Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-08

n. D.. at that time pastor of a church in
Orange, n. j., and now the president OF the
Howard University in this city. 1t was
presented 70 the convention which assem-
bled in Saratoga in 1856. Another hymn
by DIR. Rankin, which has become very
popular with Endeavorers is God Be With
You TIL We Meet Again The first evil
dence OF a special musical director at any
of the Christian Endeavor conventions that
can be found is that at St. Louis In 1880,
when Mr.. James F. Lindsay was named as
the musical director. and his own song.
The Endeavor Band" was first introduced
and has since become one OF the most pop
ular of Endeavor hymns. Mr.. Lindsay was
the director at the convention in MInneap-
oils in 1891. and at the convention in New
York in 1892, which was held in the AIadi-
son Square Garden. there were three who
at different times led the choruses, namely.
Mr.. Lindsay and Mr.. and Mrs. George G.
Stebbins.
There was a notable musical incident at
the convention of 1893. which was held in
Montreal, Canada AT that time the execu-
tive committee had a chairman of music
who was Mr.. H. A. Barnard. and Mr..
Lindsay was again the musical director.
The incident referred to was the singing
of God Save the Queen by a large Choir
US, and at the third verse Mr.. Lindsay
drew from his pocket an English flag and
waved it, causing great enthusiasm and
cheering. Immediately this anthem was
concluded the chorus struck UP America
Il
third stanza of this Mr.. Lindsay drew from
his pocket the stars and stripes and waved
that as he had done the English flag be-
fore. The enthusiasm was even more in
tense than at first. and the incident is one
which will long be remembered by those
Endeavorers who were present on that oc-
casion. The favorite song at Montreal was
Suns hine in My Soul. At the convention
in Clevelrnd in "a. where the Rev. s. L.
Darsie was the chairman of the music
committee. the favorite song was Scatter
Sunshine. AT Boston last year the favor
lite song was Keep Step With the Master"
There the services were held in Mechanics
Institute and in two big tents on the Com
mon, and there were consequently three
directors Of music, namely, Mr. Percy 8.
Foster, George K Somerby and George {.
Stehoins. II was estimated that the chorus
IN Boston aggregated nearly three thou
sand voices. and the music was in advance
of anything that had been heard at an En-
deavor convention therefore.
Preparing for '96.
When the executive committee of this
city began to take measures for the con-
venton to be held here, the members real
lied that ii would be necessary to appoint
some man of great executive ability and
experience as the chairman of the commit
tee on music. They selected Mr. Charles 6
Clark, and the result of his work shows
that no mistake was made. 1t was Mr.
CiarkS business TO form chorus which
should exceed not only in numbers but in
excellence of its training any that had been
heard at a Christian Endeavor convention
He realized the task before him. but he set
about his work with the utmost confidence
and made his preparations with systematir
intelligence He set his limit as to number
at four thouSa nd voices, but that has al
ready been exceeded. and the great Chris
tian Endeavor chorus of 1S9H now numbers
i,611 members. In this chorus there is no
dead wood. so called, but every one is a
SINGER 81. ono hos
tendant upon the rehearsals. The member
ship tickets show this. and testify to the
interest that each member has felt in the
work of preparing for the music of thu,
great convention.
The first step taken toward organizing
the chorus was the sending out of d gem
eral blank TO each society by the commit
tee requesting the presentation of the
name of the member of that society to rem
resent II in music. II was to be the bust
ness of this representative to form a choir
IN connection with his society and to train
IT III convention music. SiXty-six names
were returned In response to this request
but when the work really began only fifty-
eight remained as members of the auxiliary
music music committee These members have
been called choir leaders. Early in Janu-
AIRY last the music committee proper was
appointed by the committee of 'p8 rs
members are Miss Matte Bartlett. Miss
Florence kidwell, Miss Blanche l.. Patti
son, DIR. F. j. Woodman. Mr.. Russell
Barnes, Mr. J. Arthur Rose. Mr.. F. r.
Conner. Mr.. Robert Billiard Dr. NJ. F.
Thompson. Mr.. Harry G. Kimball. OF
course Mr.. Charles s. Clark who was a
member of the '96 committee. was chosen
chairman of this music committee
A song book of ifty-six pages was print
ed and distributed among the chorus the
selections being from Christian Endeavor
hymns. with a few from other sources.
The right TO use the hymns was obtained
by the United Society of Christian Endeay-
orers. and the book was printed by them.
The first meeting of the music orpmittee
was held February II. and at that time an
apporuonment was made among the sew
eral societies of the number of members 10
De enrolled In their choirs. The co1nmitte g
also adopted membership card and