Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-03

of the Salvation Army drum can be
heard TO the accompaniment OF the tam
bourines. The meetings are under the
direction of Adjt. Louise Brazier. She
is assisted by Ensign Ida Hiatt and Capt.
&c. Meyers.
Some people, said Adjt. Brazier.
ings We do. Many times we never
know the result of our work. but often
We hear through an outside source, and
know that we have done good One In
stance of that kind happened not so long
ago. business man had met reverses In
his work. He tried to save himself and
family from becoming impoverished, but
failed. He was almost persuaded to take
his own life.
"He was out one evening and hap
pened to be attracted by our meeting.
He came up. We were singing There's
a Bright Side Somewhere Instead OF
killing himself. that man went home
and took down his Bible. That man
became a Christian and has won back
his lost laurels in the business world.
These meetings are held out Of doors
not only during the summer time. but
all the year round as well. There Is
no regular choir or orchestra. 1t
varies, sometimes containing guitars.
banjos. comets and a folding organ.
besides the drum. The services consist
Of singing and speaking and prayer.
The sermon is generally impromptu and
is delivered for the most part by some
member of the army. although an out
slider not infrequently. speaks when he
feels himself called to do so.
The meetings of the American Sal
walton Army and the Fountain Mission
are held together. These two bodies
Mrs John Smalley. wife of Maj. Small
ley, head OF the army In Washington,
is enthusiastic on the subject of out
door meetings.
pulpit is the sky" she said. Il believe
that more real good can be done there
than under any other. ! myself was
converted at just such a meeting. L
am English. and all my family nave
been actors and actresses. cannot
remember any of my relatives ever
having been church members. l do
not say that as reflection upon the
stage, but simply TO show that am not
now following in the wake of my fam
Nv IL happened when i was seventeen,
while i was still in London. was
miserable Attracted by an outdoor
meeting was so impressed that l
began TO pray. I did not care who saw
roundings then. Some one took me into
a church which was nearby and prayed
with me. I became Christian then
and have been one ever since. j have
much good by that means"
The history OF the Fountain Mission Is
as interesting as II Is strange. Over for
~ years ago John Wesley Matchett be-
came an evangelist In this city. being sent
out under the Methodist Episcopal
Church. He became known as the banner
evangelist on account OF the strange ban-
ners which he used In connection with
! his preaching He always spoke at the
corner of 7th and Pennsylvania avenue,
where the fountain is now situated. II
is believed that II was he who named his
work the Fountain Mission, although
there were no headquarters
Mr. Matchett intended that the, words
Fountain Mission should mean the
vid. the fountain of living waters. His
motto was Christ and Him Cruciied" As
! TO the fountain IL was presented to the
l city by a physician Of San Francisco DIR.
1 II. d. Cogswelh. in the interest of tenn
perance That was nearly thirty years
ago The fountain contains. on its four
sides, the words Hope. faith. Charity.
i Temperance.
Mr.. Matchett continued to do his evan
| gelistic work and became widely known
| in the National Capital, figuring In sew
/ eral prominent situations. He was called
, upon personally by the Commissioners to
| exert the great influence he had to get
Coxey's army of hoodlums. then camped
on the other side Of the Aqueduct bride.
doing after having written to the govern
ors OF Virginia and Maryland. asking
their aid also Mr.. Matchett was also
the founder OF the city missions for jails.
A few years ago. being eighty years old
then. he was forced TO give up his evan
eelistic work. Today the Fountain Mis-.
sion Is small incorporated body OF