The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1896-07-16
A SONG SERVICE.
Remarkable Religious Demonstration 1t
Warrington.

Remarkable Rslisious Demonstration u
Warrington.
Washington, July 13.-The most re-
markable religious demonstration ever
concentrated at one spot and probably
the greatest this country has ever seen
was that of the open-air patriotic song
service at the east front of the United
States capitol Saturday evening, which
has proved tho most popular public
feature Of the big Christian Endeavo,
convention. The immense concerted
open,space and the green lawns stretch
ing for four blocks in one direction and
three In another were jammed with q
solid mass of humanity, whose prin.
cipal mission was to listen to the work
of the great 4,000-voice chorus, brought
together for the first time. Fully u.s.
600 people, at a conservative estimate,
were within the shadow of the great
dome Of the capitol, and the sight was
more inspiring than the Inauguration
ceremonies. Tue chorus singers were
massed on the east front stairs. Every
window OF the Capitol building was
occupied, and people even were stand.
ing upon the root and dome cornices.
Carriages packed the streets for block
further back from the edge of the
crowd.
The banner which IL annually pre-
sented to the local union having report
ed the best work in promoting Chris
tian citizenship, and which was held
by the Chicago City union for three
years, was captured by the local union
from Cleveland, o.
The chorus then sang two of its ia
vorite songs. The effect was mag
nificent, the volume coming from
each section of the chorus being Won
derful]y balanced as a whole. When
the chorus sang awake the song" the
delegates adjourned the meeting, but
marched down Pennsylvania avenue,
headed by the Marine band, singing En-
deavor hymns. When the treasury was
reached the entire procession broke up
with q rousing chorus.
Washington, July ia list Of 80
meetings arranged to be held in the
tents and churches Sunday afternoon
offered varying attractions to the 40, 900
Christian Endeavordelegatesi in attend
ance upon the fifteenth international
convention. These were mostly denom-
national rallies, and they drew crowds
according to the numerical strength Of
each particular denomination. The
Baptists, Presbyterians and Congrega-
tionalists occupied the three tents on
the white lot Speeches were made
at these rallies by prominent men,
bers of the several denominations. Fol-
lowing these rallies Evangelist B. Fay
Mills, of Fort Edward, N. Y, addressed
a large audience Of citizens in Tent
Washington. A Sabbath observance
meeting was held also in Central hall,
Mr.. William Shaw, of Boston, presiding.
Speeches were made by Wilbur F.
Crafts, of Washington; Mrs. Henry T.
McEwen, of New York, and others. At
hight at seven o'clock Christian En-
deavor prayer meetings were held in all
the churches of the city. Preaching
services both morning and evening in
the city churches were we'll attended by
citizens and endeavorers.
The board Of trustees OF the Christian
Endeavor association has selected Nash
vile, Tenn, as the place of meeting in
1898. It will be the first international
Christian Endeavor convention ever held
in the south.