The Washington times., 1894-08-12
GREATEST CONVENTION YET
Christian Endeavorers Will Take
Washington by Storm.
EXPECT 100000 HERB IN 1896
Imaoase Preparations for Their Reception,
Housing, Meetings, and Entertainment
Already Being Planned-Local Officers
Observation-Disclosures Speakers Here.

-Four weeks ago tonight in: Cleveland, the
Forest CITY and metropolis Of the Buckeye
commonwealth, there closed the greatest re-
ligious convention OF this decade. Forty
thousand delegates were gathered there 'for
Christ and the church." Some Of the bright
est stars in the Christian Endeavor armament
delivered inspiring addresses on missionary
extension and kindred subjects. AL credit
is due the Cleveland Endeavorers for the man.
ner in which they entertained such hos: of
visitors.
In two years from that date another con
vention will have come to its close in this
beautiful Capital Of the nation. Many persons
sayit will be the greatest event in the history
of the Christian Endeavor Society. Three
times 40 900 will be the size Of the interna-
tional convention of 1896. To make thorough
preparations for the accommodation and en-
tertainment OF such mighty host requires
months of hard work. The committee of 80
will have charge of all arrangements and
will be appointed within a week or two.
With view to giving the general public
foretaste of what may be expected two years
hence a TIMES reporter has talked with sew
eral prominent local Endeavorers, who are
actively engaged in the preliminary work.
W. S. Macarthur, president of the District
Union, in speaking Of the preparations for the
convention, said:
MOST SUCCESSFUL OF ALL.
I'VE shall aim to make the '96 convention
the most successful in every particular in the
history of Christian Endeavor. The great dis
tance to San Francisco and consequent heavy
expense OF the trip will prevent thousands Of
persons, especially those who live in the
East from attending the convention OF '95.
For the Washington convention we will
probably secure observation-disclosures
trip rate from any poin: in the United States.
This will enable thousands of young people
to come who have never attended any pre-
vious convention, and We expect at least
100000 visitors at that time"
Regarding the halls in which the conven-
ton sessions will be held, Mr.. Macarthur had
this 10 say:
1--WE have no auditorium here which will
accommodate as many persons as the New
Yord Madison Square Garden, but in sc there
will be several accessible halls, each with a
seating capacity OF 10 900. We may use Con-
vention Hall. which can be made to seat
10000 persons, and the new Brigade Armory
Immediately adjoining. now in course of con-
struction, with accommodations for $4,000
more. 1t has also been proposed to erect an
immense temporary tent on the White Lot,
but tins will be decided on later.
mo effort will be spared to make the at
tendance as large as l have indicated. The
visiting delegates will be met at the depots
and steamboat wharves by members of the
local entertainment committee, and guides
will escort them TO their state headquarters
and points of interest in the city. Arrange
ments will probably be made to run excur-
sioIis to the battle-1elds in the vicinity OF
Washington, and also to Arlington and
Mount Vernon.
SPEAKERS OF RESowS EXPECTED.
I'VE expect to have many of the most elo-
quent and renowned speakers in the world
deliver addresses and conduct open parlia-
ments. 1t is our intention to invite President
Cleveland to welcome the visitors on behalf
of the nation, and we have every reason to
believe he will accept the invitation.
sit is worth the trip to Washington to visit
the government and other public buildings
Such interesting edifices as the Capitol, EN-
ecutive Mansion, Treasury Department. Pat
ent Office, Smithsonian Institution, National
Museum, and the new home of the Congress
sional Library are no. to be seen in any other
city. Then there is the Washington Monu-
ment, the Bureau of Engraving and Printing,
where all our postage stamps and green