Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-05-22
|GETS BIG REQUEST HYMNS AT CAPITOL
Neary $OOOOOOO to Grad Song Service Participated
uate School of Princeton by 5000 Persons
BULK OF WYMAN ESTATE SCENE A PICTURESQUE ONE
Memorial Lasting Affection Congressman Join
Alma Mater School Delegates.
SALEM MILLIONAIRES WILL SEVERAL ADDRESSES MADE
Wealth Favorite Saute'-Gen.
University. Visitors %
Song Service Participated in
by 5000 Persons.
SCENE A PICTURESQUE ONE
Congressman Join in With Sunds
School Delegates.
SEVERAL ADDRESSES MADE
Rev. DR.. Meyer Given "Chautauqua
Salute"-Gen. Kiefer Welcomes
Visitors to Washington. =

The most picturesque spectacular and
inspiring feature OF the Worlds Sunday
school convention. now in session nsthis
city, was the open air song service con-
Quoted late yesterday afternoon on the
plaza and east steps of the Capitol. More
than 5000 delegates and visitors, bank
ed in a solid mass on the wide steps and
standing elbow to elbow half way out
into the roadway which sweeps across
the front OF the Capitol. sang old-fash-
Toned gospel hymns with a fervor and an f,
enthusiasm which moved even the Capt.,
tol guards to catch the spirit of the oc-
| casion and Join in
The song service was intended to be
largely informal, but it proved to be OF
such great interest that 1t undoubtedly
Will be enthusiastically dwelt upon
months from now in every corner of the
civilized world when the delegates get
back home and make their reports. In
the opinion Of those officers who have at
tended all the world gatherings il was
the most unusual event ever held in the
history of the organization, with the
single exception of the service conducted
three years ago amid the stately ruins
Of the Coliseum In Rome.
Steps Are Packed.
Long before 5 O'Clock, the hour set for
the opening of the service, the steps OF
the Capitol were packed with men and
women, and a great crowd swarmed over
the open space at the bottom. A little
stand covered with white bunting and
draped with American flags had been
erected just inside the main roadway.
Occupying seats in this were Rev. DR..
Meyer. the president of the Worlds As
ISOLATION; Justice J. J. Maclaren of
Toronto. one of the vice presidents:
Percy Foster of this city. who presided:
E. O. Excel of Chicago. the famous
chOrister. and a quartet of bandmen.
The first song rendered was America"
and it was sung with such volume and
zest that scores of members of the House.
which had just adjourned, came scurrying
through the corridors to find out what il
was all about. Many of them remained
to join in the singing themselves. Gen.
keifer of Ohio. former Speaker, became
SO enthusiastic that he went up on the
stand and was presented to the interna-
tional officers.
After the singing Of america" Mr.
Foster introduced Rev. DR.. Meyer. AS the
venerable president arose the great
throng gave him the 'ChautauQua salute"
The spectacle of thousands of white hand
kerchiefs huttering in the air against the
background of the great white Capitol
was rarely beautiful. The waving was
kept up for a full minute or more while a
moving picture was taken of the scene.
Dr. Meyer made a brief address. in
which he alluded to the service then in
progress as the crowning feature OF the
world gathering. He referred to the
song service three years ago in the
Coliseum amid the ruins of a dead civili-
zation, and said that it was eminently fit
ting that the present service Of the same
sort should DE held beneath the shadow
of the Capitol of a great new country
founded on Christian ideals and kept
alive and progressive because of its faith
in the basic truths of Christianity.
Message From Great Britain.
I'VE Britishers bid you God speed"
said he. I'VE are not jealous OF you.
We are proud because We know that your
country was founded by men who came
from the parent Anglo-Saxon stock. We
know that here liberty and justice shall
always abide and that the cross of the
Crucified One always will be your refuge
and your strength. God save these United
States. I say"
The gathering then sang God Save the
King with vigor and vim. Charles II.
Gabriel, the composer of the famous
GLORY Song then was introduced, and
while he stood in the front of the stand
the great gathering sang that hymn.
Later he sang another Of his hymns,
Help Somebody Today" with Mr. Ex-
eel. who assisted Mr.. Foster in the con
Quoting.
Gen. kiefer was introduced and briefly
welcomed the delegates to Washington
after he had spoken of the beginning of
the Sunday school movement In England.
Vice President Maclaren also spoke
The service was brought to a close at
q O'Clock with the singing OF Onward,
Christian Soldiers and the doxoogy.