Democratic Sentinel, Volume 19, Number 29, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 26 July 1895 — ARMIES OF THE LORD. [ARTICLE+ILLUSTRATION]

ARMIES OF THE LORD.

BRIGADE OF BAPTISTS MASSED AT BALTIMORE. Fifteen Thousand Young Crusaders Take Possession of the Monumental City— Fifth International Con vent ion -Pan-American Religious Congress. Baptists in Boltlm.Q.re. On the heels of the great gathering of Christian Endeavorers at Boston, and almost before their peans of praise had ceased, lo echo through the land, came the assembling in Baltimore of the hosts of the Baptist Young People’s Union of America. It was the fifth international convention of the organization, and the 15,000 delegates, who brought with them nearly as many of their kindred, came from every section of every State in the Union, as well as from Canada and from Mexico. Owing to the fact that Baltimore has no hall large enough to accommo-

date so great a gathering, a mammoth tent was erected nt the Madison street entrance to Druid Hill Park, which is said to have been the largest stretch of ran vass ever put up in the world. It afforded space for 12,000 chairs, covered a tract of land 325 by 195 feet, and was supported by poles fifty feet in height. Under the shelter of this great canvas 10,000 delegates assembled on the opening morning at 10 o’clock, when the convention was called to order by President Chapman, of Chicago. The devotional exercises, which were characterized by great enthusiasm nnd fervor, were led by Rev. Dr. Q. A. Hoobs, of Delavnn, Wis. Praise and prayer occupied nearly half an hour, and welcoming addresses were then in order. Eugene Levering, of the Eutnw Place Church, spoke for the churches of Baltimore; Rev. H. W. Wharton, of the Brantly Memorial Church,

spokS* lsr the Young People’s Society of Daltimore; and response on behalf of the board of managers of the international union and the delegates was made by Rev. Dr. A. C. Dixon, of Brooklyn. The latter laid special stress upon the fact that this was the first time that Mexico had sent delegates to the convention, and gave an especial greeting to those from the provinces of Quebec, Ontario and Manitoba. A rousing reception was given to the Indefatigable general secretary, Dr. Frank L. Williams, when he took the platform for the purpose of reading the general report of the general managers, and after this document had been disposed of without discussion two brief 'ddresses were delivered, one upon culture for service, by Rev. Dr. Wallace, of Toronto, and the other upon the Junior Society as the hope of the movement, by Rev. Dr. R. D. Grant, of Portland, Oregon. The afternoon session was prefaced by a praise service led by Rev. L. B. Thomas, of Colorado Springs, and the convention resolved itself into nn open parliament at which systematic and proportionate giving was discussed by a number of speakers. A feature of the great gathering was the attendance of nearly 600 young Baptist wheelmen from New York and Philadelphia, who rode from those cities to Baltimore on their wheels. Nearly 1,500 more wheelmen came from Virginia, West Virginia, and points in Maryland.

PLAN OF THE BALTIMORE CONVENTION TENT.