Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1891-10-30
Christian EndeavOrers.
SIXTH ANNUAL CONVENTION
Vermont Christian Endeavor Union
Held at BrattlebOrO, Oct. % and %.
Full, Enthusiastic, and Profitable
Gathering Of Young People.

Christian EndeaYOr convention means a
crowd and good time. The state conven-
ton held at Brattleboro this week was not
an exception to the rule. A large number
of delegates came in Monday night, and
they kept coming in until Tuesday noon
one of the Brattleboro reception committee
confessed that he was afraid of the 2:2S
train. But in some way they were all pro-
vidcd for, and Brattleboro's record for hos
pitalty remains unbrOken.
Tuesday morning the sky was overcast
and rain was falling, but at 1890 o'clock,
when the first session of the convention
opened, the Congregational church, in
which all the day services were held, was
we'll filled with young people from all
parts of the state, among whom many pas
tors and a considerable number of older
people were to he seen. The church was
tastefully trimmed with bittersweet, laurel
and evergreen; a large cross of evergreen
standing in front of the organ bore the so
cictv's motto. "For Christ and the Church,
and the beautiful state banner, supported
bv Windham, LamOille, Grand Isle and
Franklin county banners, stood upon the
platform.
The opening devotional service was led
by Rev. w. +. Stearns, pastor of the Con-
gregational church in Hartford, who read
| Sam. III: ITO. He said, we are to expect
here a revelation from God. This gather
ing, this organization, should be the voice
of God to us. Brief prayers followed, and
then addresses of welcome. Rev. c. O.
Day of the Congregational church in Brat
tleboro gave the welcome of the churches.
Cordially and earnestly he spoke of the
work. The keynote, he thought, should
be "a strong grasp" on the truth, a long
ing for Christ's presence. This gathering
represents young Christian Vermont, and
has in it the promise of the renovation of
the state. 1t represents also the broader
Christian Endeavor work; it stands for a
work in behalf of the world. AS such
the churches welcome it. 1t is a good
thing to live in the nineteenth century,
but better to taste the twentieth as we do
here.
Secretary w. II. Fuller spoke in be-
half of the Y. NJ. &. A, which, he said,
was the elder brother. We expect to gain
enthusiasm from you. We feel your pow
er and are grateful for it.
Mr.. l.. w. Hawley spoke for the four To-
cal Christian Endeavor societies. He was
glad to belong to this organization for it
kept him young He should stay in it as
long as they would let him. The local So
ceties were glad to welcome this body of
young people. There is freshness and
glory in such a meeting as this which no
other religious gathering has. The only
sad thing about it is that it lasts only two
days.
The genial and energetic president of the
union. Rev. p. Mcmillan, pastor of the
Congregational church at Woodstock, re-
sponded, emphasizing strongly the unity
brought about through this organization.
This is family reunion, and should be
enjoyed and used as such by all.
In the afternoon at / :45 o'clock a song
service was conducted by j. E. Hall of
Brattleboro. The state secretary, Mr.. Z.
E. Towner of Montpelier, then made his
annual report. He said it was very unsat-
isfactory work attempting a report, for the
story was one of deeds not words, of which
there was little record. He reported 255
Christian EndeavOr societies in the state
now, gain of 80 since last year; 1873 soc-
cites report 1878 members; 81 societies re-
port 1923 conversions during the year. Let
MS take for our motto To-day and pat
tern our work after the Word of God.
Rev. Il. Marten, pastor of the Baptist
church at Bennington, in Echoes from
Minneapolis" recOunted some of the i'm
pressions made upon him at the national
enthusiasm aroused, which is so necessary
to all good work. He was impressed by
the Christian courtesy manifested by the
great crowd, by the matchmaking intiu-
ence of Christianity as shown in the faces
and words of the young people, by the mu-
sic which lifted him heavenward, and by
the grand platform of principles upon
which any evangelical church of any de-
nomination might stand. The influence
of the organization makes for conservation,
for knowledge of the Bible, and for wild
er spread of the gospel.
Rev. G. o. Webster, pastor of the Bap-
fist church in st. Johnsbury, spoke upon
the topic, Saved to serve" We have, he
said, too much star gazing, too much re-
ligiOus sentimentalism, too much religious
stills. and too few who are willing to toll
and suffer. We talk of duty and of priv
ilege; it should be all duty, adj privilege
Our Lord said, 81 have ordained you that
We should go and bear fruit" Our mission
is to save the lost, to minister, not to be
ministered unto. Our readiness to serve
is the test of our religious life. Is it ou
passion to get or to give blessingP
Time was then given to testimony con
corning the relation between the Endeavol
societies and the churches. This was con
quoted DN w. d. V All Idlltn VI l)ul iiil5
ton, a man well known and honored by al
EndeavOrers as one of the first to recognize
the possibilities of the movement.
number of delegates spoke heartily of tn
cordial support given the societies by pas
tors and churches, and pastors told how
the Endeavormovemen helps the churches
The church, it was said, has right to eX
pect from the young people allegiance
obedience, respect and good comradeshlp
All these are secured through the work o
this society.
Rev. j. l.. Sewall, formerly well-knowl
pastor in this state, now assistant editor @
the Golden Rule, received warm greeting
He spoke with much power upon the theme
"Ten years of noble service: What sha
the next ten be?" Dwelling briefly upo
the first part of the topic he referred to wv
ideas in the words "nOble service" w
are here to serve and our service is noble
Christian Endeavor has developed NJ
bility of character in our young people
The spirit which calls one into seryic
is noble. The service is noble in II
results. Turning to the future we car
not say what shall be- it must be show
by the members of the societies. We hoI
that the next ten years will be an eXampl
of progressive conservatism. The essel
tials of our work are the same as at I'll
beginning ten years ago, but we are to nm
new and broader fields in which TO appl
them. Giving a prophetic view OF I'll
ideal EndeavOror, he is to stand for the e'
altation of Christ in the life, he is 10 gl'