Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-13
WITH TRIUMPHANT SONG
Fitting Finale of the First Week of the @. E
Convention.
Vast ConcOurse ut the Capitol Partic-
ipates in Exercises of an In
spring Character.

| The idea of holding a mammoth mass
meeting and outdoor song Service at the
east front of the Capitol was perhaps the
happiest inspiration of all the great con-
vertion.
From the time the convention opened big
meetings have been held all over town, in
the three great tents and in various
churches, and these have attracted some
of the largest crowds ever seen in this city,
but 1t was not until Saturday afternoon
that Washington was given an opportun-
ity ID see all the Endeavorers in body.
| The effect was something stupendous, and
the sight was that will long be re-
membered. Almost every visitor, Of
course, made 1t a point to take part in the
exercises, and besides these there were
thousands of others who were attracted by
the desire to hear the music and to see
such a remarkable gathering. They We're
more than paid
There was absolutely nothing lacking to
make the affair success from every point
of view. In the first place the weather
was superb and just suited to an open air
celebration The Marine Band was on
hand, by direction of the Secretary of the
Navy, and rendered a number of selections
in its usual style. But after all and
above all it was the singing of the great
Endeavor chorus that struck responsive
chord in the hearts of the people, and it
was no wonder that they applauded most
heartily.
Five O'Clock was the hour set for the
service, bat long before that hour the
crowd began to gather. The main steps
on the east front of the building and the
grass plats on either side were roped Off
and reserved for the singers and the Cap
itol police were on hand u keep order
| They had little to do, however for con-
sidering the size of the assemblage, it was
probably the most orderly and well-be-
haved ever seen In this city. Sergeant-at-
Arms Bright had placed his men at the
disposal of the committee of SO for the
tune being. and everything was done for
the comfort Of the crowd. The arrange
ments We're perfect and were carried out
to the letter.
A Memorable Scene.
For nearly an hour two continuous
streams Of people wound round the Can't
tol building. convergng In front of the
steps Before the singing began there were
/ probably 10000 people banked solidIy to-
| gether on the great stretch of asphalt to-
ward the statue of Washington, and by
inc Tune the exercises were we'll under
way there must have been from ten to
llIeeen thousand more There never was
such crowd in this city excepting only on
inauguration days. and yet the spectacle
was vastly more attractive than when a
PRESIDENT takes the oath Of office, for then
w q CodtS anu umbrellas are the order of
the day. and the general effect Is dun aud
undressing. Saturday afternoon tho
great space was one sea Of color dainty
summer gowns. brilliant-hued parasols
White nannels and straw hats 1t is Difficult,
TO give in words anything like a satisfac-
tory idea of the scene. There were liter
ally acres of humanity ten or fifteen nrob-
ABLY Tor the crowd extended toward the
east almost to the limit Of the grounds
and far beyond the north and soutb stans
or the building. Thousands were unable TO
get near enough to hear at all we'll even
such volume of sound as that great cho-
ius Soulo furnish, chorus the like Of
winch mas never before been seen in wash
ington. " w a'''
Magnificent Chorus.
Inc singers were grouped about the main
| steps. the female voices in the center mall
ing parterre Of pretty faces and bright
'oiofs' ana the men on either side or the
singers alone there were upward Of 1000 a
ihashlncent array of trained voices SINGING
the hymns of praise and Joy so dear ,o tho
hearts or the Christian Endeayorers Tb.
music was of exactly the sor. that v..
cest ntted to such an occasion. lively. tune
co ~. dm. o.lsht hymns with a swing to them
So mat they almost sing themselves
In front of the chorus was a flap-dranaa
Stanu ior the leader and the officers of the
un i,I society, and back Of this, but still
within the roped Enclosure wac stat,cni
the Marine Band on a raised nj. 60 oied
The music of the band was in strong con-
tiast 70 the singing, for Prof Fanci,iii had
s sen III 10 select pieces of rather a
sGnlDer sort. He began with the pilgrims.
cnorus from Tannhauser, which inform
nateiy could not be heard well at die
lance Later. however. the band nla ved q
medley OF patriotic airs, and this sySked
enthusiastic applause and generous chesr-
ing ooS eheer-
me Endeavor chorus. whose singing will
long be remembered by those who have at
tended any of the sessions of the conran-
non. was led by Mr.. Percy s. Fosts- Nj
hes.er ably seconded Chairman Clark dur
ing the rehearsais in the effort to bring the
cnorus up to its high standard. and had
the honor of leading on this great public
&C casion The work of the chorus Under
us baton left nothing to be desired. and II
showed the effects of it's thorough and CON
sclentious training. The singers entered
hrnns with a zeal and fervor wonderful to
behold. ~
With Mr.. Foster on the stand were Pres
ident Francis E. Clark and Secretary Baer