Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-01-20
THE COMING REvIvALISTS.
Some Four Thousand Dollars to be Raised
to Meet the Expenses
Details of the Arrangements Nearly
Completed - The Great Choir OF
Fifteen Hundred Voices.

On the It'll day of next month. or i'm a
little over two weeks, the series of evan
geiical meetings which are to be conducted
by Mr.. Moody will begin in the great Con-
vention Hall. The committees, represent
ing large number Of the Protestant
churches OF the city, and composed of WELL
known pastors and laymen, are busily en-
gage in completing the details of the ar
rangements for the meetings. Good pro-
gress has been made, and when Messrs
Moody and Sankey reach the city they will
md everything in readiness for them to
begin their work. The executive committee
held long session yesterday at the Y NJ
Z. A. rooms. when reports were received
from all the working committees. These
reports showed that a great interest al
ready exists among all classes in this city
regarding these meetings. A few days ago
the various churches were asked TO raise a
fund of $4,000 to pay the necessary ex-
penses of the meetings. Already more than
half that amount has been pledged.
Items of Expense.
The secretary of the committee and also
Of the general committee, Mr.. Charles n.
Richards. in speaking to a Star reporter of
the probable cost Of the meetings, said that
some Of the items Of expense are:
The renting of Convention Hall for four
weeks, the lighting of the same. making a
huge platform to accommodate the lJOO
singers and the large orchestra at the
south end of the hall. partitioning off two
large inquiry rooms on the north end OF the
hall, and printing and advertising.
Perhaps" he continued, music books
for the public will have to be bought The
choir buy their own books for the privilege
of singing the Gospel in the biggest and
hast ahair tl,at
or heard. Not one of them is paid a cent,
neither is the orchestra, nor Mr.. Moody,
for that matter. OF course, we shall see
that Mr.. Moody and his workers are well
taken care of at some good hotel Mr..
Moody will not be obliged to board around
in private houses, like the country school
master. We shall insist that he has a
place he can call his own, where he can
get the rest he needs between the meetings.
where he will not be expected to entertain
or keep open house. Neither will he be
obliged to walk back and forth to and
from the meetings, or take the chances on
a crowded horse car. Other than that, he
is to receive no pay for his services in
money. 1 think for years he has not asked
for nor received money for his personal
services In conducting religious meetings.
but l understand he has personal friends
who have not and who will not suffer him
or his to lack any good thing"
Mr. Richards said that nearly all the
Protestant Churches from the Capitol to
in the movement and individual members
of all the churches for thirty miles around.
Not only are these union meetings to be
undenominational, but Messrs. Moody and
Sankey do not adopt the plans and methods
Of any sect; they hold to their own peculiar
way OF working, and are governed largely
by circumstances. No one knows when
meeting begins just what is to be done
not ever Mr.. Moody himself"
He said that Mr.. Sankey's hold upon the
masses is as strong as ever. His music
and the chorus music that is Row being
prepared will astonish Washington, and
the public are to have ii without money
and without price, and the good tidings'
thrown in by Moody besides. There will
be no tickets of admission required for
Convention Hall, where all the evening
meetings at the various churches may
have to be controlled by tickets. / am not
speaking by the card only giving
humble layman's views. All the pastors
in this vicinity and the chorus will have
special numbered and non-transferable
tickets for the platform. A hundred or so
of workers. selected by the pastors of the
different churches, to work i'm the inquiry
rooms. will have special tickets for those
rooms but the body of the house will be
open for all"
Thirteen Hundred Singers.
The formation of the proposed mamoth
choir for the Moody and Sankey meetings.
which will be held in Convention Hall next
month. is making such favorable progress
that the director, Mr.. Percy S. Foster. is
not only much encouraged. but delighted
with the earnest response which has been
made to the invitations to take part in this
portion Of the great meetings. A rehearsal
of the choir was held last evening in the
hall Of the Central Union Mission. and
there were seats for all who attended. Mr.
Foster states that the number of names
hot hax-a haa .,lv
1 800. He says that the parts are i'm fairly
good proportion. there being a slight pre-
ponderance of sopranos, which is a good
fault in such work.
The rehearsal on Tuesday next is to &C.
cur at the First Congregational Church.
corner of 10th and G streets, at Z 80 o clock
and 1t Is quite probable that all subsequent
ones will be held in the same place. for the
reason that few of the churches are adapt
ed to accommodate such a large number of
persons. There seems to be no question but
that from l.5OO to 1,S0U singers will be pres
ent on this occasion, and as this number
will of itself tax to the utmost the capacity
of the Congregational Church, IL is strongly
insisted that the general public, as well as
friends OF the choi-, will refrain from at
tending this meeting. 1t is to be simply a
rehearsal, and abundant opportunities to
see and hear the grand choir will be Afford
ed during the month of services at Conven-
ton Hall. Every seat will be needed for
the singers themselves and the music COM
the public In the above request for Tuesday
night.
Leading Singers Interested.
1t is exceedingly era sifyiny to the leaders
in this movement to witness the interest
taken in the chorus by so many of the
prominent choir singers of the city, no less
than one hunderd of them being present
and uniting with it this week. Many others
have signified their purpose to assist as
often as possible.
1t is proposed TO have a special solo
choir" ticket for these people and special
seats reserved for them at every service,
and that during the month all the more
prominent chors will participate as such
I'm the praise services
The entire choir will be admitted TO the
meetings by ticket and this rule will be
strictly adhered to. There will be a differ
ent color for each voice, every ticket re
corded by number. and the same TO he
not transferable. To this end every ticket
Will contain the signature Of the director.
These tickets will have a mole punched n
the END, SO that they may be attached 10
the button hole by means of a small cord
or piece of ribboL, and worn I'm "A conspic-
uous place, thus avoiJi1y conf ,,ou ana
at the hall.
The formation of an orchestra proposea IN |
be used in connection with this work is also
moving along well. and all instrumentallsts
are cordially invited to attend the rehearsaI
next Tuesday. The need OF the grand tones