Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-03-28
ENDEAVORERS RALLYING
Battle Cry of Washington in '96 Sounded
Again
Mass Meeting of Christian Endenvor
Union Last Night--Addresses by
Prominent Members.

Before o'clock last evening groups of
young people could be seen moving from all
directions toward the First Congregational
Church. The scattered groups soon became
steady stream, and in a short time the
largest church in Washington was filed
with the members of the Christian En-
deavor Union. The occasion was a mass
meeting in the interests of the great con-
Vention in Cleveland in July next and the
prospective convention in this city in 1896.
The meeting opened with a song service
led by the director of the Christian En-
deavor choir, Mr.. Percy S. Foster.
Mr.. W. 5. Macarthur, president of the G..
E. Union of the District, read the Scriptures
and then ten minutes were devoted to SEN
tence prayers, a very large number of the
EndeayOrerS participating.
After more singing the presiding officer of
the evening, Chairman W. H. H. Smith of
the preliminary committee of 80, announc-
ed Mr.. Percy 5. Foster as the first speaker.
Mr.. Fosters topic was Does 1t Pay to
Attend an International Convention of
Christian EndeaYOr?'
He started out with the observation that
he knew of no money invested which had
yielded such great returns as that which
had been expended by Endeavorers in at
tending the great international conventions
of Christian Endeavor.
His reference to the formation OF what he
IOCdl between Individual
Christian Endeavorers on these trips elicit
ed considerable merriment. Continuing Mr.
Foster described his first visit to an inter-
national convention, and told of the many
Dement'S which had come to him on account
OF his attendance on the two great conyen-
tons at New York and Montreal
Concluding, he urged that every Endeav-
orer should make an earnest effort to go to
Cleveland In July.
Other Speakers.
The chairman, Mr.. Smith. then announc-
ed that he had some surprises for the au-
dience, all of which were Of a pleasant ma
ture save the first one.
Rev. j. u. Tyler of Cleveland who was
down on the program for an address, had
telegraphed that he was unable to attend
This was disappointment to all.
However. he said there would be two ad-
dresses in the place of this one
He then referred to the presence in the
gallery Of twenty-five Cleveland Christian
Endeavorers, who were in this city sight
seeing.
The song, Cleveland, 81" was sung by
the audience and then Mr.. L. A Conner
jr-, told how the excursion to Cleveland was
to be managed
His report was most interesting and he
predicted most enjoyable trip.
Rev. Howard Wilbur Ennis, pastor-elect
Of the Western Presbyterian Church, made a
brief but stirring address.
He believed in Christian endeavor because
it was alive" and that element was need
ed in religion as well as in anything else
Mr.. w. H. Pennell, the first signer of a
Christian Endeavor pledge and constitution,
then spoke for some minutes on what Chris
tan endeavor had done for him. He also
referred to the remarkable growth of the
movement, which had made ii an important
factor in the very life of the nation The
la test figures place the number of Christian
Endeavor societies at 30.6SO, with a men,
bership of nearly 1.150.000.
Ten minutes WAS then given up to re-
sponses from the floor to what Christian
Endeavor had done for those present.
Washington in 90.
The concluding address on the topic "Win
1t pay to have the Christian Endeavor Con-
vention at Washington in go" was deliver
ed by Chairman W. H. r. Smith. As he
stepped forward to speak, the choir and au-
dience burst forth with the rousing rallying
song Washington, &C., to the tune of
Tramp. Tramp. Tramp" and the first
verse and chorus were sung before he was
permitted to proceed.
Mr.. Smith spoke of the many spiritual ad-
vantages which would inure to our city
from the holding of the convention here in
90. but said that this was not the main OBJ
iect which the Christian Endeavorers of
Washington had in asking for this conven-
ton. There was broader desire that ami
mated them in wishing that the convention
should be held here, which was that the
interests of worldwide Christian Endeavor
would be furthered to a greater degree by
holding the cOnven ton in this city than
would be possible by holding it in any 9TH
er in the land.
The speaker expressed it as his sincere
conviction that the influence which such a
convention held in this city would exert
upon the very government of the nation
would be far-reaching and productive of
most helpful results.
His address was punctuated with enthu-
siastic applause. and at its conclusion the
second verse and chorus of the ralying
song were sung.
The meeting closed with the Mizpah beue-
diction of the Christian Endeavor Society,
and as the audience passed out the strains
of Washington, &c. were again taken up
and sung.
The next mass meeting will be held April
9, in the Metropolitan Presbyterian Church,
at which time addresses will be delivered
by Mr.. W. H. Pennell, Rev. Teunis S.
Hamlin. Mr.. L. a. Conner, jr., and Mr. ].
A. Ruryan.