Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-02-03
FESTIVAL OF PRAISE.
Great Song Service in Convention Hall
Last Night.

The great audience that gathered in Con-
vention Hall last evening to attend the
festival of praise sung by the Christian En-
deavor choir of 500 voices, under the direc-
ton of Mr.. Percy Foster, thoroughly en-
Joyed the program, as was evidenced by
the frequent applause, Notwithstanding the
fact that they had been asked to be as quiet
as possible. 1t was a great gathering of
church people and, to great extent, young
people Upon the platform the ladies were
seated in the center and the men upon
either side, the former dressed in white and
presenting a pleasing sight The service
was called THE Praise of the Nations"
having been arranged and partly composed
by Rev. Carey Bonner. 1t was first used
at the Baltimore International Christian En-
deavor convention held in that city on July
8, 1905. Mr. Foster was also the leader of
the chorus upon that occasion.
The title of the service last evening sug-
gested it's aim. It was designed generally
to meet the worldwide praise offered by
those peoples whom the glory of God
has risen, and also to show the worldwide
praise from the lands reached by the labors
of the Christian Endeavorers- The theme
was treated in choral numbers, and also in
solo passages, but, as befitted the character
of the service, the members of the congre-
cation had constant share in the praise;
indicated the spirit Of true worship. the
call to praise being given in the one hun
dredth Psalm, "All people that on earth do
scriptural passages bearing upon praise fol-
lowed. Thus. with the singing Of the song.
Church of the Ancient Days-the Israel OF
Cod the praise Is traced to Its fountain
head. The priestly benedictfon, THE Lord
Bless Thee and Keep Thee" which was
sung to an old Hebrew air, was followed
by Thomas divers free paraphrase of the
Hebrew "Yigdal. ''The God Of Abraham
Praise"
The next song was when Survey the
wondrous Cross" and the volume of song
that came from the threats OF that large
chorus and audience seemed as though the
ers to the utmost. How lovely Are the
Messengers" the fine chorus by Mendels-
sohn, sets forth the Evangel proclaimed to
all nations. Part of the program dealt
with the response of the nations 20 the
Evangel and took one from the old and
the praise of the church redeemed. The
praise of China came first. and Mrs. w. III.
Shir-Clin sang the soprano solos, while Mr..
William Clabaugh sang the baritone parts.
II hear ten thousand voices singing their
praises to the Lord on high" is first an
nounced in the solo and chorus 1t was the
song theme or motif. 1t set forth first the
responses from China, and the choir ex-
Now Bring Your Praises" the lines of
which were set to quaint, stirring Chi
nese air built upon the Pentatonic scale In
similar fashion the responses of India and
Africa were sung. Part 8 had for It's sub
ject THE Praise of the Church Glorified,,
which rose to the climax in Handel 4 Hal
lelujah." from the oratorio of THE Mes
siah. During the evening copies of the
hymn written by the late Secretary John
Hay and set to music by Mr. Foster were
distributed among the audience and later
sung with mSRh fervor The Praises OF
the Worlds Little Children" which was
written by Mrs. Jemima Luke, the veneer
able authc4oss of England, were also sung.
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