Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1893-01-27
Who Put Lot of Go in Their Re-
ligion.
ENDEAVORERS IN SESSION
The Convention of the District of Columbia
Christian Endeavor Societies at the Con-
gregational Church Today-Interesting
Proceedings.

| opening session of the first convention O
that body was held this morning in the FRS
Congregational Church, and an audience wa
assembled there of a character that was worth,
! OF the 500 members of the Christian Endeavol
societies in this city. All the Christian En-
deavorers. however, were not present at thu
opening session. and if they had been tn,
church. large as it is. would have been entirely
| inadequate to accommodate the throng. But
| during the sessions today and tomorrow and
on Sunday the entire mem bership will put il
an appearance and help to keep the En-
| deavor ball a-rolling at the rapid rate
, which was set ut the opening session
this morning. There was q fine audience
| present when the convention was called &c
| order at 1890 this morning. Not many gray
hairs, but still few; not many old and wrinkled
faces. but one here and there. The great ma
| jOrity OF those present were young and full Of
lie. and, it might be said. the great majority
| women, but only the same percentage in thii
| latter particular may be noticed in any re.
ligious assemblage. Young men at the door &c
greet you, young men distributing singin book.
| and acting as ushers, young men on the platform
in fact. Young men to the front. They were
ably seconded by the young women. and as the
audience was one mainly OF young people. the
| exercises were permeated with spirit of youth al
far as that is synonymous with prompt. earnes,
l
therefore no dull ones.
THEY Know HOW TO SING.
Everybody was supposed 10 bring sc. II.
No. G, and those that did not were supplied
with a copy when they entered the church.
The consequence WAS that everybody sang and
the they carried the volume of song along
on the waves Of melody showed that the En-
deayorersare up in singing. Most of the members
wore the blue badge OF the society and at the
top of the program was their motto. For
Christ and the Church The committee III
charge Of the arrangements for the convention
had given q touch of ornamentation to the plat
form by placing two three pots Of foliage
plants. They were well out Of the way. how
ever. and with the decks cleared for action the
first convention of tie organization made a
most suspicious start.
THE CONVENTION OPENED.
The convention was opened with devotional
exercises, conducted by the president of the
union. Mr.. Percy S. Foster. The singing was
led by the organ. which was played by Miss
Alice kimb.ll and the precentor, Mr.. J. A.
Rose. As the volume of sound arose and filed
the great auditorium it WAS not difficult to de-
termine that the Endeavorers sing IN much the
same way as they work. with a good deal of en-
ergy and force A portion of Scripture was read
and then period of silent prayer followed.
Finally the solemn silence broken by q
voice here and there throughout the audience
Is earnest petitions were offered for Gods bless
ing and presence. After singing again the de-
votional exercises were brought to a close. 1t
was explained that Rev. DR.. Newman. the pas
tor OF the First Congregational Church, had in
tended to be present and deliver a few words of
welcome. But he was prevented by sickness.
and his assistant. Rev. Mr.. Fishburn, was also
unable to attend the session owing to a pastoral
engagement The president, therefore, called
upon Rev. Z. H. Sewall, the pastor of the
Noun. Pleasant Congregational Church. the
child, as it was stated Of the First Church.
REV. MR. sEwALL's WELCOME.
Three times and out" remarked Mr. Sewall,
as he stepped to the front, WAS the rule when
he WAS boy, and in this case he seemed to be in
the third place. However, he said that he was
to attend endeavor meeting in any capacity
He was a member of the society and he believe
that every pastor should be q member and
have a society in his church. In the course
OF some earnest remarks in regard
to the work carried on by the society and the
importance OF earnest. energetic work he
tod several amusing stories. which the En-
deavorers enjoyed very much, and the laughter
that ran through the audience of that free
tina. there Is nothing incompatible with jolly
laugh and a profession of religion.
THE PARROT AS A DETECTIVE.
rot. wonderful one, he was careful to add,
and from that fact necessarily a resident OF
Chicago. Ii seems that the slumbers of the
bird were disturbed one night by the movements
of burglars who had entered the house. The
/ parrot felt that something was going on that be
could not quite manage, and so, initiating wha,
| he had often seen his mistress do, he touched
/ with his claw an electric button and
| me servants responded to the call
surprised and captured the burglars
SO Without wishing the application to bt
| carried too Far the speaker expressed the
hope that he might touch button in the darl
/ and let some OF the servants Of God know of the
need OF active work in the cause of Christ HI
| then spoke OF the stimulus to Christian workers
that came from such an organization and com
mended Its work.
I ME- FIsHBACK's WARN WORDS.
On the part Of the society Of the church
earnest. hearty words of welcome were uttered
by the president, Mr. Fred L. Fishback, who
assured the visitors that they were welcome tc
/ the church, and the hope was expressed tina
| they would feel entirely at home. An appro
pirate response TO the address of welcome wal
I delivered by Rev. Z. u. Bagby, pastor Of thu
Ninth Street Christian Church, who, like Rev
| Mr. Sewall. Is a member Of the organization
He also is like Mr.. Sewall and other members o.
| the convention Ill being young. His address wa
| sprinkled with illustrations and bright sayings
/ which his audience enjoyed very much. Afte1
| expressing In behalf OF the union appreciation
| for the words Of welcome to the church, Mr.
| Bsgby spoke Of the movement represented by
the endeayor society as being in the ine of co
! operation OF pastors and people to advance tn,
cause Of Christ. His speech was characterized
by the hopeful spirit Of the young and as he re
viewed the field open to Christian endeavo Oh
he grew eloquent as he spoke Of the oppor
tunities that presented. The world, h
said, was growing better instead Of worse AM
the spread Of the gospel of Christ was meetin,
with many triumphs.
THE EXTRA STAR HEARD.
! During the address the cries Of the boys call
ing the extra STAR in the street were heard il
the church. The audience. however, remained
I quiet, but several of the extras were procured
and the news OF Blaines death WAS communi
Gated to President Foster. When the speaker
| had finished Mr.. Foster conveyed the sad in
telligence to the audience and suggested that tn,
members OF the afflicted family be remembered
/ IN the prayers OF those who took part in thu
subsequent proceedings.
1 The program resumed and solo was ex.
I cellently rendered by Mr.. W. A Wells Their
followed characteristic endeavor feature
namely, discussion in which speeches WERE
limited to a minute or two.
BRIEF FIvE-MISUrE TALKS
There is lots Of go about discussion Of thi
character and people that can't talk to the poin
are not in it at all. The topic talked about wa.
Are G. T. methods adaptable to the regular
church servicesi" This was explained BY Presi
| dent Poster to have reference to the weekl,
2 etlpUs md ha oNf h.