The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1882-02-13
wILL1sToN CHURCH.
First Anniversary of the Society of Chris
tian Endeavor.

This being the anniversary of the organiza-
ton of the young Peoples Society OF Chris
tian Endeavor," the pastor preached ser.
mon from John xxi:15-"Feed my lambs
We can give but little of it. lie said: This
is an imperative command and / dare no
slight it, believe there is no more important
subject of pulpit themes than that of Christian
nurture of children. We have been depend
ing upon conquest rather than growth, and
with what result? Last year showed a loss in
the Congregational churches of this State OF
126 in membership. One hundred twenty-five
churches showed no additions last veal, There
was only one conversion for ever AZ resident
members last year. We can change these
figures in the future if we train up the children
in the way they should CO. The gardener
trains his trees while they are young and fex-
ible, but the church tries to turn the heart to
God when it is old and hardened in sin.
The Christian teacher practically says, my
little boy, you are quite too small to be Chris
tian now, but in about ten years after you
have been for while bad boy, dissipated
young man, some powerful religious expert
ence will smite you and you will be dreadfully
sorry, then Christ will save you, but you must
be very bad before you are very good" This
is what they say practically who urge children
to wait until they are older. The question
should be, "What fruit are these children bear
ing?" Not how old they are. Do they pray?
Do they read their bibles? Are they trying to
overcome their tempers? Are they trying to
be obedient gentle, kindly and studious? If
you can see this fruit can you say they are not
children of God. We must not expect perfec-
bou dnQc harOuna n Orav-haQdad
patriarch at once. The boy Christian can
show his religion by playing marbles fairly as
we'll as the man Christian by selling goods
fairly. New Jerusalem, as seen by Ezekiel,
the prophet, had streets full of children; Do
ing what? Sitting with starched frills and
placid cherubic faces thumbing small sized
celestial harps all day long? No. "the streets
of the city shall be full of children playing"
l do not envy the feelings of that parent who
looks upon his grown-up thoughtless son and
he wanted to be Christian but by home indif-
ference or opposition was made to feel that he
was too young.
1t seems to me the church is standing beside
a mine of untold wealth which has been COM
paratively unworked in the past. Here are
gems more precious than the diamonds OF Col
conda waiting for the masters hand to polish
them and set them in his glorious temple.
The time will surely come when the CONVEX
sion and protection of pure and lovely child
shall be looked upon as much a work OF grace
as the conversion of the filthy deb0ucbee; when
the church shall thrive by growth as well as
by conquest"
In the evening the first anniversary OF the
Society of Christian Endeavor was held. Its
object is to encourage an active Christian life
among its members, make them mutually ac-
,quainted, and more useful in Gods service'
its membership is limited to Christian young
men and women, boys and girls. The weekly
prayer meeting is its distinguishing character
istic although it holds a monthly sociable.
Every one is expected TO attend the prayer
meeting and take some part. A monthly ex-
perience meeting is held and each member re-
lates his or her experience in Christian life.
Remarks were made by Mr.. Franklin Agge,
who presided, Mr.. W. III. Pennell, Mr.. Gran.
vile Staples, first president of the Williston
society-who gave an account of the success of
the st. Lawrence street society-seyeral of the
younger members, and the pastor, Rev. f. e.
CLARK. The lattersaid the society was effect
i've in raising strong, active Christian men
and women. The Willston society numbers
100 active and % associate members Mr.
Clark had received letters from societies,
formed upon like basis as this-he having
furnished them copies of its constitutional
the Free Will Baptist church. Augusta; First
Baptist church, New Haven; Methodist
church, Lorilla, Iowa; and Congregational
churches in Dubuque, Ia. Canandaigua, NY,
Hollis, N H., Rockland, r. l., Goderich, Ont,
Newburyport, Mass, Nashua, N. H., Col
chester, Conn, Burlington, VT, and Muir,
Mich, and all reported great success among
the young. All these societies had been estab-
lished and accomplished this great good in less
than five months
The fine choir of the church, under the lead
ership of Mr.. Harvey Murray, furnished excel
lent music.