Evening star., 1896-07-02
HOUSING DELEGATES
A Resident OF the Northeast Asks
an Interesting Question.
HOW TEE ASSIGNMENTS ARE MADE
Provision in the Program for the
General Public.
WORK OF THE CHO RUS

A housekeeper in the northeast, who has
been interested in the plans of the enter
tainment committee for housing delegates,
and has kept track of the progress of the
work as outlined in the published reports,
writes to The Star as follows:
'The very polite and agreeable agents Of
the locating committee have figuratively,
trcddeE upon each others heels in efforts
to secure our apartments, and professed the
same anxiety expressed by The Star lest
there should be a scarcity of rooms and
beds. Therefore to do our share in pre-
serving the good name of the city by hos
pitality, and to aid good cause, we have
rut ourselves to not little inconvenience,
and most cheerfully, to take all possible.
Now we learn that these guests are to be
located by states, and through churches,
each distributing in its vicinity, and that
to the Eastern Presbyterian Church are as
signed Oklahama and Mississippi: to the
metropolitan, Connecticut and Colorado:
to the Ninth Street Presbyterian, Alabama
and Louisiana, and that Montana last year
sent eight delegates, and sixteen are ex-
pected from there this year.
At mat rate how many guests will be dis
triDuted IN the northeast district? AS sthe
church committees will naturally supply
tnelr own membership first how many may
a member IF church in the northwest ex-
pect! Is 1t worth while to expect any? If
SO, through what committee? and from
what part of the Christanized earth? As
they will all be Christians we ask only for
information and not complaint; since mis-
slonaries are not less worthy and there
iore not less desirable than the sons and
daughters of wealth. We should however
ike TO he assured that our efforts have not
teen unapprec.ated by the committee and
The hundreds" all sent to a more favored
section"
Distributing the Delegates.
In this communication the ideal scheme
of assigning delegates is mentioned-that
is, sending all members of a delegation to
homes In the immediate vicinity of the
church which has been assigned for the
delegation's headquarters. But this ideal
plan cannot be carried out in practice says
Chairman Miles M. Shand of the entertain
ment committee. The reason can be readily
understood. In the large district bounded
by Pennsylvania avenue and street, 7th
ana 18th streets the entertainment COM
mlttee. after thorough canvass, has Sc
cured In the neighborhood of 1000 accom-
modations: In this same district will be
the church headquarters for delegations
from Illinois. West Virginia, Texas, Penn
sylvania. Ohio. Nebraska, Georgia, North
and South Carolina, Arkansas, California
Indiena, Massachusetts and other states
pennsylvania expects to send 1000 dele
gates; Massachusetts, 1900; Illinois, LOO
Indiana. 1.OoO; Ohio over 1000. and the
other delegations mentioned enough to
tidhe tie totdi sum up TO something like
1o,OOO. In other words. in the district whose
bounds are given there are accommoda-
tions for 900 people. while the delegations
whose headquarters are located within the
same territory will number quite twice that
figure.
In the Northeast.
In the northeast there are large number
of accommodations at the disposal Of the
committee, while the delegations whose
church headquarters are situated In that
section will not be numerically strong
enough to require all the rooms that have
been provided. Some districts have more
accommodations Than they need, some
nave not enough. The entertainment COM
mlttee IN assigning delegates to homes will
distribute them in all paris of the city. and
one section will not be favored to the ex-
clusion of another. Those that cannot be
accommodated in homes near their church
headquarters will be sent to other districts
that have not been filled up.
None to Go to the Suburbs.
In this city delegates will be quartered
not farther than two and one-half miles
from the tents where the meetings are to
be held. No offers of accommoda tions in
the suburbs have as yet been accepted.
tho Ugh several homes in Anacostia, Ia
koma. Brightwood. Alexandria and other
nearby but out-of-town places have been
placed at the committees disposal Last
year at Boston some of the delegates were
assigned to homes in the suburbs as far
away frcm Boston Common, where the
meetings were held, fifteen, eighteen or
even twenty miles. The most distant point
to which delegates will he assigned this
year is only two miles and one-half from
the convention tents, and a majority will
be quartered very much nearer and in sec
tlons convenient to rapid transit street car
lines.
Another consideration that will affect the
assignment of delegates is their willingness
to pay high or low rates. Some house,
keepers have offered their rooms for fifty
cents per day: others want one dollar or
more If a delegate asks for the cheapest
rates obtainahie ne Will be given what is
at the committees disposal, even though
it may take him out of the district in which
his church headquarters Is located. Chair
man Shand is confident that all sections
of the city VIII be called upon to receive
visitors into their homes next week.
Provision for the General Public.
One of the most pleasant features of the
convention from the standpoint of citizen
of Washington is the provision which has
teen made for the general public in the
| formation Of the program. While the ma
jority of the meetings are naturally In
tended for Christian Endeavorers who
come here from distance, yet the public
] will always be admitted II there Is room
after the hour for opening a meeting. Ser
vices have been regularly provided on the
program IN Whlcn the pubic Will nave
equal rights with the delegates, and some
meetings have been arranged for citizens
only.
The meetings of the opening evening will
te held simultaneously in twenty-five
churches. from to 10 pm. The location
Of these meetings in all parts of the city
gives ample opportunity for everyone who
desires to attend to do so. The general
topic of the evening Is deepening of the
Spiritual Life" and all the addresses will
lear upon this theme. Local pastors will
preside at the various churches, and two
addresses will be delivered In each place
after which new feature for Christian
Endeavor conventions called "A Quiet
Hour" will be introduced. Some of the
best addresses Of the convention will be
delivered at these Wednesday night meet
ings. and those who will conduct the quiet
hours are among the best-known En-
deayorers of this country.
Stereopticon Lectures.
Special features Of the Wednesday night
meetings will be two lectures illustrated by
stereopticon views. At the First Congrega-
tional Church Rev. George E. Lovejoy OF
Stoneham. Mass, gives an illustrated ad-
dress on Armenia. entitled 1.-The Crescent
Against the CrOss" At tho First Droeh,,