Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-04-10
P U S H NC THE BALL
Enthusiasm for Christian Endeayor Con.
vention Here Growing.
The Speeches Mt the Mass Meeting
Last Nighttime Cleans of the
Ninety-Sixth Meeting.

from DeSlnn1ng TO END. IhlS
describes the mass meeting OF the Christian
EndeaVor Union at the Metropolitan Pres
! byterian Church last evening.
/ The meeting opened with a song service
led by Mr.. G. A. Clark, chorister Of the
| society at the Metropolitan Church.
! Then followed short devotional service
! led by Mr.. w. II. II. Smith Many favorite
Scripture texts were recited by those pres
| ent and the participation in the sentence
prayers was very general
| soprano solo entitled Crock of Ages"
was beautifully rendered by Mrs. IL. c.
| Browning.
President Macarthur then introduced Mr.
] W. II. Pennell the First Christian En-
deavorer" and said that Washington gladly
welcomed MN TO membership In it's Onion
Mr.. PennelIS address was upon the Ionic
! beginnings IF Christian Endeavor." Fiji
| teen years ago, said the speaker admts
! sion TO the church was only to be had
after an examination by the leaders in the
| various church organizations Strong op-
| position to the admission of young people
was everywhere prevalent, with the result
that those who in their youth had become
converted very often drifted away from the
! influence of the church before they were
old enough to be admitted.
The Christian Endeavor Society was de-
signed to fill this breach. How admirably
! it has done so is a matter of history and
forms one of the brightest pages in the re-
ligious annals of the world.
Mr.. Pencil gave a most interesting de-
scrfption of the various preliminary steps
which led gradually up to the formation Of
the first Society of Christian Endeavor by
DR.. F. f. Clark, in Wflliston Church. Port
land Me.
He told of the first meeting I'm the home
of the pastor, where the constitution of the
society was read to the young people pres
ent and signed by them.
Then Mr.. Pennell traced the remarkable
ms Of 81.
and told many interesting incidents in the
early history of the society.
In closing, he referred to the harmony
which had always prevailed among those
VINO mad been called to be leaders in the
organization.
over thirty denominations were repre-
scented on the board of trustees, and though
many struggles had been witnessed within
the various denominations no such feeling
RAD found its way into the Christian En-
deaVor Society. but the broad feeling of
Fellowship was everywhere noticeable.
Washington I'm '08.
DIR. Teunis S. Hamlin was next intro
duced. His topic was Growth From Great
Conventions" but he rather departed from
1t, as he said. to speak upon the broader
subject of the good which was to be de-
rived from attending such a meeting as an
International convention of Christian En-
deavor.
He spoke Of how little one could COM
prehend the power of such convention
from mere description The Tremendous
uplift of such a mass Of Christian Thought
prayer and song, could not be adequately
described nor be realized until experienced
Never in the history of the world had
there been such great religious convention
as that of the societies of Christian En-
deavor in New York in 1892, and never
would there be e gre Iter until the conven-
Iion should come 10 Washington in 1896
Ihis sentence brought forth the most en-
thISiastic applause which turned TO laugh
ter when DR.. Hamlin added, IF it does Z"
He spoke OF the marvellous disqualification
OF Christian unity which was to be seen at
these great conventions. Denominations
differences were all laid aside and the only
divisions occurred where the Endeayorers
or each state rallied around their state
banner. 1t was Impossible to attend such
meetings without becoming less of a sec
tartan and more of a Christian. And. more
over, the conventions were of immeasura BILE
oeneht in the quickening influence they
eXerted on individual lives. There was no
place where heaven came nearer to earth
and where one could come i'm closer con-
tact with the Holy Spirit than at these
great meetings.
EndcayOr Conventions.
One verse Of Cleveland. '94," was then
sung, and at its conclusion Mr.. L. A Con-
ner, jr-, was introduced. His topic was
Inter- ational Christian Endeayor Conven-
ton at Cleveland in July, '94-Anticipa-
ton" He prefaced his remarks by ex-
pressing regret that every Christian En-
dearorer in the District of Columbia could
not have heard the two addresses which
had preceded.
Endeavcr convention began when the train
bearing the delegates to it left the station
for the trip.
This year" he said. 'the trip win he
even more attractive than ever before
lie described the beautiful scenery along
the route, and said that II would all be
passed by daylight. lie spoke of the many
features of great interest in the coming
convention, and urged all who could pos
sibly 20 to do so.
At the conclusion of this address a let
ter from Miss Abby L. Griswold, corre-
spending secretary of the society which is
10 entertain the District Endeavorers in
Cleveland, was read, and received hearty
applause After the singing of the third
Verse of Cleveland. 81" Mr.. ]. A RunVan
was introduced. and spoke to the topic
International Convention OF Christian En-
deavor at Washington in IS6-F oregleams"
Mr.. Runyan said that he was an optimist
on the subject of Christian Endeavor and
incidentally on the securing of the great
convention for Washington in 1876 I'VE
don't expect n defeat he said, we're i'm
the field to win" There were many fore
CLEANS" of the convention here in 90 one
of these was the marvellous series of meet
tngs which was held recently in ConVen-
ton Hail. In this connection he mentioned
the remarkable spirit OF hberality which
the press of this city had always mani
Tested toward great religious enterprises
and said that this was one of the most en-
couraging 'fforegleams" of the coming con-
Vention. He spoke OF what an influence
such convention here in the nations cap-
ltal would exert upon the governments OF
the old world, since their chosen representa-
tives were here stationed and would here
have an opportunity to realize the mean
ing of this great movement
At the conclusion OF this stirring address
the sCpg, Washington, 96" was sung with
great enthusiasm.
Several letters commendatory of Wash
ington as the convention city for '96 were
then read.
The meeting closed with short consecra-
ton service and the Mtzpah beneiiction
The next meeting will be held at the
West Street Presbyterian Church Friday
evening, April ~, and addresses will be
delivered by Rev. J. J. Muir, Rev. f, D.
Power and Mr.. f. NJ. Bradley
Minister ThurstOn's Trim.
Mr. +. ThurSron he III.