The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-06-08


Secretary-J. w. Stevenson, ESQ,
Treasurer-M i Van passa'A, sa4's-'A
Executive Committee Rev. II. Il. CLARK,
Rev. j. M. Lowden, Rev O. A. Dickinson, IL.
ii. Burgess, Esq, w. II. Pennell, sEsq.
Interesting dichssions foil owed on "The Re-
lation of the Sabbath School to Society," led
by w. j. Van Patten; THE Relation Of the
Sabbath School 70 the S iety," led by Ill. II.
Burgess; Who May Now Become Members,
W. ii. Pennell; "How May Young Ladies As
sist This Work, by Misa Ada Sewall; and
How Does the Society Help Young Chril-
tians,e by Il. L. Sayward,
In the evening after the praise meeting led
by Mr. A. B. Hall, the Secretary read his re-
port as follows, which was accepted:
sEcRErARYs REroRr
The Sccisty of Christian Endeavor is the
result of q felt need in the church. In the
spring of 1871 the subject OF recruiting the
churches from among the young was discussed
for several successive meetings at the mink.
ters meeting in Boston. 1t was felt that the
churches were not increasing in numbers and
power. That the young were growing up
without saving knowledge Of Jesus.
The subject YVES referred to a committee
compoced of Rev. Messrs VIM. Barrows, ID.
D., h. r. Meredith and A. e. Dunning
This committee have endorsed the Society of
Christian Endeayor IS one means by which
the desired end may be reached The desired
end is two-fold: first to bring the gospel of
Jesus Christ home to the hearts OF the young
with converting power, and second, to give
the young converts something 70 do. And
this latter Is perhaps the most important work
OF the Society, because II provides work
which the young convert can do. Now has
this truly good work and great need been met
by the work of the Society," Let the reports
which come from the societies speak in re-
Spouse 60 this question. A pastor said this,
FffRT mo No sat o1f,ef f,rfF. aaEf
these words, Surprisingly succsssfulp Tho
pastor referred to further adds in q brief writ
ten report, Soon after the formation of the
Society great religious interest was awak-
ened, in connection with which there have
been over forty conversions. with several still
interested" In another church about forty
young people ranging from II or 10 years of
age were converted and it became serious
question what TO do TO keep them from getting
out Of the good way. Some one discovered
Church, and the result was the formation Of
= Society of Christian Eadeavor.
Another society reports that the church felt
the need Of doing something TO promote the
zeal and fervor which follows conversion.
The retiring president writes on June II,
82, the first experience meeting was held, and
il will long be remembered by those who at
tended Many thought it the best meeting
ever held in our lecture room.
The agent of the Y. NJ. q. A. OF Vermont In
organization for the first time and was much
pleased, s4ying that where there was no Y III.
Q. a. these societies would well supply that
plan. They do a work however that the Y. n.
q. A. cannot do.
Time and space will not allow to give all the
encouraging words that come 10 Us from the
societies. s. few words here about the deVeloB-
lug power of the societies. Again the words
from the societies shall bear the evidence OF
marked development il prayer ana remark
chNpIHu that "a fraiuinQ srnO9l for fha
church. Says another society 'much more IN
tefesliug than the old way Of conducting Y.
+. M and another, aY. p. M. have nearly
tebled; several will soon join he church. And
another, s'iuterest manifest among yoang pee
pie surprise; = and another, and this is ia the
words of the pastor, brings pastor into close
intercourse with the young people, Work
done very important" We are not done yet;
yet another .'the wonder is that we did not
realize before what a force OF young people We
have; and another, experience meeting
grows in INTEREST" and YET one more On this
point, "a year ago the time was taken up AZ
each meeting by eight OK ten about the same
each time; row it is not uncommon for % to
take part. We now get the best testimonies
from these lips which hitherto had been
closed" l. there any evidence Of developing
power here? Is there not abundant material
in these societies to do grand work for the
Great Head Of the church ia winning young
hearts from the kingdom of darkness aud
planting them through tho grace OF God in
the kingdom Of light and life; growing, help-
fui, fan OF hope, faith in the work. These ars
some Of the terss added testimonies 10 the
value Of the work.
IL may not be out Of place TO add briefly ais
suggestions some channels aud methods that
come 70 US through the reports. a society in
Providence is engaged in establishing a public
reading RON for its section OF the city. Al
other supplies wall leaflets Tor its members;
another has established reading circle. The
society Ia Oakland, Cal, have three classes Of
members, tho beginners, ,he communion class
and tbs 8oung memters, class.
And HOW tef0rs closing We present sou with
the fgures which show 10 s9m3 degree the ex
tent Of the work. dr. Clark knows on the or
ganization Of about 300 societies. We have
however reports from only %. The number
would undoubtedly DO greater II it had been
more generally known thai thers vas TO be q
conference and that reports were desired
These societies extend from Maine TO Caliiur-
na--Maine has IL; Wisconsin 2; Vermont A.
Connecticut 3; New Hampshire 2; Illinois q
New York 5; Rhode Island 2; New Jersey /;
Michigan !, Massachusetts II: Missouri
lows Il California l. They are divided among
the denominations as follows: Congregational
AZ; FIRES Baptist l.; Baptist 3; Presbyterian 3;
Dutch Reform /; Meth. 2; Christian I. The
largest and Oldest Is Wiilston Of this city, or
gained February 2, 1881, having nov 164
members. The next in sizs is Oakland, CAL,
with 143 members. The smallest la Acton
Me-. which has members. This comparison
is not made to discourage the small society but
rather to commend Its courage and inspire It's
zeal by our warm sympathy and prayers. THIS
plucky little tociety is working Its way into
tho hearts OF the neople. We pray God IL may
succeed and IL will, II it holds Oh for the Lord
is with even two OF three that are gathered in
his name. We say to you society Of Acton 20
on In the name OF the Lord conqaerng and to
conquer.
The youngest society is that OF Milton, n.
which udtpUfthsfaudiun 80 a. ~ "a
only three days old, sends Us a delegates today
in the person OF It's pastor We say It's pastor,
for tho minister issthe pastor Of the society as
we'll as Of the church. There is one society
which reports 20 active members and 80 church
members; another 6S active members aud so
church members, thus showing that number
OF the church members are associate members.
1t is difficult TO. conceive Of reason why
church members should not be active members.
They may do as good work as associate as they
would II active members under pledge TO keep
the rules, but the probability Is that they will
not. Experience is to the contrary. We ought
not to shrink from promises, although they
may entail some self-sacritce. Seii-sscriflce
Is always in the way OF gracious rewards. 1t is
the spirit OF the Gospel.
OF the 53 societies reported, Z we're organ
lied in 1881, Il in 1882 u IN 1888 That Is, in
six months Of the n were organized IN May,
and in June as already stated. Marx hs
steady Eadvance. IL IL ID an indication Of what
Is to be, what may we not expect 10 tho future
as we see the value OF the work already done.
The total membership reported by the 80
societies Is as follows:
Active members.,..... ...,~.lS7S
Associate members. ........ b73
Members not classhcd...,.... ,....., l79
1880
or this number 1903 arc church members,
and Of these 243 have been added to the church
from the societies, or as near as can be esti-
mated about IL per cent in the average time Of
not much more than one year. Trvly very
gratifying result. And what is the lesson
which 1t brings to us? Not as some have been
too ready to think that the church is falling
in its usefulness This work Ia . church work.
Tho lesson is briefly this that the young heart
is.more susceptible to impression and that any
agency that will bring tho church into direct
contact with the young is an agency of the
highest value. Such an agency we believe the
Society Of Christian Endeavor to be-.
There was large attendance AZ the sessions
aud the reports from the different societies
were very healthful and encouraging.