The Newtown bee., 1896-04-17
WASHINGTON ASA CONVENTION CITY.

THE NATIONAL CAPITAL RAPIDLY BE |
 COMING THE MECCA OF THE UNITED
 STATES FOR CONVENTIONS OF ALI
 KINDS, RELIGIOUS, SCIENTIFIC BUSH
 NESS, EDUCATIONAL, AND FRATERNAI
 PREPARATIONS MADE FOR THE COM
 ING CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOB cow FIN
 TIuN,
 Some time ago one of the Washington daily papers published an article giving an outline of the various conventions which had met in this city during the previous year. The total number was about six hundred, representing almost every cau3e in which mankind feels al interest. A great many associations have adopted Washington as a perma. nent meeting place for their annual gathering. Some conventions have only a few scores of delegates, while others have many thousands.
 Within the last few years there have met here the most important conVen- ti0ns of the Baptist, Unitarian, Presby- terian, Methodist, and Catholic church. es the Odd Fellows, Masonic and Gold en Eagle Fraternities; Medical and Scientific Societies. In fact, it is doubt ful if there is eyer a week of the year when there is not in the city 8 cOnyen tion in session. Some weeks there are dozen or fifteen at once,
 Just at present the interest of the people is centering in the approaching convention of the Young Peoples Christian Endeavor Society, which bids fair to be the largest convention of the society ever held, and the largest con- vention of any kind ever held here, ex- l cepting the encampment of the G. A. R., in 1892, 8 hundred thousand veterans met for the first time since the war, in the federal city.
 As soon as it was decided to hold the 1 Christian Endeavor Convention here 8 large and enthusiastic committee on preparations began it's work. TheiI plans are now carefully arranged, and the city is eager to show it's hospitality
 Congress has placed at the disposal ol the Society the "Executiye Oval,' lying
 between the White House and the Mon
 ument, magnificent location. com prisjrg about sixty acres of level ground
 almost within the heart of the city
 Here will be erected three tents having q seating capacity of ten thousand each
 Contracts have already been made fo these and it is possible cbat fourth vii be add"d In addition to the tents on ; of the largest halls iii the city, anp thirteen churches, will be used for sim ultaneous meetings, for it is eXpccte that there will be at least sixty rhousan = delegates present, as well as a yer large number of friends of the society. Some months ago |. force of on
 thousand young men was selected frO1 , the various city branches of the sOCieC
 to act as ushrrs. They are now beiD l drilled in their duties, and during tn
 convention will wear uniform caps, hal
 ing in front the word "usher.' D The music viii be in charge of NJ
 Percy Foster, of this city, who di: i played so much skill in managing tn
 singing at the Cleveland and B0eto . conventione. X chorus of four th0usan v people will be organized and drilled
 but when the convention meets it will b . divided, one thousand singing in each C
 the three tents, and the other thOusan , assisting at the outside meetings.
 Pngrimages to Mt Vernon and othe , points of interest will be arranged, an everything possible be done to make tn a stay of the visitors pleasant, the though | fulness of the committee going so far d o to provide fans, which may lbe kept a
 souvenirs. The committee is also pTf s parirg for general di-tri5uIon a cor ? venent directory giving vast amount ( information as to places of interest. - It is said that already about as man a delegations have secured acc0mmodI f tons at the hotels as at the Boston COT 1 ventiOn, and the convention is still foU D months away.
 n Headquarters have already been a a signed for every State and Territory (
 the Union; all headquarters being witt Q in 20 minutes ride on the street car o from the ''Executive Oval"
 4 fund of $50, ,0O0 to pay the expense P of the convention is now being raised b I popular subscription, all classes unitin
 to make the coming meeting a thOrOug
 success.