Smyrna times., 1891-02-04
Christian Endeavor Day.

christian EndeaVor" had very
pleasant day to all concerned in their
exercises on Sunday at
the Methodist church. The president
of the united societies of the State,
Rev. Geo. E. Thompson, of Whining
ton, was present and occupied the pull
pit both morning and night. The choir
led off with an appropriate anthem,
He Shall Feed his Flock" followed |
by the usual announced hymns and |
prayer by the pastor. The Rev. Mr.. |
Thompson on being introduced took as
the foundation of his discourse, II write
unto you young men because ye are
strong," from the first epistle of John.
1t was necessarily an address rather
than a sermon, having the qualities of
both expressed in language clear and
distinct, and possessing the interest to
the audience of we'll delivered mar
rative. Ten years ago, he said, II
church in WillistOn, Maine, had a very
successful revival among the young
people. The question with the pastor
was, how shall these young people be
fed, nurtured and strengthened in the
habits of Christian living? The Sun
day School was veil, the regular
church service of preaching and prayer
meeting were necessary for the life of
the church, but these young people
need something dilferent-a meeting of
their own, where in thought, word and
sentiment they could give expression
to their hopes, fears or conflicts as
might be their state and experience, as
they would not in meetings of the
older and more mature members.
The plan that suggested itself was
tried the young people gathered into
meeting of their own, led in prayer,
singing or addresses by one of their
own number first having taken a
pledge to live a life of Christian En-
deavOr by daily reading a portion of
the Scriptures and prayer to be kept
from the power of temptation and in
the habit of thought of Christian life.
1t worked so successful as to attract
the attention of other churches, and
hence sooD spread not only over the
nation, but to the countries beyond the
ocean.
There are now, he said, 1900 of
these societies with roll of 100000
members. At their last convention.
held in st. Louis, there were 800 min
listers and 5000 representatives
from different parts of the nation, and
at one meeting there were 10000 at
tendants.
The speaker emphasized the fact
that youth was the period OF strength
and vigor and the time to form correct
habits. A life started under such i'm.
pulses would be free from the corrupt
: ing and cOrroding habits Of life, the
early part of which had been given uI
to the vices and temptations that are
: continually alluring the young. He
instanced that most of the great deed.
recorded in history were by young
men. Alexander, the Great, was only
q years old when he headed his con
: quering army. Alexander Hamilton
was 80 years old as the great Treas
urer of the young Republic. Jefferson
was 33 when he penned the Declara
. tion of Independence, John Summer
3 field was 33 when he reached hi
great pulpit fame, Napoleon Bona
parte was but p years old when h,
= had conquered the armies and humblet
: the crowned heads of Europe, and h,
. who came to redeem the race from
!. the curse Of sin had only reached th
age of 33 years when the creates
I drama in the worlds history was en-
: acted.
] The speaker dwelt with fervOr upol
o the importance of commencing tn
Christian life in youth, and urged tn
3 : society Of Christian Endeavor as one O
s the best means to this end.
: The services of the day for the youn
y people was their regular meeting fror
g $50 to 7.SO in the evening-the hou
: preceding the regular church servic,
Y The room was filled to Overfowins
d 4 well-arranged programme was gon
q through with, including some good mt
y sic and an address by Rev. Mr.. ThOml
y son on the benefit to them of the Ass,
citation, urging fidelity on their pa
e aud commencing them for their eff
: cheney and numbers.
ir These on ascending to the auditoriu
with those that had already gatherC
=, there, more than filed it, numb,
10 having to go to the gallery. TT
A choir sang pretty anthem as the opel
ing piece, and L. NJ. Price also later {
rendered a solo. Come unto me
very effectively. Rev. Mr.. ThOmpso
preached an earnest discourse
Of harmony with his mission to the tow
T., and the revival services of the 0
as casiOn.