Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-01
WATCH NIGHT SERVICES
Seeing the Old Year Out and the New
Year in.
Exercises Held at Many of the
Churches and by Several Tenn
perance Organizations.

A very large throng attended the watch
meeting services at the Metropolitan NJ. E.
Church last evening. the services being
of unusually impressive and solemn
character AT the regular evening services
the Rev. DR.. johnson occupied the pulpit
preaching from the text, New Year Calls"
selecting his text from the First Corinth-
ians-vii. 1881. The custom of making
such calls, said DR.. Johnson, was a good
one. stimulating friendships and hospital
ity, but attended, as it too often was, with
the evil of drinking, the beautiful custom
became hostile to the era of good resolu-
tons which it served to inaugurate.
The watch meeting services began at
10:45, DIR. Johnson reading the parable of
the ten foolish virgins and dwelling upon
the appropriateness of the services. On be-
half of the Young Peoples Epworth League
Prof. c. M. l.. Sites spoke of the great
and good work being done by the league.
After Mrs. Gibson, the soprano of the
church, had sung 81 Am Nearer Home
Than / Have Ever Been Before" Bishop
Hurst, the president of the Methodist Uni
versity, spoke briefly of the record of the
past year in religious matters. He was fol-
lowed by the Rev. DR.. Beiler the chancel-
lor of the university, who spoke of the
duties of the hour.
A few minutes before midnight the
chimes were rung and DIR. johnson i'm
pressed upon his hearers the importance
of snatching away lost opportunities by
improving the present ones. His remarks
were followed by silent prayer, and as the
old year passed away the choir sang Our
life is a dream, our time. as stream,
glideS swiftly away and as the chimes an
nounced the birth of the new year the con-
gregation sang THE arrow is flown; the
moment is gone"
Similar services were held In many or
the other Methodist churches of the Dis
trict and also in a number of the Baptist
churches.
Foundry Church.
Not for many years has there been so large
an attendance at watch meeting as last
night at Foundry NJ. Z. Church. At $50
o. clock when the service commenced, there
was a large company pr esent, but the num-
Der steadily increased during the progress
of the meeting until there was hardly room
enough to accommodate the great crowd.
The pastor, Rev. DIR. Brown, was in charge,
and the meeting was opened with service
Of song. He then delivered address on
the origin and purpose of Watch Night"
After a half hour spent in prayer, DR..
Brown preached an appropriate discourse,
which was followed by conservation sery-
ice and in turn by a service of testimony,
In which many took part. The last few mo-
ments were passed in silent prayer. With
the striking of the midnight hour, the great
congregation rose and welcomed the new
year with heartiest song. and after happy
greetings and general congratulation dis
persed to their homes.
Central Union Mission.
Some 1900 people, probably the largest
congregation present since its dedication,
attended the watch meeting services last
evening at the Central Union Mission. The
Rev. +. d. Bailey conducted the services,
assisted by Mr.. B. H. Warner, and the sing
ing evangelist, Mr. George w. Havell. Fol-
lowing the introductory service of song and
prayer, Mr.. Warner called attention to the
debt of $4,000 on the mission property, and
explained that it would have to be met
within the next three months The friends
of the mission, Messrs. A s. Pratt and T..
A Harding and Judge kimbaH. being par
ticularly active in the work, were heartily
cooperating with the board of directors in
raising the necessary funds, and it was be-
lieved that the amount would be raised
within the time named, provided all stood
together In the good work
After Mr.. Warmers remarks, the meeting
was continued with song and prayer, and a
number gave in their experiences The new
year was welcomed with the singing of the
coronation hymn. IAN Hail the Power of
Jesus Name"
Stnr of Hope Lodge.
Star OF Hope watch-night service was at
tended last night by large number of its
members, besides delegations from the
other lodges of the city. The services COM
menced at $50 O'Clock and were called to
order by c. T. Lanman. with singing and
prayer by the chaplain. The c. T. then in
lifting terms extended cordial welcome
to one and all present The following order
of exercises was observed. in charge of w.
r. Bradley: Remarks, Mr.. J. E. Snow of
No
very interesting to all; piano solo, Miss
Edith Mccoy. recitation, Miss Lottie Nc
Gee; solo and chorus, Throw Out the Life
Line. by the entire audience; remarks,
Mrs, NJ. r. Cecil. who gave a welI-timed
address; duet Mrs ii. II. Eighmy of Ca
nandaigua, N. Y, and w. s. Rowley of this
city. Fleeing Years." reading, W. N
Johnson; solo, Mr.. ID. Sweeny of George
town; G. G. I. j. w. Van Week then spoke
with much earnestness and feeling; sing
ing, "Oh, Where is My Boy Tonight" re-
marks, Mr.. Geo. Giles, who reviewed the
past and the lessons to be learned; singing,
In the Sweet Bye and Bye" remarks, MIR.
Samuel Straugn; solo, Mr. NJ Green, &C
companied by Miss Flora Hudson; original
paper, The Dying Year" w. H. Hope; sing
ing. Hold the Fort" This closed the lit
erary portion of the program. The closing
hour of the old year was spent by those in
attendance in partaking of hot coffee, cake
and sandwiches provided by the members
of Star of Hope. Many kind wishes were
d
New Year and prosperous future. Before
separating the members of this and other
lodges pledged anew, repeating after the
G. c. T. the sacred vow they had previously
taken, concluding with the long meter
doxology.
Pioneer Council.
The watch night services of Pioneer
Council s. of j., were held at Harris Hall
December 81 and the following program
was rendered: The opening ode peculiar to
the order was first sung, with the audience
joining in, then Miss Mary Lloyd rected;
MIR. Gaibraith and Mrs. Fentress sang, fol-
lowed by recitations by Mr.. McCulum and
MIR. VIII Degges; remarks by Judge j. j.
Weed; recitation by Edward Willasey; re-
marks by John W. Thompson; recitation by
d. w. X. Patterson; remarks by VIM. Nor
ton, Guy w. Wines Jerry Williams and DR..
Dexter After which midnight services
were held, lasting until early morning.
The Case of Benjamin F. WOrren.
To the Editor of The Evening Star:
Permit me to use your space in reply to
the article of Charles E. Diemar, relative
to the case of 3. F. Worrell.
1 Joined company A, first New Jersey
volunteers, after Mr.. Worreil had organized
the company. This was the day after Fort
Sumter was fired upon. 1 served with him
until the night he was wounded, April IA,
1862, which occurred on the Little River