Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-02-06
ALL IN READINE SIS
For the Evangelists Who Will Con-
duct Gospel Meetings.
GREAT CONVENTION HALL THE PLACE
The Mammoth Choir, the Army Of
Ushers and the Other Details.
MEETIN GS FREE TO ALL


ington tomorrow afternoon.
Mr.. Chas. n. Richards. secretary of the
executive committee in charge of the ar
rangements for the meetings, this morning
received a letter announcing that the great
evangelist will arrive here tomorrow after
noon. Messrs. Moody and Sankey are now
in Brooklyn, where they hold meetings this
| afternoon and evening. and will leave for
Washington tomorrow morning. They will
stop at the Ebbitt during their stay in
Washington.
The committees in charge of the details
of the arrangements are not letting any
grass grow under their feet and in Con-
vention Hall the sound of hammers is
heard as the last touches are put on the
stage and the seating of the hall is per-
fected
The committee on the hall met this morn
ing and will be busy until the very last
moment tomorrow with the important work
intrusted to them. The large portable plat
form at the * street side extends all the
way across the hall, with the exception of
an aisle way next to the wall on either side
which will not be used as a public entrance,
however. Behind the platform the choir
will be banked in. seated in tiers gently
rising to the X street side. Mr.. Moody will
stand directly in the middle and almost at
the edge of the platform. while Mr.. Sankey
and his organ will be stationed at his side.
Inc rest OF the PLATFORM VIII be nlled with
seats for the pastors of the churches and
the executive committee.
To Handle the Crowds.
The arrangements for filling and clearing
the hall and seating the persons are as
nearly perfect as they can be made. The
public entrance will be on the l. street
side. and awning will be erected from
the street to the doorway. The two
entrances on the K street side will be used
for members of the choir and others having
tickets emitting them to a place on the
platform with the workers and persons in
charge All the doorways will be used as
exits, however, and the entire hall, it is
estimated, can be emptied in just five min
utes. The seats will be arranged so as to
leave no center aisle, Mr.. Moody Directing
to that arrangement, always obnoxious to
speakers. Directly in front of him the peo-
pie Will be seated in unbroken rows of
chairs taking up almost half of the hall
and placed right in the middle of it. On
either side will be two broad aisles and
next to both of these on either side another
bank of chairs will extend down the hall.
These being near the sides, the seats will
be slightly turned SO as to bring every one
directly facing Mr.. Moody.
on the further side of these will be anoth-
er aisle, and then Just a few chairs next 10
the walls. This will give in all four broad
aisles running north and south the entire
length of the hall. in front of the doors, AT
the l. street side of the hall, the chairs ill
be taken out for little distance, SO ds to
leave an open space, into which the people
may gather in coming out and go down the
broad stairIays en- masse.
Trained Band of Ushers.
All Of the ushers for the meetings are ex-
pected to meet at Convention Hall at 8
O'Clock tonight, By the X street entrance 4 he
tickets of admission and badges are ready
at the Young Mems Christian Association
Mr.. Pugh, the chairman of the committee
desires that each one will secure both before
gong to the hall. 1t Is of importance that
every usher be present, as particular in
structlon Will be given as to what should he
zone IN case of false alarm or other cause
Inc training Of the usners is being done
most carefully and Instructions have been
given covering almost any contingency.
Inc roll contains over 80 names of which
90 VIII be on duty each evening One-half
OF TINS number, whose names begin with the
letters from A to Fl, will be on duty at the
meetings for the first week Meanwhile the
other haIf VIII be assigned to religious duty
at the meetings for the first week A few
have been assigned to permanent duty as
ushers for the chorus, and the whole num-
Der Is in as perfect training as an army
fOrtS -hNe church organizations are repre-
scented among them.
Early Closing Urged.
1t is desired that every one should have
the opportunity of attending these meetings
SO the following petition, signed by the local
pastors. is being circulated among the bust
ness men:
w hereaS arrangements have been Der
1ected Tor holding series of evangelical
meetings in Convention Hall in this city
by Messrs. Moody and Sankey, beginning
February Z and extending to March 4 and.
whereas, we are DESTROYS that the greatest
possible good may inure to the whole COM
munlty through these meetings. by the
qulckenlng of the moral and the spiritual
life of the people, we, therefore, the I'M
dersigned pastors and ministers of the
several churches of the city, and other
citizens, 90 most earnestly and respect
fully request and petition the heads of the
various business establishments to ar
range to close their places of business for
the period indicated at 80 pm (Satur-
days excepted, thus affording yourselves
and your employees an opportunity of shar-
ing in the benefits which it is devoutly
hoped will be secured"
The following ministers and others have
signed the petition: Rev. w. c. Alexander
Rev. Edward Il. Bagby, Rev. B. F. Bittin-
ger, Rev. Isaac W. Canter, Rev. c. O.
Cook, Rev. I. c. Easton, Rev James E.
Evans, Rev. Walter r. Graham Rev A. NJ
Hilliker, Rev. a. Homrighaus Rev. George
Howell, Rev. G.. James Jones, Rev. J. c.
Jones' Rev. Joseph T. Kelly, Rev. j. H. NJ.
Lemon, Rev. George o. Little, Rev c. c.
Meador, Rev. II. G. Naylor, Rev. c. A. Nix
uOIIl, new Joseph Is. North, Rev. G.. b,
Patch, Rev. Charles l.. Pate Rev. A. w
Pitzer, Rev. Charles II. Small, Rev. Albert
r. Stuart, Rev. L. Hez Sven, Rev. w. s O.
Thomas, Rev. Gilbert F. Williams. Rev,
David Wilson, Rev. j. J. Muir Rev. ID. E.
Wiseman, Rev. Charles A. Stakely Rev
w. +. Parson, Rev. o. A. Brown, Rev. F.
ID. Power Benz. p. Davis, Charles L. Rick
etts, 7. +. Rogers, John p. Sleman, ]. w
Boteler, w. F. Hummer, Welfey and Wee
don, Woodward & Lothrop, Samuel Cross
w. l.. Bruen, II. Clay Stier, j. F. Saum
J. G. Thompson. n. ]. Hillman.
Preparatory Services.
The last of the preparatory meetings I'm
the churches In the various sections of the
city will be held tonight, The one in the
central district will take place at the CAL
vary Baptist Church, corner of Sth and H
streets.
For the north central district the meet
ing last evening was held at the Church
of the United Brethren at the corner of
r and North Capitol streets, with preach
ing by Rev. ]. r. Verbrycke The meet
ing this evening will be at the Mount Eer-
non NJ. +. Church. at the corner of 9th
and X streets northwest.
In the northwest district DIR. Charles A.
Stakey, pastor of the First Baptist Church
led meeting at the Gunton Temple Me-
mortal Church. This evening the meeting
will be held at Luther Place Memorial
Church on Thomas Circle. DR.. Teunis S.
Hamln will lead.