Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-08

sion in October. 1852. 1t was referred by
the executive committee TO the press COM
mittee fer consideration, the members of
which deliberated earnestly over the mat
ter. finally recommending the adoption of
the idea. The new publication was chris
tened The Endeavorer, and first made
It's apologize bow to the public with the
issue of April. 1899. Its first editor was
Percy S. Foster, then president of the
union. and John r. Slsman, jr., the present
chairman of the convention press commit
tee. was its business manager During is
first year the burden of publication was
borne principally by the officers Of the
union, and fell heaviest the editor and
business manager, who Were already busy
with the important duties of the union per
tanning to the offices of president and first
vice president.
But with the second volume was inau-
Surated the policy originally intended by
the promoters of the paper-that of giving
us pubilcaion in the charge OF the press
committee of the union. John b. SIeman
IT., chairman of the press committee for
the season of 93i, continued in charge of
the second volume. aided by the others of
his committee. the members of which were
appointed from the several denominations
whose societies were represe ed in the
union Miss Mabel n. Thurston was editor
OF the junior page-for such a feature had
been introduced-and Andrew Wilson was
appointed business manager For a time
II was undecided how the paper should be
supported, whether from revenue derived
from advertisers. or by subscriptions from
the unions treasury. 1t vas however.
finally concluded that it should be con-
Quoted a business basis and on this
principle il has ever since been successfully
Published.
With the third volume came increased
opportunities and additional resnonslt,ili-
ties. The paper was increased in size from
four pages to eight. Never before had
there been such an imperative need for a
union publication. The convention of ~;
had just been awarded to WASHINGTON In
g being ha nf no
tict union. the committee OF SO adopted it
as its official organ. and in its columns ac-
counts OF the business meetings and mass
meetings of The union and the progress
made in the preliminary ARRANGEMENTS TO.
the fifteenth international convention by
the committee of % were fully reported
A new feature was a monthly letter from
poth the president and secretary of the
union A page was devoted 10 junior news
ana items frcm the senior societies found
space in its columns. The press committee
continued to nave charge of its publication,
with John D. Morgan, chairman, as editor
The EndeavCrer is now in its fourth
year. Mr.. Morgan is still its editor and
associated with him in its management are
Miss Bertha G.. Davis, news editor: Miss
Mabel n. Thurston. junior editor: John b.
Sleman, jr., managing editor; Walker E.
McBatn, subscription manager and Paul
F. Sleman, advertising manager. With the
al preach of the convention 1t has become
necessary once again to increase its size,
and it is issued in twelve-page form.
II has extensive circulation throughout
the country, and from its pages are freely
clipped Interesting information and gossip
about convention plans. which are reprint
ed in other Christian Endeavor and rels-
ious and secular papers. A series of il
Illustrated articles on points of interest in
and around Washington, contributed by
members of the press committee, has
Gently attracted very favorable attention.
EndeavOr Chorus.
During the present convention the del
egates will have a privilege never offered
at former Christian Endeavor gatherings
the pleasure of listening to songs from four
thousand trained voices. This chorus,
though specially organized for the pur-
poses of this convention. is the successful
enlargement of the idea of q Christian En-
deavor choir which originated early in the
history of the union. w. S. Macarthur, af
terward president of the union, was the
first leader of a body of singers which vol
unteered to aid in the singing at the mass
| meetings Afterward the organization was
enlarged, and interest in the work in
creased as conducted under the direction
of Percy S. Foster. The choir numbered
about 80 members, and took part in the
ann al conventions and monthly mass
me etings 1t did its work so well that it
was on several occasions invited to partic-
ipate in religious services conducted under
other than Christian Endeavor auspices,
and all sides the choir and it's leader
were highly complmented.
With the preparations made for the
Moody and Sankey meetings In the early
spring of 1894. Mr. Foster was designated
to organize a Moody choir, and this Chris
tan Endeavor choir was practically merged
In the later undertaking, and has never
since had any separate existence
At National Conventions.
Delegations of considerable size and of
unbounded enthusiasm have represented
the District of Columbia al every annual
national Christian Endeavor convention
which has been held since the organizatio
of the union. AT every convention city the
representatives of the nations capital have
been most cordially welcomed and enter
tanned, and even IL there were no higher
incentive, the remembrance of this fact
alone would be sufficient to spur the local
societies to their best efforts. now that
their turn to act as hosts has come
| Even before local union of societies ex-
listed here Washington was represented at
an international conventicn-that at Phil
adelphia in 1SSa-though there We're only
Two delegates present. The next year at
st. Louis large representation went from
this city. and this was the first convention