Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1904-01-01
THOUSANDS OF MILES
FROM UNITED STATES NAVAL OBJ
sERvATORY IN THIS CITY.
Washington Aroused at Midnight by
Noisy Demonstration-Watc Night
Services Held In Churches.

wires and the cables under the seas. the
news Of the birth of the new year was
sent flying to distant parts Of the world.
The great telegraph and cable companies
of the world. with the exception of the
Eastern Telegraph Company. co-operated
with the naval observatory officials in
transmitting the message announcing the
beginning OF 1904. The Eastern Telegraph
Company operates wires east from Great
Britain to India. and on account of the
pressure of business declined to place Its
wires at the service of the government.
Lieutenant Commander z. E. Hayden SUI
perintended the sending of the messages
from the naval observatory, and Rear Ad-
miral c. M. Chester was present.
Five minutes before IL o'clock the in
.struments at the observatory were con-
nected with the Western Union wires and
through those with the wires of other COM
panies. Each second was clicked off to the
fiftieth second of the last minute. when
they stopped. Then came pause or ten
seconds. a warning. and then the last tiny
click. exactly on the hour announced to all
the world that at the capital of the United
States 1904 was born and 1908 a thing OF
the past. simultaneously with the click.
an answering click was flashed out by
the chronograph at the Lick observatory In
California and the spark was heard In
every telegraph office IN the land
Vancouver to Sitka.
The observatory time was taken up by the
Canadian government telegraph service and
flashed from Vancouver to Sitka. and from
Halifax the second was clicked to the west
Indies. By the central and South American
Telegraph Company's wires 1t went to
Panama. Lima. Iquique Valparaiso. San
tiago. Mexico City and Cordoba, Argentine
republic. By the Pacific cables 1t went 10
Melbourne, Australia.
The United States army signal corps took
1t up and by direction of Gen. A W. Gree,
ly chief signal officer. the midnight second
was flashed every army post IN TINS
country and the Philippines.
At O. clock this morning the exact second
was sent out for the western time Al
O'Clock mountain time was sent out, and
again at o'clock Pacific time was nasheo
across to the western coast
Watch Night observances.
The birth of the new year was heralded
in this city by the blowing Of many whis-
ties. the ringing of bells and shouts of
merry young people who had been watching
for the new year signal Many local church
congregations held watch night services,
and when the midnight hour came glad
anthems were sung and devotional services
were begun.
At St Aioysius Catholic Church a "Te
Deum' service concentrating the blessings
of the past year marked the closing hours or
the dying year. Mgr. Falconio. the apostolic
delegate was present and took part in the
ceremonies. Rev. Timothy Barrett OF
Woodstock. Md. preached the sermon.
which was one Of thanksgiving In the
benegtction Mgr. Falconio was the celebrant.
and was assisted by Rev. Edward X. Fink.
rector of st. Aloysius. as deacon. and Rev.
Francis T. Mccarthy as subdeacon- r. j.
Tracy, 8. j., was master of ceremonies.
Others who assisted in the ceremonies were
Messrs. Cotter. Hurley and McLane. Mr..
s. ]. Kuber had charge of the music service.
''Miserere." by Rheinberger. was rendered
before the sermon. 20 Salutaris was sung
by the quartet. consisting of Mrs. Blanche
Mattingly Rogers. Mrs. Margaret Nolan
Martin, Mr.. John A. Finnegan and Mr..
Arthur w. Porter. HammereIs 'Te Deum''
was rendered for the first time in Washing
ton. The final selection was "Tantum
Ergo by Silas.
At the New York Avenue Presbyterian
Church impressive services were held Rev.
Wallace Radcliffe. pastor having charge.
The services began at IL O'Clock and lasted
until midnight. The theme was Watch
man. What of the Night?' In the musical
program rendered the choir was assisted
by the regular quartet of the church and
by Prof. Wrlghtson OF the Conservatory of
Music of the University of West Virginia
and Mr.. Anton kaspar. the violinist The
choir sang Schnecker's While With Cease
less Course the Sun" "Agnus Dei'' was
rendered with the violin obligatO
Sympathy for Chicago.
Rev. DR.. Joseph Edmund Smith pastor Of
Grace Methodist Episcopal Church 9th and
streets northwest. preached the sermon
at the services held In that edifce last
night The services began at 10 o'clock.
and were marked by the observation of the
Lords supper. Mention was made during
the evening of the great Chicago disaster
and sympathy was expressed for the strick-
en- ones and blessings asked for those who
had suffered from the terrible calamity
At the First Baptist Church 18th and q
streets northwest a hve-hour service was
held. The service included the Mems Club
social hour, the watch night services sea-
sons or prayer and addresses. Rev. Charles
r Winbigler. the pastor. had charge. Rev
John Compton Ball.. pastor of the Metro
po1itan Church. made an address. The New
rear was welcomed with prayer.
Inc nrst words uttered by the congre-
cation at the Pro-Cathedral Church OF the
Ascension In the New Year was the
Lords Prayer. and the first act the re-
ception of the holy communion. Two
the congregation Joined Rev. Clement
Brown In a silent prayer. The repetition
OF the Lords Prayer followed. Rev. Mr..
Brown delivered a short sermon
Rev. Dr. Randolph H. McKim delivered
an eloquent sermon at the Church of the
Epiphany. The services there were be-
tween IL o'clock and midnight. The ad-
repeating the Apostles Greed by the en-
tire congregation
At the Sixth Presbyterian Church q serv-
Ice was held from o'clock to r. Songs
stereop ticon views of Grace Darling a
Home the Lifeboat and the Angels Song +"
formed the celebration
Rev. Herbert Scott Smith rector. preach
ed at St Margarets Church. at Connecti-
cut avenue and Bancroft place.
Anacostia Churches.
A number OF the churches in AnacostIa
adopted the custom of watching the de-
parture OF the old year and the ushering
in of the new. At the Methodist Episcopal
Church services began at $50 o'clock and
until midnight members gathered and par
ticipated- The custom was general in all
the colored churches in this section. At
the Garden Memorial Presbyterian Church
New Year will be observed Sunday next
with special sermon by the pastor. Rev.
Il. Boyd Gay.
The Luther League of lions Church held
watch night meeting last night Rev. L. H.
Warning. pastor. in charge. The subject
under consideration was Luther, the
Singer. Most OF the songs used were of
Luther's compositions. Mr.. Knapp of st.
Marks opened the subject Some photos
OF famous paintings of Luther were shown