The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1889-07-12
Christian Endeavor.

and Mr.. Basil II. Hanna, from Ris-
ing Sun, were delegates representing
branches of the organization in this
part of the county. The following
sketch of the convention from one
of the daily papers will enable our
readers who are not christians and
who are not endeavoring to be, to
understand the scope and purpose of
the society.
All over town yesterday (Tuesday)
but especially near the hotels and
railway stations, people wondered
what was the meaning of the great
throngs of strangers arriving in what
looked like family parties, in which
young men and women of from
eighteen TO twenty.four or twenty
five years of age predominated
When told that they we're delegates
to the Christian Endeavor Conyen-
ton many were as much at sea as
ever, for the Christian Endeavor.
like good many ether powerful fac.
tors and influences, moral, social and
political, does a great deal and
amounts to great deal without
much noise, so that, while it is very
large organization. not much is heard
of it.
Up to noon yesterday over sixty
carloads of delegates had arrived
from the East, West and South. A
great many more arrived yesterday
afternoon and last night, having
been detained en- route, and in some
cases were too tired to put in an APP
pearance or present credentials, but
instead went direct to their hotels.
There were over 5000 delegates at
the opening of the convention in the
First Regiment Armory yesterday
afternoon. 1t is said that before the
convention closes there will be 5000
or more delegates. 1t will last until
Thursday evening. All the railroads
in the country, with one or two ex-
ceptions, gave special facilities and
the capacity Of all the hotels and
many of the nice boarding houses
are taxed to accommodate this ex-
traordinary midsummer crush.
SKETCH OF THE ORGANIZATION.
What is the Christian Endeavor?
Eight years ago, in the little town of
Williston, in Maine. the Rev DR.. F
E. Clark, Jealous Congregational
minister, started the first society, his
:dea being to get the young people
together in an organization banded
to stand by one another and work
together in the interest of Christian
ity in way that the cut and dried
formation of churches did not pro-
vide. The draft of the constitution
given by the parent society to tho
second society formed at Portland is
the model of all constitutions since
and in frame it occupies the place
of honor in front of the speakers
stand at the armory. The first signer
was w. Fl. Pennell, who for several
years has been president and is a
delegate this year. Mr.. Van Patton,
of Vermont, who has been president
of conventions several years. is not
present on account of illness.
From that time on these societies
grew without any effort, not only in
Maine and other New England
States, but clear to the Gulf and Pa.
cific, and extended into the provinces
and foreign countries. The member.
ship in this country now exceeds half
a million, nine tenths of them in the
full flush of youth, time when re-
ligion is not supposed to have much
hold upon the mind or sympathy.
A STEADY GROWTH.
Rev DR.. Clark, the founder, is now
the president Of the United Societies
and was chosen yesterday to preside
over the convention. He is re.
markable man, as may be supposed
with great powers of attracting and
influencing young people, and the
organization which he founded has
now become so important that he
has to give it his entire attention
The other general officers, besides a
Board of Trustees, are tn, general
treasurer, William Shaw, young
man of great executive capacity, and
Rev. BARLEY Foskett, of Minnesota,
and II. A. Field, the scribe and as
sistant scribe of the convention.
The latter two were selected yester.
day.
LITTLE "CHEsTNUT" BELL.
The practical character of the or
ganizaton may be inferred from the
that one of the regular
officers elected yesterday is man
whose sole duty is to pull wire on
the platform connected with loud
gong whenever any speaker has talk
ed long enough or is getting weari.
some. This great convention chest.
nut bell had to be rung only once in
yesterdays proceedings. The object
of the society as set forth in the con
stitution is "to promote earnest
Christian life among its members,
increase their mutual helpfulness and
make them more useful in the ser,
vice of God" Every year it has a
different motto and It's motto this
year is Not to be ministered unto,
but to minister" 1t also has a
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