Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-10-31
Great Wave of Song.

AS the procession reached Louisiana
avenue and headed east toward 1st street
northwest, Where He Leads Me / Will
Follow was begun with fervor. At the
start it began with a half dozen minis
tiers, and soon at least $1,000 people were
singing the hymn. First the front section
took up the strain. which extended back
to the close of the procession. squares to
the rear. And as the first of the process
sion finished the verse the final marchers
were just taking up the first words. 1t
seemed like an echo of great song
squares in the rear.
Gypsy Smith had remained in Conven-
ton Hall until the last person had left
and then he Joined the procession at the
Peace Monument. His dark eyes were
beaming as he watched the great tribute
the people of Washington were paying
had grown until practically 5000 people
were in the line of march either upon the
sidewalks or in the streets
Thus the march down the creates,
thoroughfare in the country began. Clip
sy Smith marched bareheaded His ha,
the windows of the houses and from the
street cars all bowed their acknowl-
ment OF respect to him in his great work
for humanity.
Gypsy waved his in return. and mer
bowed in acknowledgment In fact it was
one great line Of chautauqua salute.
AS Gypsy Smith passed The Evening
Star building he hesitated for a moment
and gazed up at the marble walls of the
structure and bowed his acknowledg-
ment to the crowd which stood upon the
steps Immediately in front of the building
Then he turned to the Post Office Depart
ment building directly opposite and bowed
his Acknowledgements to the crowd as
sembled there.
Turning tn the newspaDer mon wbc
marched about him, Gypsy Smith re-
marked: isn't this great march,
Nearer, My God, to Thee"
Then at the corner of 18th and Pennsyl-
vania avenue the Romany evangelist halt
ed and then turned his great column to-
ward the Tenderloin district. The band
began playing Nearer. My God, to
Thee
That will go straight to their hearts, "
said Gypsy to the newspaper men.
At the corner of 1914 street and Ohio
avenue northwest he halted and sang
Where Is My Wandering Boy Tonight?''
The tones reverberated throughout the
section and windows were raised in all
directions as the inmates Of the places
listened intently. In all instances lights
dents might not be conspicuous. Hard
ened policemen. who know the section
stood at attention and joined in the sing
ing.
Thee" exclaimed Gypsy Smith. as the
first song closed. 1t was sung with a
will and the march was again taken up
Somebody's daughter, somebody's sis
ter. somebody's wife, yes, somebody
mother, is down here tonight. and let's
gladden. her poor SOUL repeated the
evangelist as he marched along.
Up 18th street the march was continued
At the intersection of Pennsylvania
avenue little girl left her fathers side
and ran to Gypsy.
Good night. Mr. Gypsy. / want to tel
you good night. You are going to make
the wicked people of Washington good
aren't your?
The evangelist clasped her little hand
and for a moment seemed to forget that
he was marching at the head of 2o,OOr
people.
Good night, my dear he answered
lovingly.
Then the band played Onward Chris
tian Soldiers as the march to the
Belasco Theater came to q close.
Sermon at Convention Hall.
In his sermon at Convention Hall Gips,
Smith declared. 1T is based on the stor.
told in the fifth chapter of st. John.
Gospel about the people who were healed
| in the pool OF Bethesda. particularly the
man who had been suffering from a dis
ease for thirty-eight years.
why was 1t that Jesus was connected
! in this story with the pool of Bethesda