The record-union., 1896-06-28
Records of Other Years Will Probably
be Eclipsed.
P0stmaster-GeneraI Wilson to Ad-
dress the rluItitude-Great Rally
at Washington nonument and
Parade to the Capitol-Will Sunday
Cycling be Denounced ?-Interest-
ing Excursions Planned.

preparations for entertaining the hf
teenth International Christian Endeavor
Convention. Although the regular seS-
sions do not begin until Wednesday,
July Sth, the. advance guard of the
Christian host is beginning to arrive,
and by the middle of next week the in
rush of visitors will be like a mighty
human tide. Within a few years this
summer meeting of young Christians
has dwarfed all other gatherings in
point of numbers. The only other meet
ings that can touch them are the big
National political conventions, and
everybody knows they occur only once
every four years. The onward march
o. this Christian convention to an at
tendance that will be beyond the ordi-
nary mind to grasp, will keep UP this
year. The Capital of the Nation, which
has seen the biggest gatherings of any
city in the country in proportion to its
slze-the inauguration crowds-iS all
ready beginning to ttremble at the
thought of the army that is to spread
its happy, ever-smiling, ever-orderly
squadrons throughout the length of this
outrageous and smoothly paved city.
The local committee is expecting fully
10000 visitors, and the Rev. E. B. Bag
by, Chairman of the Reception Commit
tee, says he wouldn't be surprised if
10000 more came. It's hard thing to
keep tabs on the growth of this society.
The mushroom growth is a slow de-
velopment compared with it.
The Christian Endeavor movement is
growing at the rate of about 100 new
CO. On A
there were A 500 societies in the world,
with a membership of 2,63O,000. The
first society of Christian Endeavor was
established as recently as February 2,
1881, by the Rev. Francis E. Clark of
Portland, Me. His object was to train
young people for service in church work,
and this continues 10 be the aim of the
societies. There is nothing tending to
schism in the Christian Endeavor move
ment. The Christian Endeayorer is the
more loyal and effective Presbyterian,
Methodist, Congregationalist, etc, by
virtue of his being Christian Endeav-
orer. Surely this is the dominating
reason of the astonishing success of the
movement.
There is, indeed, a United Society of
Christian Endeavor, with headquarters
in Boston, Mass, but it is simply bu-
reau of information, having but this one
object-,to spread the Christian En-
deavor idea. The publication of litera-
ture and other business enterprises are
the sources of it's income. Its chief Off
GERS are the Rev. Francis E. Clark, d.
D., President; John Willis Baer, Gen
eral Secretary; and William Shaw,
Treasurer.
The United Society arranges for the
annual international convention, which
is held purely for Fellowship. AS in the
meetings of local societies, youthful en-
thusiasm and vigor characterize these
mighty gatherings. Their singing is a
revelation of sweetness and volume
Four Thousand persons constitute the
chorus organized to lead the singing at
the convention. The attendance at the
New York convention in 1892 was 10000.
AT Boston last year it was $4,000.
The convention will open on the even
ing of July Sth with twenty-five meet
ings in as many of the largest churches
of the city. Deepening the Spiritual
Life" is announced as the subject for
all these meetings. On Thursday morn
ing will be held the official opening of
the convention in the three great tents
which will be pitched on the White Lot
The presiding officers will be the Rev
F. E. Clark, D. D., and the Rev. Teunis
S. Hamlin, D. D., of Washington and
the Rev. H. B. Grose of Boston. At
these meetings will be read Secretary
Baer's annual report and President
Clark's annual address.
UNCONVENTIONAL rallies will be a feat
ure of Thursdays proceedings, the prin-
cipal meetings being in the three tents
M hich will be used each, respectively
by Presbyterians, Congregationalists
and Baptists. but from twenty-five to
thirty churches will be occupied for
similar gatherings of other sectS. In the
evening of the same day the general
topic of Christian Citizenship" will be
discussed in mass meetings held in the
three tents and in five of the largest
churches in Washington. The list of
speakers includes, in addition to the
names of leaders in the organization,
those of William L. Wilson, Postmaster
General Of the United States; Booker T.
Washington Of Tuskegee, Ala, colored
instructor and philanthropic statesman;
John Wananaker and other distin-
guiShed men.
The topic for next day Friday) is
Saved to Serve" The morning meet
ings will be held in the three tents. The
practical committee conferences will be
held in the churches in the afternoon.
In the evening one of the tents will be
given over to an evangelistic meeting
for the citizens of Washington, and in
the other two tents, Central Hall and six
churches will be especially attractive
programmes for Endeavorers.
Saturday morning at $50 will be held
the first great outdoor praise service
at the Washington Monument Then
there will be march up Pennsylvania
avenue to the Capitol, when it is hoped
a brief address will be given from the
steps of the seat of government The
afternoon is to be given up to sight
seeing. At $50 another outdoor song
service will be held, and the evening
will be given UP to receptions in the
churches and to State rallies.
The juniors day is Saturday There
will be held in one of the churches an
early morning prayer meeting This is
the first time an early morning prayer
meeting has been planned for the jun
iorS. Their annual rally will be held
Saturday afternoon in Tent Washing
ton.
Saturday evening, while the Endeav-
orers are in attendance upon their State
rallies and receptions, in the three tents
will be held meetings for citizens only.
The speakers will be the trustees of
the United Society and leading evan