Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1891-07-10

Opening the Tenth international Convention
In Minneapolis.

GREAT GROWTH OF THE ORGANIZATION SHOWN BY
THE sEcsErARY's REPoRr-AppREss pREsI-
DENT cLARK-A HEARTY WELCOME GIVEN THE
MULTITUDE OF DELEGATES.
The tenth annual international convention of
the Young Peoples Society of Christian En-
deavor began in Minneapolis yesterday after
noon. This convention is the largest ever held
by the Christian Endeavor societies, and is.
probably. the largest religious convention ever
held on the earth. As quickly as the delegates
arrived all were assigned to quarters both cities
joining in giving welcome and the conven-
ton hall being easily accessible from all parts
Of both cities
The formal beginning Of the convention
came when President Clark called the body to
order and 10 900 voices Joined in singing, "All
Hail the Power of Jesus Name" Rev. H. W.
Gleason Vt Minneapolis was chosen scribe and
the convention was. ready for business. Rev.
DIR. Nassar of Kansas City then formally opened
the convention with prayer. ID. Daniels. chair
man of the local committee. made the opening
address of welcome. Rev. DIR. Robert Christie,
DID, of the House of Hope tPresbyterlan)
welcomed the convention in behalf of the pas
tors of st. Paul. Rev. II. H. French. ID, of
Centenary Methodist Church followed on be-
half of the Minneapolis pastors John II.
Elliott. the local secretary of the Y. NJ. c. A.,
concluded the addresses OF welcome. An elo-
quent response WAS made to these welcomes by
Rev. DR.. George II. Wells of Montreal. This
closed the afternoon session.
THE DECORATIONS.
The Auditorium had been handsomely deco
rated for the occasion, flags and bunting
Astounding everywhere. Most noticeable of
all was the Christian Endeavor motto, For
Christ and the World" which hung directly
over the stage. In front Of the speakers
stand hung the stars and stripes, and beside
it the British flag. greeting the delegates
from the United States and Canada. On
either hand were potted plants and ever
greens and cut flowers. The thousand seats
for the chorus were banked up back Of the
were located on the main floor and the one
big gallery.
THE EVENING SESSION.
The evening session was begun by half
hour praise service by the Twin City Christian
Endeavor Chorus. Rev. DR.. o. H. Tiffany
presided during the evening and began the
formal session by having the twenty second
Psalm repeated by the audience of Il, 900. after
which Rev. NJ. G. Speare led in prayer. After
singing Nearer My God to Thee" the annual
report of General Secretary ]. E. Baer OF Bos-
ton was read.
THE soCIETY's GROWTH.
One year age the membership records
showed II, 013 societies. an increase over the
previous year of 3,34l societies. There are now
1924 societies. regularly reported, 307 socie-
ties are reported from across the water; there
are Others from whom We have not heard.
England has 100 societies, Austria 80. India 80,
Eurke II and China Z. The five leading Cana
dian provinces report follows: Ontario ass
societies. Nova Scotia 156, Quebec 63, New
Brunswick Sc and British Columbia rs. In all
Canada there are sz9 societies, The five lead
Ing states are: New York, 1854 socie ties: Penn
sylyania. .4G3; Ohio, LOCI; Illinois, DAB, and
Massachusetts, 9lS, and q number Of others
close behind.
The banner for the state, territory or prov
ince showing the largest percentage Of gain is
awarded to the territory Of Oklahoma. Brit
ish Columbia Is second, Nova Scotia third Vir-
ginia close fourth, and Alabama, Arkansas
and Mississippi, with the same ratio, take fifth.
Another banner was decided on last year for
the greatest aggregate gain. and Pennsylvania,
having gained 645 local societies, will hold that
banner for one year. New York is second, with
$50. Iowa has increased her list 1872. Ohio $50
and Kansas 27S Kansas reports more gain than
the entire membership the first five years.
Town, city and district unions have been
formed with much benefit. Philadelphia has a
union with 1872 societies; Chicago, 100; New
York city, 80; st. Louis, 81, and Brooklyn, IS.
There are four floating societies on men-of-war.
Great growth is reported; Illinois leads
with l22.
Among denominations the Presbyterians have
4,OlS Christian Endeavor Societies; Congrega-
tionalists; 3.545; Baptists, 1891; Methodists,
,O6S; Christians (Disciples) sol.
As to individual members the growth is mar
Vicious. At Philadelphia, in 1888, $40 600 mem
bers reported: al Chicago, 1889. 4S5, 600; at st.
Louis, last year. &C, 0OO, and now the l6, IA
local societies have ,OOs, $50 members But
numerical growth is not all, for the great good
that has resulted to all these and to those with
whom they have come into contacts of infinitely
greater importance. No money is collected
from the societies, all expenses being paid from
the sale Of badges, literature and printing for
local societies. The Golden Rue. the paper
of the society, he heartily commended. 1t was
known that 81, 900 members of the societies had
become church members within the year. He
deavor.
Ira ID. Ssnkey, the famous evangelist singer,
sang Throw Out the Life Line"
PRESIDENT cLARKs ADDRESS.
The Introduction of President F. E. Clark,
whom DR.. Tiffany introduced Is Father En-
deavor Clark, WAS the signal for q quick wav-
ing Of handkerchief that showed how dear he
is TO all members OF the societies.
For his annual address President Clark had
chosen the topic Fidelity and Fellowship"
and spoke first on the basis OF the movement
He said:
'As such movement develops we can see
many reasons for its existence all doubtless
embraced in the Divine plan, such as the pro-
motion OF outspOken discipleship, the increase
of faith in youthful piety, the development of
well-trained workmen for the church and the
increased respect paid to covenant VOWS; but
above and beyond even these priceless bless
ings l think may mention two elements that
pre-eminently mark the history Of the Christian
Endeavor Society. These two features are
fidelity and fellowship; fidelity to the
local church to which each society and
each member of each society belongs,
u fidelity without which a true Christian En-
deavor Society cannot exist; fellowship, fell
lowship cemented by a common name and
common vows aud common methods of serv-
ice-a fellowship that il exemplified by this
magnificent assembly.
He contended that these two features are
necessary to each other. Fidelity and fellow
ship may win the world for Christ. This So
ciety had, answering from its birth, stood for
fidelity to the church of God and to the local
church. The Society of Christian Endeavor is
one OF the church family. He said:
The Society of Christian Endeavor, by its
very principles. when they were understood
and adopted, necessarily increases church 10y
atty and denominational fidelity" The fur
Their idea OF fellowship, he believed, was
founded on the sentence in the Apostles
Greed, II believe in the communion of
saints"
Now" continued President Clark. ''for a
million young hearts in thirty evangelical de-
nominations IN every cline the globe. the