Bemidji Daily Pioneer Newspaper, July 31, 1905, Page 4

4 GREAT MEETINGS| Conference Closes With Four Great Union Sunday Meetings Large Attendance at the Final Meeting of the Bemidji Bible 1 Conference Yesterday, The first session of the Bemidjl Bible Confefence, which is to be apermanent annual gathering in this city, closed yesterday with four largely attended meetings. At 7:30 in the morning at the Presbyterian church Dr. Pratt! conducted & Bible reading in that illuminating manner which dis- tinguishes everything to which he puots his hand aud tongue. At ten o’clock in‘the city hall, a congregation which completely filled the auditorium listened to a vivid Sunday School lesson by! Dr. Worden on the life of ,Man-| asseh, “the most wicked man in the world,” while Dr. Pratt followed at eleven o’cloek, with another wonderful appeal for Christian living, using the story of Simon Peter who fished all{ night and caught nothing as an illustration. Through his failure the greémt opportunity of his life canie to Simon Peter, the opport- unity to follow Christ. In the afternoon at four o’clock an open air meeting was held in the park on the lake shore and while the people sat on the ground Dr. Worden preached to them Christ and his love for man with a fervor and a power that won many a heart. The evening meeting at the city hall made ‘standing room only” at a premium. The Saturday evening meeting at the church was like all the others—a time of praise and in- spiration. Dr. Adams, synodi- cal missionary for Minnesota spoke on Missions and the Pres- byterian church and gave a powerful plea for missions and told of the growth of the church i Minnesota during the nineteen years in which he has been at the head of the missionary. work of the state. During that time one church has been added every month uutil there are today 811 Presbyterian churches in the state. Dr. Adams was followed by Dr. Pratt with a short appeal to unbelievers to set aside the little things of this world for the greau things of the next. Dr. Worden's lesson yesterday morning was a revelation to teachers. It was a great Christian appeal. He showed Manasseh, sinning for 50 years, suffering under the wrath of God, supplicating the mercy of the Almighty and finally saved from his sins., The lesson brimmed with cogent illustra- tions and striking applications. The Conference has been full of humorous happenings. Dur- ing Dr. Worden’s lesson yester- v day worning he asked whether a ! young man would rather have for a wife a girl he could trust or g flamboyant, wonderfully dres- sed affair’” and -a ten year old on the front seat promptly shouted, “One I can trust!”.. ... ...... Miss Violet M. Roberts | during the esperience meeting | last night declared that she was going back to Minneapolis to tell the people of that city all about what a wonderful place Bemid j i "is'and R. F. Suizer promptly rose on the platform and said he was not only going to tell Minne- apolis but that he was going to | 'BIBLE CONFE | Conference, and the expectations | man,” Sunday School |~ Bemidji Bib!e 'Conferenee a Marvelous Success In Every Respeet. Everything That Its Promoters Hoped for It Far Surpassed By Actual Results. The success of the first Be- midji Bible Conference has been | phenominal. This is the testi- mony of eyery person who has attended the meetings of the of the promoters of the gathering have been far surpassed. i “It has been a marvelous suc- cess,” said Dr. Worden. ¢The; Holy Ghost has been among us and has worked wonders.”’ “The Cotference has made al grand - beginuning,” said Dr, Pratt, “I look to see it accomp- lish great things for God and | “Today has been the best day | of my life,”’ declared Rev. S. E. P. White last night from the the rostrum. “Our. hopes have been fulfilled many times o‘ver,’ said Rev, F. J. Barackman. “The intérest has been wonderful,” declared Sup’t R. F. Silzer again and again. These are but variations of 1he expxessmns of satisfaction and praise which fell from the lips of every delegate to the Conference, Planned as a modest beginning, the Conference took at’'once an ALL HOPES . Blble Conference Wlll Be Lo- "cated Permanently in this City. Organization - Effocted for Pres- byteries of Adams,Red 'River, Daluth and St. Cloud. Executive Committee. At Large—F. J. Barackman, Blackduck, Adams Presbytery: W. S. Ward, Crookston S. E. P Whlte, Bemidji R. W. Hitchcock, Bemidji Duluth Pr: Dabytery M. McGédughey,Two Harbors]| - W. J. McCabe, Duluth Red River Prepbytery:: J P, McLeod, Brainerd M. Mclntyre, Moorhead St. Cloud Presbytery: * T. M. Findley, Spicer H. C. Buell, Willmar At a business meeting attend- ed by twenty three of the lead- ing delegates to the Conference yesterday afternoon it was unan- imously decided to make the Be- midji Bible Confarence a perma- nent event, an eziecutlve commlt tee was appointed to deal With all matters pertaining to the meet- ing of next yearand it was decid- ed to incerporate, secure suitable grounds and takeall other steps necessary to make the Confer- eice a success from a business as well as a: spiritual standpoint. The executive committee was given authority te deal with ,all matters that may arise during the year in connection with the tremendous stride forward. The inspiration and spiritual uplift which those who attended the meetings received is testified to by all as wonderful. The attendance from outside of town by delegates was nearly 125 which is regarded as very satis- factory for a first attempt. fortune not to be bornin his na- tive land and his witty sallies were greatly . enjoyed S. A, Blair missionary for the Duluth Presbytery was so full of experiences that six minutes could not hold him and when the presiding officer called time, the audience, however, insist- ed on his continuing but when Brother Svizer inter:upted with “your time is up a second-time”’, everybody Blair quit talking betwden two words For wholesouled sparkling good humor there is nothing like a gathering of earnest Christian people. ] Dr. J, R. Pratt will remain in Bemidji for twoor three days rest and recreation. He will speak at the Bible Conference at St. 'Paul the latter part of thls week. The expenses of the Confer ence have all been liguidated. Considering the remarkable talent secured they were very modest —not exceeding $175. This amounat was paid partially by membership tickets pur- chased by delegates while the tree will offering of yesterday’s meetings amounted: to slightly over $80. Few, if any, Bible Conferences | have secured better talent than did Bemidji. Dr. Worden of Philadelpbiahas been for 27 years the head of. the Suuday School work of the Presbyterian church and isa most gifted and moss Sup't of the Albany Bible School, ‘| selection of a working committee laughed and Mr. | | consecrated man. Dr. J. R. Pratt, | . permanent establishment of the Conference at Bemidji. More enthusiasm - for any pro- ject was mnever displayed than thatshowatyesterdayafternoon’s busiress meeting at 2:30 o’clock |5 at the Presbyterian church. Dr, Adams presided and the discus- sion as to. organization and the was keen antd animated. The committee was selected with the greatest care, each name being debated and voted upon separate- ly. The purposes of the" organ- ization, its scopeand character were thoroughly gone over and it was the sense of all present that the Conference should be ‘continued precisely and wholly along the lines which have mark- ed the present gathering. Most helpful suggestion were made by Dr. Pratt, Dr. Worden, Mr. Sulzer, Dr. Adams and others regarding the working out of the organization and the highest hopes were explessedl for the good which the Confer- ence will be able to accomplish. The executive committee ex- pects to go to work at the matter immediately to prepare for next{ year’s meeting. leading pastors of Chicago and was for ten years pastor of one of Washington’s great churches. He is a man of the most winning' disposition and wonderful effect- iveness as ‘a preacher. Dr. Adams, for 19 years head of the mission work in this stateis a tower of strength to the Presby-| terians in Minunesota. R. F. Sulzer, state superintendent of Sunday Schools, is a hest in'him- self. | The " clergymen:, present from the various ch rches: - northern Minnesota were eve: one men of ability and ‘earnest: ness of purpose and seldom does apolis, were inspiring and mos 1s a man of no denomination, a man of tremendous intensity of purpose and remarkable power. As a student and teacher - of the peddle itover the whole state. S.. R. Feruusou School helptut while the papers and read were of nnusual exc lence. Bible m is doubtful if he ha.s an} success has been . most, pro: (nounced. iin attendance is not yet determ- {carried two big crowds: around Dr. Worden Pays ngh Com- pllment to Bemldu as Lo- cation for Conference, Deelares rl’lus Cxty Has No Equal * on the Continent - for Such 4 a GatherlnAg “You have the most magnifi- . cent location for a Bxble Con- ference of any place on the continent. The beauty of lo- cation and the healthfulness of the air here alone should ‘draw . thousands here every year.” “This is the magnificent tribute paid by Dr. James A. Worden to Bemidjias a place for the loca- tion of a permanent Bible con: ference. How much such a sweeping statement means we may appreciate when we know that Dr, Worden has spoken for years at practically every’ Bible Conference and Chautauqua in the United States. He was one of the first lecturers at the origi- nal Chantanqua and waa a nor al instructor there regularly for ten years, he has been a fre- quent speaker at Northfield, Massachusetts, as well as at Winona Lake, " Indiana, and he came to Bemidji directly from the Chautauqua at Devils Lake. ‘Look at the people who_are coming here now,”’ said Dr. Worden. “There are scores and hundreds of them, and you are doing nothing to bring them. They have found you out . them- selves. If you ever let the peo- ple of this country know what you have here, you will have visi- tors by the thousands. It is the grandest place I know of fora Bible Conference.- The beauty of * | the ldcation of Bemidji is unsur- passed and the healthfulness of the place is 'wonderful. I de- clare that T am thirty per cent better in health for my five days stay in Bemidji. ‘It’s wonder- ful.” z Holy Ghost descended in power upon the meetings is the convic- tion of every one who attended them. The idea of the Confer- ence has long been cherished by many. Mr, Sulzer has planned something of the sort for several years and has did much toadver- tise the present meetipg. ' The great bulk of the work of prepar- ing for the Conference, however, fellupon Rev. F. J. Barackman of Blackduck and Rev., men have carried a heavy-load for the past few weeks, but’their The exact number of delegates ined but it is close to 195, The advertisement which Be- midji will receive asa result of this one Conference will be ‘very great, particularly in the east -to which Dr. Pratt and Dr. Worden return and the value of this ad- vertising from a purely material standpoint can hardly be esti- mated. ' : The Moose and the Colum the lake Saturday, the excursion being a complimentary tendered by the Busmess Men’s THE WORLD| Powerful Sermon by Dr. Pratt /flt Final Monster Meeung | of Conference. Remarkable Response by the |People to the Speaker’s Appeal ‘for Christian Living. ) One of the most lucid, power- ful and stirring appeals ever made to man, marked the close of the Bible Conference last even- ing, when Dr. J. R. Pratt of the Albany Bible School, spoke to a congregation ' that taxed the auditorioum of the city nall to its utmost, on “Some Traits of Character that Win.” Dr, Pratt rsed Daniel as an illugtmfiion and for the space of an hour held such attention that in all the vast audience there was scarce the moving of an éye from the spealk- er from his opening séntence to his closing. Thousands of Daniels haxe,hved and died declared Dr., Pratt, but only one has been remembered. This man must have been something. different from his fellows that all the world knows him at the mere mentlou of his name’ Daniel was a man of inflexible purpose —the purpose to do the right, from which all the glories of Babylon and all the power of its kings could not budge him one iota, In burning words of elo- quence the speaker = pictured Daniel’s rise to power until he stood next to the king himself, yet all this and life itself he held cheap ‘as against the precious Damel and his three friends, who calmly suffered themselves to be cast into the fiery furnace, were but four of the 300,000 young men of Babylon and yeb the memory of all but these four has perished utterly from off the earth, No man knows so ‘much as the name of one other of all these 800,000. The four we know, for they stood for a purpose, The sermon was a grand con- clusion to a-wonderful five days gathering. Tllustration, logic, denunciation, .appeal alternated with lightning like rapidity while the speaker made the ‘word of God plain toevery hearer. The audience was profoundly moved and when Dr. Praf in conclusion asked that every one who belisved that the living of the true ‘Chist- ian life was right to rise almost *|every person in the congregation “ | was on his feet. It was as though the man were blotted out and God spoke to his people.’ Thing Long to Be Rement bered. Grand Old Hymis Sung »Witlx\:. Spivrit That Starts the World Along. Ttis difficult to estimate the | part which music played in fihe £ success of the Conference. D5 Pratt called it “singing the 0s- pel,” and so i was. for but few elaborate pieces of music were rendered. The grand old hymns that everybody kaows were sung again and again. by soloists, by choir and by congregation and they stirred the souls of the singers as only the “singing of the gospel’’ can do. The music of the Conference . was in charge of Dr. J. M. Free- burg of Blackduek to whose faithfulness, earnestness and ability much of the success of the meetings is due. The sing- ing of the congregations was hearty to an unusual degree and privilege of praying to his God. ings of Mrs, J. M. Freeburg, the (from the platform at the monster carried with it that peculiar in- spiration that comes from num- bers lending themselves un: reservedly together to the praise . of God. One of the most enjoy- able features of the Conference was the singing of Rev. Ralph T. Fultoh of Warren, whose rich haritone melted every heart and at times profoundly stirred the soul of every hearer. Mr., Ful- ton sang hymns _only, but they were better thaxi anything else could be; they were grand hymns, grandly sung and what they‘con- tributed to the wonderful uplift- ing influence of the Conference - cannot be told. ; In addition to Mr. Fulton, solos were rendered throughout the meetings by Mrs. Oberg of Blackduck and Miss Hattie Haldeman of this city, duets by Dr. Freeburg and Mr, Fulten, : wblle a male quartette composed of Messrs. Freeburg, Charles Warfield, F. J. Barackman and Fulton was one of the great suc- cesses of the meetings. To these musicians, and also to the read- Conference owes much. They helped, notably, to make it what it was, Mrs., Andrew Warfield of this city ‘acted as organist throughout the meetings and her promptness and faithful attend- ance at eyery session, early and late, richly merited the public tribute rendered her last evening meeting in the city hall; |numbers and have rendered the most valuable assistance. The people of Bemidji who opened their homes to the dele- ‘| gates now count it an ‘especial blessing that they did so for they ‘have been brought in touch with men and women animated bya masterful purpose and’ the con- tak:t has done them good. The weather during two days of the Conference was as ‘bad as bad could be, yet ‘the attendance _{at the meetmgs ‘Was inyariably Large Bemidji, however, wished for fairer skle for 1ts guest.s The iollow‘lng esolutxons were (s past we have Ybeen to an ymg led with him for the excell nt S0 inspiring; to the people. adopted at the busmess meetmg' mi i ) 4 such a happy issue,be it resolyed that by a rising vote we extend’ our heartfelt thanks to Rey. F. J, Barackman and those associat- program, which they prepared, to Rev.S.E. P. White and his = helpers for their painstaking ef- forts in providing for our enter-. tainment; to the Presbyterian cchurch for the free use of their building; fo all the speakers for o their stirringand helpful words 5 s0 loving and freely given; to the organist, the ‘musical directo: the choir, the soloists, the quar- tette and all who have assist in any way in ‘making the mus ji who have so fully opened - theit~ hearts and their ‘home us and madeour stay : lig] ful one; to the € he 4,(30nfe::¢nee m & | before th