Evening star., 1898-06-29
WORKING FOR SOULS
Aims of the Christian Commission of
Y. M. G. A.
MEETING At THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE
Enthusiasm Evoked by Singing of
Star SpangIed Banner.
THE ADDRESSES DELIVERED

"What is to be gained If we free Cuba; If
American arms are triumphant in the
Philippines and Porto Rico, in the conquer
ing os such a bloody nation as Spain and
then we should lose any of the souls in our
grand army?' This sentiment, eloquently
expressed by Chaplain Harris of the I'd
Regiment of Tennessee Volunteers, was the
subject of a number of Interesting ad-
dresses last night at the Grand Opera
House before mass meeting held in the
interest of the Army and Navy Christian
commission of the Y. NJ. C. A. The salya-
ton of the soldiers soul was the theme
discussed, and ii was for the purpose of
aiding in the work of the commission
among the volunteers that a large audi
ence braved the inclement weather of the
evening and comfortably filed the large
theater
The meeting was presided over by Mr..
John B. Wight, president of the board of
District Commissioners. and during the
evening speeches were made by two chap
lains and two private soldiers from among
the troops at Camp Alger; by Rev. Wallace
Radcliffe, pastor OF the New York Avenue
Presbyterian Church, and Colonel John j.
McCook of New York, chairman of the
executive department of the Christian COM
mission. The Sth Ohio Regiment Band, un-
der the leadership of Prof. Palmer, rem
dered several popular and patriotic seec-
uons, adding much to the enjoyment of
the evening. while the greatest enthusiasm
was manifested when Mrs. Thomas c.
Noyes sang, in exquisite style, The Star
Spangled Banner
The stage was set as a woodland scene
draped here and there with American flags.
The band was stationed to the right just
In front OF a soldier tent that had been
erected amidst the trees and ferns Mr.
Wight assisted in b,y Mr.
Charles F. Nesbit of the committee on ar
rangements. Prominent among those seat
ed on the stage were: Rev. Wallace Rad
clihe. Rev. Howard Wilbur Ennis Rev
Frank NJ Bristol. Rev. J. ]. Muir. Rev. w.
C. Alexander, Rev. ]. I. Kelly, Rev. ]. G.
Butler. Rev Thomas c. Easton, Rev. S.
Domer, Rev. F. d. Power Mr. Francis H.
Smith Mrs. Clinton Smith of the w c. T
L., Mrs. Clara Bell Brown, Representative
Northway. Mr.. c. H. Randolph. Mr.. John
Leetch, Prof. W. Il. Powell, superintend-
ent of public schools; Judge Anson s. Tay-
Tor. Charles Lyman, Colonel John ]. Nc
Cook and the other speakers of the meet
ing.
The Invocation.
The meeting was opened with an invoca-
ton by Rev DR.. Bristol. pastor of Metro
roltan NJ. Z. Church. He prayed for the
brave army in the field battling for the Lp-
lifting of the downtrodden and giving libar-
ty to those to whom II belongs He praye1
that God might give the American arms
pronounced victory, that the war might De
speedily brought to close to the honor of
His nama- DR. Bristol asked that the tima
be FASTENED when war will be a thing of
the past: when the sword will be converted
into the plowshare. the spear into the prun-
Ing hook He prayed for the time when the
gospel OF Gods truth. equality and liberty.
shall have triumphed over all the earth ?
Rev Dr. Radcliffe was the first speaker
introduced: His speech was one of patriotic
fervor. and it thoroughly aroused the large
audience The United States, he said, Is to-
Cay writing the history of the war of the
good Samaritan He spoke of the patience
oR President Mckinley before declaring war.
we had now stepped forward and demand
ed that the hands of the ruffian Spain be
taken from the throat OF helpless Cuba. an
island that shall be protected from all the
thieves and robbers in the universe The
speaker declared that the man who criti-
cises the President at this juno ture is not
or the American party.
How Peace May Come
1--WE all hope for peace" continued DR..
Radcliffe. but peacs can come now only
through Santiago. Havana, Porto Rico and
the Philippines. We must give our entire
sympathy and support to the army and
navy and be loyal to the President The
man -9ho does not stand by the army and
navy today must be against the army and
navy" He concluded by describing some of
Christian commission.
Mrs Noyes was introduced amid great ap-
plause. Standing in the center of the stage
with a silken American flag in her hand,
she sang The Star Spangled Banner" her
naSmrcent soprano voice lending an addt-
tional attraction to the patriotic enthusi-
aSm which was evident in her every note
Unaccompanied. she sang the solo part of
the grand old anthem, and then the audi
ence and band Joined in the chorus The
demonstration continued for some time aft
er Mrs Noyes had responded to an encore
Mr. Nesbit read letters of regret from
Gen o. o. Howard, Rev. ID. L. Moody Jas
A. Beaver. ex-governor of Pennsylvania
Joshua Leveriug and F. W. Fearsall in
charge of the commission work at Chick
Gm2uga.
Chaplain Kerlin of the Sd Missouri Regi-
ment spoke next, declaring that the S, 600 =
u" day being expended by the govern
ment Tor the war was amply justified If
Tor no other reason than the uniting of the
sections under one flag Tha Sd Missouri
and the Sd New York had been brought to-
Setner on the same camp ground under the
same nag, whereas thirty-odd years ago
they wers camped on the same battlefield
but on opposite sides. The soldiers in the
camps should have books. writing material
and games in the tents to amuse them and
keep them from temptation.
Applause for Private Brown.
Private G. W. Brown OF Company d. sth
Ohio Regiment. was presented amid a
storm of applause that continued for sew
eral minutes. He told of his long march
In the morning. saying he was indeed
lucky to be able to be present. He enlisted
from his books and went to the front
without returning to his home to bid par
ents and loved ones good-by. When he
saw the flag go up on the camp field he
knew that he would be protected; when