Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-04-25

Music is, therefore, the most unique and at
the same time the most attractive feature
of a Christian Endeavor convention. The
enthusiasm of the occasion is catching: peo-
pie who are no longer young sing; people
who are not members of the organization
sing; even those who were never known to
utter a note of song irrcsistibly join in the
universal chorus.
There is to be a chorus of 1000 trained
voices to lead in the singing at convention
meetings next July. This great body Of
vocalists is divided into four sections, each
1850 strong. One section will be assigned
to each tent. and the fourth will be divided
up among the other meeting places of the
convention, Central Hall and five large
churches.
Organization of the Committee.
Mr.. C. S. Clark of the Church of the
Covenant is the chairman of the music COM
mittee. He is assisted in his work by CEN
trail committee of nine members, three of
whom are ladies. and by IN auxiliary COM
mittee of about sixty-fve persons Each
member of the auxiliary committee is a
leader of a choir of from 30 to 100 singers
attached to the society Of which he is a
member. The combined choirs of from ten
to twenty societies form one section of the
body Of convention singers, and the four
sections united make up the chorus.
The central committee assisting Mr.. Clark
in planning for the music Of the convention
is composed of Miss Blanche Pattison, sec
rotary of the Mt. Vernon NJ. j.. Church;
Harry G. KimbaN, aid Western Presby-
terrain Church; Miss Matte Bartlett, Cal
vary Baptist; Dr. F. J. Woodman, Metro
politan Presbyterian; Russell Barnes, Ner-
mont Avenue Christian; J. A. Rose Gunton
Temple Memorial Presbyterian: +. r. Con-
ner, First Congregational; Miss Florence
Kidwell, North Presbyterian. and r. +. Bal
lard of the Congress Street Methodist Pro-
teStant Church. These are all accomplished
musicians. well known
irstrumentalists or leaders of church choirs
CT other musical organizations.
Chairman Charles S. Clark is the super
vlslne principal Of the first division of the
District public schools. He born in
Lowell, Mass, and received his education
in the public schools of New England, in
Dartmouth College, and the law school of
Columbian University.
He has been interested in Christian En-
deavor work for some years. He was the
first president of the society in the Church
of the Covenant, and was delegate to the
convention in st. Louis in 1880, and to that
held in Boston last year.
Mr.. Clark studied music under some of
Washington's best known doctors Of the
the Choral Society, Apollo Male Chorus
aid other similar organizations. For two
years he was the tenor in the quartet
choir at ST. Andrews Church, and served
its solo tenor, and for eight years was the
precentor of the Church of the Covenant.
His musical education and experience well
qualify him for the important post of duty
to which he has been called.
The committee of '96 started out with
the idea of organizing 4 chorus of 1900
voices for the conven ticn. Already over
5000 persons have been enlisted for this
work and active training is now being car
ried on. The organization was started in
the various societies with small choirs as
nuclei. A competent person in each So
ciety selected as the leader and for
two months past the work of enlisting
singers has been going on. To become a
member Of the chorus applicant must
DO able to sing acceptably some musical
part and must pledge to attend all the
rehearsals that are held, unless excused
for satisfactory reason. as well as all the
meetings OF the convention to which he Is
assigned, If possible.
Drilling the Chorus.
For the last four weeks choir leaders
have been drilling their portions Of the
chorus and during the present week the
work Of rehearsing by sections was begun
AS far as possible all the societies in one
neighborhood have been grouped together
to form one Of the four sections Of the cho-
rus. Capitol Hill and East WashiE gton so
cieties comprise section A Of the chorus;
section B consist of societies in the lower
central part Of the city; section c is made
up of societies in the northwest,
AID Georgetown. Rehearsals of sections
were held consecutive nights during this
week, In order that Chairman Clark might
be present at each one and instruct the
sinsers in their duties and detail some of
his plans. In the weeks that are to follow
rehearsals Of the four sections will be held
simultaneously. every Friday evening.
Designated hymns will be selected for prac-
tice until all the music to be sung at the
convention is thoroughly familiar to the