Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1898-08-13

Wright of this city have returned from
Gordonsville, Va, where they have been in
attendance at big tabernacle meeting I'M
der the auspices of the Disciples of the
Piedmont district. The association is
known as the 1.-The Piedmont Assembly of
the Disciples of Christ" and is maintained
by the cooperation of forty odd churches
composing the Piedmont district. A taber-
nacie, with seating capacity of / 200. and
all necessary buildings for the entertain
ment of the public, were specially erected
and the grounds We're inclosed for the &C.
casion. The grounds are located in an ele-
Nateo grove, one and one-half miles west
of Gordonsville.
The first three days Of the meeting were
devoted 10 the business of the churches
Sunday schools. c. w. B. NJ. auxiliaries and
Christian Endeavor societies. After this
for eight days. the meeting was In the
hands OF the assembly subcommittee on
program. composed of Rev. B. p Smith of
Charlottesville, Richard Bagby and f ID
Coffee of Louisiana
A number of prominent divines from
other parts of the state and adjoining
states We're in attendance Among those,
besides those from the city were Reys
Peter Ainslie and B. A. Abbot of BaIti-
more, l. J. Spencer of Lexington Ky; E
L. Powell of Louisville, KY; Dr. C. A.
Young of Chicago, w. ]. Cook of Union
town, Pa; v. j. Book of Clifton Forge
Va; ]. N. Hartman of Tazewell. Va.
Many of the church workers of this vicin-
ity have been at ChautauQua N Y for the
past two weeks, where few days ago, for
the twenty-ffth time, ChautauQua cele-
brated her birthday, and the last was the
greatest in every respect that has ever
been known in the history of this UNIQUE
institution. Much has happened since that
first assembly held its fifteen-day session
in August of 1874. ChautauQua was then
merely a geographical term Now it is an
idea realized. 1t stands for more than a
place, far more than a school or summer
resort.
Its growth has been marvellous, its work
intense At the first assembly there We're
twenty-one lectures delivered: this year
there Will be ten times that number. Since
that time over two thousand lectures have
been given, 500 concerts. $50 illustrated lee
lures not TO speak of minor lectures and
talks. In addition to this there have been
over 400 readings and other entertainments
Nearly 1000 men and women have appear
ed upon Chautauqua's lecture platform
and more than 200 artists and soIoists have
charmed with superior music. In sum-
mer schools 500 professors have given their
skill, learning and experience for the bene-
Mt or lo,O00 students. In the greater school
OF the Chautauqua literary and scientific
circle the students have numbered nearly
quarter of million, representing every
section of the civilized globe. The "Chau-
tauqua idea is thing which gets more
respect the more that is known about it
A unique band of exhorters on tour of
the country is now on its way to this
city. The exhorters cali themselves the
Hutchinson Morgans and the wagon in
which they travel is called the Gospel
Chariot"
The party is composed of four persons, a
man, his wife and two small boys, who
travel in a peculiar-shaped wagon, drawn
by bony gray horse. On the rear of the
wagon is a sort of extra dashboard and
platform, on which is perched very small
organ, upon which the woman plays. the
male members of the family gathering
about her the platform.
The main attraction seems to be the voice
of the woman, which is said to be singu-
larry clear and sweet 1t is intimated that
at one time she was an opera singer.
Sometimes she sings solos. and at other
times the two lads and the man join with
her, making chorus The man has not
the usual way of street takers, but is ap-
parently intensely in earnest. The voice
of the woman can be heard several blocks
away and people can distinguish the words
of her hymn. The two boys generally rest
on the seat of the wagon when not singing.
Mention has been made from Tina to time
in The Star of the coming meeting of the
triennial convention of the Protestant Epis-
oopal Church IN Washington in October.
The committee on the revision of the con-
stftution and canons, which was appointed
at the last convention, held in Minneapolis
In 1875, VIII report to the general conven-
ton on several matters of great moment to
the church. The first in point OF interest
Will be the committees report on the pro-
posed canon on marriage and divorce. The
preliminary report of the committee has al
ready been issued, in which It is recon-
mended that the church enact legislation
forbidding the clergy to solemnize the mar
rage Of any divorced person while the other
party to the divorce is living.
At the present time the Episcopal Church
by Its canons, recognizes only one cause as
being sufficient for a divorce, and permits
its clergy to remarry the innocent party
but now the committee advocates abolish
ing this exception, so as to follow the prac-
tice of the Catholic Church
Naturally, so radical a change in the
practice of the Episcopal Church is calling
forth vehement protests from many quar-
tiers, and the opposition to the proposed new
canon has assumed such proportions that it
Is doubtful whether the convention will |
adopt the canon. The low and broad church
elements bitterly oppose the tightening of
bands on the marriage and d.
vorce question, whils the high and Anglo
Catholic churchmen almost unanimously IA
vor the new canon. There is therefore
sure to be a prolonged debate on this ques-
ton, with a strong probability that the |
whole matter will BE- referred to a new
committee with instructions to report eff
the convention of 1901
Other matters of interest which will come |
before the convention will be the question |
Of a nav constitution for the church and |
the proposed adoption of the provincial sys- |
tenn. The subject Of the revision of the con- |
stitution has been before the church for |
several years, and doubtless will engross |
ths attention OF succeeding general conyen- |