The Portland daily press., 1889-12-12
THE EPwoRTH LEAGUE.
An Interesting Convention Held at
Chestnut Street Church.

Gorham School street-John Cobb, pastor; Geo.
E. Bartlett and Oscar l.. Down.
ACCOMPLISHMENTS A. BragdOn and wife,
Sylvie Jensen, Flora Jennison, also Fred Huff,
Eta Russell, Mabel Webber
West End-Davd Pratt, pastor; ii. #. Davis,
Portland, Chestnut street-N. T. Whitaker, d.
d.. pastor; Charles II. Blake, Jr., Annie r.
Houghton; Congress street; J nj. Frost, pastor,
Peaks Island-John Collins, pastor; Andrew
Fisher, Miss Nellie Lane.
Saccarappa7key. NJ; Z. Pendexter' MISS Netiie
Saeo-A. w. Poitle, pastor, Annie j.. bennett,
Howard w. knight. Alice W. Pottle, Clara
Meserve.
West Kennebunk-S. F. wetherbee, pastor.
West Scarboro-C. A. Ratcliffe, Sarah Moulton,
woodiord's-J. Albert Corey, pastor, Lula G.
Doten, Fred e. Eastman.
Mr.. Charles II. Baker, Jr., Of this city
read paper on the History of the Epworth
League" Mr.. Baker said:
One of the greatest moral and religious
movements the world has ever witnessed
was begun in Oxford by less than a score Of
students. 1t was designated the Holy Club.
The members were studious, deY0ut, self
denying and charitable. Every morning
and evening they spent an hour In private
prayer and gave their lives to the spiritual
and temporal comfort Of those about them.
The Holy Club continued for six years and
did its great work of good. Its head was
John Wesley. At the Christmas conference
of 1884 1t was decided to revive the Holy
Club, and make it the young peoples society
of the denomination. Il was placed In the
hands of Rev. John Ii. Vincent, and the
Oxford League sprang into existence. 1t
was early recognized by the Bishops and
Sunday School Union. Under this league
course OF reading was laid out relating
specially to the history Of Methodism. and
the speaker urged that this course of read
ing should be kept up throughout the present
league.
formed in Boston In October. 1887. Any 9TH
er society might by vote become auxiliary to
the Christian League. The society grew
rapidly and soon became the leading society
Of the young people In the church. The Ok
ford League had proved too literary for gen
eral acceptance. The motto of the new So
ciety was Look Up, Lift Up" The ALI
ance was another young peoples society
which was formed at camp meeting in Iili-
nois in 1888. tslmotto, I'VE live to make our
church power In the land while we live, to
love every church that exalts our Christ"
Its active work has been confined to the
West, butts influence is felt throughout
Methodism. The Oxford League did not
grow very rapidly until 1888 when the tide
turned and the league swept all before 1t.
Many small societies were in existence be-
sides the three large ones. 1t was evident
that the society might be doing much better
work, Accordingly convention was called
at Cleveland, o., in May, 1887 to consol-
idate all the societies in one. 1t was a hard
task, but was finally accomplished,
and constitution, embracing all the best
features Of the other societies. The motto of
the Oxford League was adopted aud the
name of the Epwnrth League was ad0p ed.
Mr.. Baker closed with an earnest appeal
that the good work Of the society be kept up,
and read letters from several of the high Of.
fcers of the society. One from Rev. j. III.
Vincent contained brotherly salutations and
many words of wisdom. He said: "One
may make the term Epworth as general and
all embracing as he desires. Was 1t not in
Epworth that the Wesleys were born? Was
not the Epworth reetory the home Of loyal
English churchmen, the true predecessors Of
our American Metnodists? Was not the Ep-
worth rect0ry the centre OF rare domestic
grace and power? Was ever a stronger,
gentler, wiser mother than Susannah Wes,,
ley, who prepared her noble to do the world
wide work to which God called them?
Would the Wesleys have ever made the
thorough students they did but for the in
heritance and training which Samuel and
Susannah Wesley, true saints Of God, true
saints Of God true apostles OF culture. gave p"
Rev. ]. A. Corey Of Deering, gave a very
valuable paper on the Advantages of a de-
nominational young peoples society for
Methodlsm." Rey. Frank C. HaddOck urged
upon the young people TO make the most of
the advantages gives them to take hold with
vim Of the various work Of the church, aud
Rev. Z. o. Thayer Of Biddeford, spoke on
christianity and Youth" urging that 1t is
the life infused into religious gatherings by
young people that make the meeting attrae
tive to seniors. He said amusements must
be furnished by church, healthy ones, or the
youth would seek the immoral influences Of
the dance room, the card table or the the eatre.
After prayer by Rev. A. w. Pottle. the
benediction was pronounced by Rev. ID. b.
Randall and the forenoon exercises cIosed
Afternoon Session.
In the afternoon devotional exercises, con-
Quoted by j. NJ. Frost. were held at 13o
o'clock.
At 2 o'clock paper was read by Rev. III.
Z. Foss, Of Hallowell. on "Old Me for
Counsel, Young Men for Action" Action
to become potent, must be organized. In
business we have all sorts of trusts and
combines, and from this we may learn the
lesson. that we should have concerted ac-
tion in the church. so that marvellous posi-.
bilities may be utilized. Al active, energetic
society OF young people will not only help
keep the y0ungcOnyert-it Will draw In the
young unconverted. If the church is to
preserve itself this organization Is necessary.
Many pastors do not reach the young people.
and excuse themselves on the ground that
they haven't any knack. But society,
like the Epworth League, can reach out a
hand to these young people through the
social element. The young peoples sociables
may be called halfway house to the
church. In our cities there are thousands
OF young men-and many young women, ,whe
are drifting out from all ennobling in
fuenees. You ask them to go to church and
they answer mo" A class meeting would
frighten them, but by going into the young
peoples sociables the influence might bring
them into the church. The object OF all this
organized action is to save souls. The great
problem is to get them in. Have substitute
for the card table and theatre, in pleasant
literary. The speaker believed In denomin-
atlonal lines, called on the Epworth L-ague
to see that its members were Methodists.
Rev. A. w. POttle of Saco followed with
the subject of young Peoples Societies"
1t is question of Importance how best to
utilize these societies. The young people
constitute the bulk of the Sunday School,
and the life and vigor Of the church depends
largely upon the presence and piety OF the
young people Therefore they are not to be
ignored. He considered corporation and
combination requisite to get the highest
good, and thought the time not far distant
when these societies would be put on the
same basis as the Sunday School aud class
meeting. The next conference will prob
ably take action on this matter.
The congregation then joined in singing
the hymn "All Hail the Power Of Jesus
name," after which Miss Annie p. H0ugn-
ton read well written essay on "The Ep-
worth League as means OF promoting lit
erary culture among young people," Miss
HoughtOn advised the League to edit a pa
per once month, the members to contribute
or to select from the best sources. Ii would
not only act as mental stimulus, but would
cultivate love for the beautiful and true.
"Genius and Scope of the Epworth
League" was next considered by
Rev. A. s. Ladd of Auburn. Al
ter dwelling on the word genius.
taken in connection with this Subject.
Mr. Ladd turned his attention to the scope"
According to statistics there are $4,000, 900
children In this country between the ages of
five and eighteen years. Out of this number
100000 are inside Of the Sunday school.
There ale 100000 young men, seVenty-fye
per cent OF whom do not attend church, sew
enty per cent of those in our State prisons
are young men; ninety per cent of the crimes
committed Is by young men; eighty-hve per
cent OF those who patronize the saloons ere
young men. Remembering these things, Is
there not wide field for the Epworth
League?
The question box was ably conducted by
Rev. N. Il. Whitaker, and the blessing pro-
nounced by Rev. ID. B. Randall. closed the
exercises.
Fraternity Primary Disturbance.
To the Editor Of the Press:
On Tuesday evening little boy who has
been found troublesome at the Fraternity,