Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-05-14
R Al S NC F U I'd S
Canvassing the City for the @. E Con-
vention.
Enthusiasm Everywhere and n Large
of the Arrangements.


progress or contemplation by the local COM
mittees engaged in preparing for the fif
teenth International Christian Endeavor
convention in July. One, which is already
being conducted with vigor, Is that In
charge of the entertainment committee,
whose members are goirg from house to
house in search of accommodations for the
10000 or more delegates and visitors to the
city while the convention is in session. BY
the entertainment committee the city has
been divided into eleven sections, each in
charge of a member of the central COM
mittee.
The second canvass Is just about to begin
under the auspices of the finance commit
tee. but unlike the entertainment commit
tee, the money seekers will visit only the
business houses. 1t is proposed that the
work shall be done systematically and thor
cughly, and it Is expected that the results
will show the wisdom of taking such action.
For its purposes. the finance committee has
divided the city into ten districts, as fol-
lows: l, Georgetown, In charge OF George
A. Birch; 2 all west of 18th street. A. s.
Taylor: 3. 18th to 18th streets Jerome D.
Johnson; 4, 9th to 18th streets, w. II.
Aspnwall 5, 9th to 9th streets, Rufus L.
Clarke: &, LIST to 9th streets, E. Hilton
Jackson; Z, Pennsylvania avenue south TO
the mall, John Mitchell jr.: 8, South Wash
iEgton, George F. Barber; 9. northeast,
Rev. c. H. Butler; 10. southeast, George 2.
Bohrer.
The finance committee has also dstrib-
uted subscription cards to the four sections
of the convention chorus with the request
that each member secure If possible at
least one subscriber. 1t is hoped that the
singers will be diligent in their efforts to
aid the finance committee. and that through
the efforts of the canvaSsers and the four
thousand chorus members the amount of
the convention fund can be quickly raised.
Enthusiasm Everywhere.
Chairman w. H. H. Smith returned yes
terday from a flying trip to Steelton, Pa,
where he made an address to the Christian
Endeavor Union of that place. He spoke
to an audience that packed every corner of
the church in which the meeting was held,
and gave an outline idea of the organiza-
ton of the committees preparing for the
convention and the completeness of the ar
engagements being made. He reports the
same enthusiastic interest at Steeton in
regard to convention plans that he has
rOticed at other large meetings which he
has attended. After the close of the pro-
gram I reception was given in his honor.
Rev. F.. b. Bagby, chairman of the recep-
ton committee. left for Montgomery, Ala,
late last evening, having accepted an invi-
tation to speak at the Alabama state
Christian Endeavor convention. which will
be held this week. The Ninth Street Chris
tian Church, of which Mr. Ragby is pastor,
has been selected the headquarters for
the Alabama delegation to the July conven-
ton here, and Mr.. Bagby will improve the
opportunity to become acquainted with those
whom his church will entertain, and assure
them in advance of the welcome awaiting
them. He is down on the program to make
an address on Junior work, and will also
conduct an open parliament on the work of
committees. Without doubt he will also
find an opportunity to speak on .Washing
ton '?6." Sunday night he will deliver the
closing address and conduct the consecra-
Iion service.
count of enlistment cards actually in
hand shows that the present membership
OF the convention chorus is :,S56 persons.
Some cards have not vet been returned to
headquarters, so it is probable that the
chorus IS at least 1900 strong There
seems to he no doubt that the 1000 mark
VIII be reached and perhaps passed.
Convention Matters.
Chairman Johnson of the excursions
committee, together with other members
of his committee, in charge Of arranging
for early morning bicycle runs during the
convention, made a trip over one of the
Proposed routes yesterday morning. through
the Soldiers Home to Brightwood. The
entire run was just a fraction over ten
miles, and accomplished in good sea-
son.
Last night meeting of the registra ton
committee was held at Chairman Stowells
desk in headquarters. A form of registra-
fior- card was agreed upon. 1t will contain
spaces for the name and home address of
the delegate, the der omination to which he
or she belongs and the address of the
Washington stopping place. From these
cards the statistics of the convention will
be ascertained, and they will form an accu-
rate and convenient directory of the dele
gates during the sessions of the conven-
ton.
The committee of '96 has been informed
that the Woman's National Press Asso-
citation has appointed a committee on cour-
tesies to women journalists visiting the
city during the convention, and will have
open headquarters at the Riggs House
during the sessions
At 10 o'clock all the workers at head
quarters gathered in one of the rooms. and
a brief prayer meeting held. This is
the Inauguration of a custom which will
prevail from now until the convention
Last evening there We're eleven committee
members and stenographers at work at
the hour named above. and all took part
in the brief devotional service Earnest
prayers for the convention and for strength
and ability for the work of preparation
were offered,