. Tewksbury, a missinary in vicinity of Pekin; for Turkey, by Rev. Lyndon S. Crawford, for many years a misionary in that country; for Japan, by Rev. Otis Carey; for Mexico, by Rev. C. Scott Williams, and for the United States by Rev. Arthur J. Smith, of Georgia.
At the close of the big meeting the crowd thronged to the platform to be presented to the mayor and the officers of the United Society. This closed the first day of what promises to be one of the most notable gatherings in the history of the organization.
At the annual business meeting, which was held yesterday, Rev. Clark presided and delivered a short address telling of the progress of the society. Reports of officers were read and the present officer unanimously re-elected, as follows: President, Rev. Dr. Francis B. Clark; secretary, John Willis Baer; treasurer, William Shaw - all of Boston.
Indiana Crop Report.
News from the Fields is Generally of an Encouraging Nature.
Indianapolis, July 6. - The Indiana weekly crop bulletin issued Tuesday notes that cool, fair weather favorable to harvesting prevailed during last week. Light, widely distributed showers occurred one or two days. Corn is growing rapidly in clean fields, and much is "laid by." Early planted corn is tasseling, but rain is needed in some fields. Tobacco grows well. Tomato plants, watermelons and cucumbers, planted in great abundance, and growing nicely. Oats are filling well and beginning to turn. Potatoes promise a good crop. The planting of late potatoes continues.
Wheat and rye are in shock, and thrashing has begun in the greater portion of the state. In some localities in the northern portion the harvest has only just begun. The yield in many fields is good, both as to quality and quantity, but in some fields it is poor. The first wagon load of new wheat has come to market. Haying is nearly done and good crops were secured. Berries are abundant and grapes promise well.
Pingree Plan a Failure.
Detroit Cannot Buy Street Railways, Says the State Supreme Court.
Lansing, Mich., July 6. - The Detroit plan for municipal ownership has been temporarily blocked by the legal difficulties in the way of holding a special election on the question. But by a decision of the supreme court yesterday all authority is take from the commission.
The highest court of the state yesterday decided that the McLeod law, which authorized the appointment of the Detroit street railway commission, whose object was the purchase and municipal ownership and operation of street railways of Detroit, is unconstitutional and void; that there is no such office as the "Detroit street railway commission;" that Governor Pingree and the other commissioners have no title thereto, and that judgment of ouster must be entered against them.
Rains Delay Work on the Canal.
Joliet, Ills. July 6.-Heavy rains have forced the Desplaines river over the embankments on sections 17 and 18 of the drainage channel, and all pits where excavating is being done are several feet under water. The flood will practically stop all work on the Heldmaier & Neu section, north of Jackson street, for several days. All dump-car tracks on the Gahan & Bryne section are under water and nothing much can be done until high waters recede.
"Infuriated Citizens," Probably.
Terre Haute, Ind., July 6.-Early Tuesday morning the residence of Rev. N.C. Sims, of Highland Place, a suburb, was wrecked with dynamite. The foundation of the house was shattered, but Sims and his wife escaped injury. The minister hurried out of the door, revolver in hand, and seeing two men running away fired at them, but did not stop them. Every window in the house was broken. Sims said that he could not explain the attempt.
Tornado Kills One Woman.
Omaha, July 6. - A special to the Bee, from Ainsworth, Neb., says a tornado struck the town yesterday afternoon, killing one woman and inflicting great property damage.
Abbreviated Telegrams.
A Chicago judge has decided that automobiles have a right on park driveways.
The town of Garthby, Ont., has been entirely destroyed by forest fire and 400 persons were rendered homeless.
By the bursting of a cannon Joseph Gotzslein of Kewaunee, Wis., lost one eye and may lose the sight of the other.
Surgeon Clendennin died at Santiago, Cuba, July 4, of yellow fever. Captain Clendennin was a native of Illinois.
When Frank Howard, son of Mrs. Frances Howard, of Chicago, went to awaken his mother for breakfast, he found her dead.
Dr. James I. Brownson, the venerable pastor of the First Presbyterian church of Washington, died Tuesday night, aged 82 years.
Mrs. Mary Wright Sewall was elected president of the International Council of Women, which has closed its session at London.
George Branner, a retired carpenter, of Chicago, was asphyxiated. Whether the gas jet was left open by accident or by design is unknown.
Daniel Roberts, a farmer living three miles west of Willow, Mich., while working his team in the field was bitten by a rattlesnake. He will probably die.
Charles Wilson and Johnnie Premo, aged 8 and 10 respectively, were watching a fire at Flint, Mich., and were struck by falling debris, breaking their necks.
A stranger, about 35 years old, dropped dead on the street at Baraboo, Wis. From papers found on his person it is supposed he was James Taggart, of Chicago.
Emma Mulligan, formerly Emma Mertel, well known in Chippewa Falls and Eau Claire, Wis., committed suicide by taking carbolic acid. She was married a month ago.
According to a decision of the Michigan supreme court a guardian is not responsible for funds placed in bank and that are lost by the subsequent failure of the banking institution.
Mrs. Bunce, a Dundee, Mich., woman who had half of her stomach removed on account of cancer trouble, has so far improved in health that she will be discharged in a few days from the hospital at Ann Arbor.
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Ann Arbor Argus-Democrat