The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1891-08-02
Enc ChrI.tIan Endearor council.

IA tho crown passing from the men to the
women and the youth, or why is 1t that our
missionary societies now get nearly half their
income from the former. while the latter
have. during the past week, held in Mime
ap0lis the largest religious convention that
Las ever met in tins country and much
larger one than any political party was ever
able to bring together.
over the origin OF the Society Of Christian
Fndeavor there hangs 10 obscurlty. IL was
in the parsonage Of tho WililstOu COngrega-
tjonal church IN Portland, Me. and 50 lately
as the I'd Of February. 1891. that the first So
ciety of Christian EndeayOr vas organized by
the pastor. the Rev Francis T.. Clark. sixty of
the young people Of whose church had come
st his request and were the first 70 sign the
now familiar pledges. The name was happy
one. and was perhaps suggested by the name
given by DR.. Egg.es 20 the Brooklyn
Church OF the Christian Endeayor. OF which
he became pastor shortly after he left the edl-
tOrial service Of the independent
During the last three months OF 1881 1--WE
other churches organized societies IN i've
different States. Ia June. 1888, g conference
was held representing J6 societies, with $50
enrolled members. the next year $50 societies
were reported. with sos members IN twenty
one States and Canada. Ia 1880 the cOnyen-
tiOnl secured 3 charter and appointed ia
saaried secretary t. give his time to its liz
tereSts. The next year there were $50 So
nations, and 30 900 members and The Golden
Rule WAS made their organ. The increase now
went on almost too rapidly % be registeret.
Ia 1890 the annual convention IN 81 LOUIS
showed ESQ 900 members of $4,000 societies,
and this year that number Is incl eased TO
about 10000.
Meanwhile during the last year or two the
success of this purely unsectauan and inter
denominatiODal society has stirred mp several
of the denominations to establish kindred
societies of their own. Chief Of these is the
Methodist EpwOrth League, now in its So
cOnd year which has her four thousand sOCie-
ties and which has drawn of large number
from the Christian kndeayor Society. although
there are over two thousand still remaining.
The Baptist Young Peoples Union has Just
held It's first convention IN Chicago. and they
are numerous and enthusiastic The United
Brethren have their Dung Peoples Christian
Union with 29j societies. and other denOmi-
nations follow ia their wake. But the Society
OF Christian EndcavOr knows no sect, and
es its best t. unite all Christians IN It's COM
mon Christian fellowship.
The merit of all these societies is in their
pledge. Never has the value of pledge been
so wonderfully illustrated. The members
make one central promise that they Will at
tend the meetings and will take some part
other than singing. it may be word of eX-
hortation or prayer. or II may be he.repeat-
ing of verse IN Scripture. or 20 ask Ques-
ton; but some contribution must be made.
1t is. therefore, educating 10 both young men
and young women, and Is supplying TO the
churches al active and efficient body OF young
members educated in Christian work. The
Christian EndeayOT Society is the active work
ing right hand of the Church not It's brain,
but ready 20 do what the brain will direct.
and that is an unwise pastor who Will not
keep il usefuily busy.-The Independent.