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Chosen no: R-5553 b, from: 1914 Year. |
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Our Convention Tour
The blessing of our Heavenly Father has surely
been with us richly on our Western Convention Trip. Everywhere the European
Conflagration was the topic of absorbing interest. Many are convinced that the
consummation of the Gospel Age is at hand, and everywhere the Household of
Faith are lifting up their heads and rejoicing that their deliverance is
drawing nigh, as our Lord foretold in His great prophecy, recorded in Matthew 24and parallel Scriptures.
The Editor and his stenographers left Brooklyn
on August 23 and arrived at Chicago on the 24th,
in time for the inauguration of the I.B.S.A.
Temple. This building has
been leased by the Chicago
friends for the use of the local Ecclesia and for the PHOTO-DRAMA OF CREATION,
and is well adapted for its purpose, being centrally located. The attendance
was 1250 interested. The attention was excellent.
From Chicago the
party sped westward, and arrived at Spokane,
Wash., on August 27. Here we
spoke to an audience of deeply interested Bible Students, numbering about two
hundred. Thence we went to Everett,
August 28, where a public meeting had been arranged for. About six hundred were
present and gave the closest attention to the discourse. At Bellingham, August 29, fourteen hundred were
at the public meeting.
From Bellingham
the little party went to Vancouver,
B.C., where seven hundred greeted them, giving very close attention to the
discourse. August 30 was given to Seattle,
Wash., where twenty-six hundred
heard the address. Here, as elsewhere, the friends are very earnest and
zealous. Thence we hastened to Tacoma,
August 31, where fifteen hundred were in attendance.
Our next stop was at Santa Cruz, Cal.
Here an interesting and profitable eight-day Convention of Bible Students was
in session. The attendance was estimated to be about seven hundred and fifty,
chiefly from the Pacific States. The party remained at the Convention about
four days, September 2-4. The Photo-Drama was shown four evenings, and was
greatly enjoyed by many of the citizens.
September 10 was devoted to a one-day Convention
at San Diego.
Twelve hundred were in attendance at the public meeting, and many were turned
away, for whose benefit an overflow meeting was arranged. September 11 the
party were at Los Angeles,
where the attendance was thirty-five hundred. September 13, at Salt Lake City, thirty-two
hundred were in attendance. Thence we went to Denver, September 15, where six hundred
friends listened to the discourse. Next was Colorado Springs, September 16, where eight
hundred were in attendance.
Then the party went South to Fort Worth, Texas,
where a three-day Convention was in progress, with four hundred and fifty Bible
Students present. While this Convention was not large, yet it was full of
interest. Then came San Antonio,
September 19, where twenty-one hundred listened with deep attention to a
discourse on up-to-date topics. At Houston, September 20, twenty-four hundred
assembled to hear the address, and nearly as many were turned away. On
September 21, at Beaumont, Texas, nine hundred listened with deep appreciation.
Continuing our journey, we reached New Orleans,
September 22, where one thousand heard us. At Birmingham, Ala., September 24,
fifteen hundred were present. Thence we went to Atlanta, Ga., where a four-day
Convention met, September 24-27, with approximately four hundred and fifty in
attendance, the delegates representing many states. After leaving our Atlanta
friends, we hurried on to the Saratoga Convention.
The Saratoga Convention, although not a large
one, was an extremely interesting gathering. The Convention proper numbered
about 950. Some of the meetings ran up considerably more through local
interest. One thing noticeable in this Convention, as well as at all the
others, was the meek and quiet spirit of those in attendance. While all lifted
up their heads rejoicing that our deliverance is near and hasteth greatly,
nevertheless there was no spirit of excitement. Rather all seemed to realize
that we have received of the Lord blessed promises and enlightenments which far
more than repay for our trials and difficulties. All were resolved that the
whole world would not compare with the Light and Peace and Hope already
ours--not to mention the glorious things expected soon. Surely we prefer God's
time, as well as God's Plan, above all others. If He but continue us in His
favor, in the future as in the past, we may well rejoice in the experiences
coming day by day, end when they may.
During our trip we continually encouraged the
dear Household of Faith to await God's time for the accomplishment of our
hopes, preferring it to our own, if different. While we everywhere noted that
patient waiting was manifested, yet, on the other hand, we deplored the
over-confidence of some respecting the exact time of the glorification of the
Church. We endeavored to distinguish between our hope and the time of its
fulfilment, and urged all to cast not away their confidence, which hath great
recompense of reward. However, the present great war certainly stimulates our
confidence in every feature of the Divine Program.
W.T. R-5553b : page 303 - 1914r