The Mankato free press. [volume] (Mankato, Blue Earth County, Minn.) 1879-1924, 1891-11-06

that the deliberations of your conven-
tion may not only be profitable to you,
but be great benefit to everybody in
Mankato; and as you go to your homes
may you carry pleasant recollections!'
AS the Mayor took his seat, that i'm
mense body of young people applaud
ed in such manner as to fairly shake
the building.
The next speaker was the Rev. John
Barbour, pastor of the Presbyterian
church, who extended cordial well
come in behalf of the pastors of Man
kato. In part he said: ''There is not
pastor in this city who is not on the
right side of this question of Christian
Endeavor. (applause) This society
and this convention is ministers
thought and pastors wisdom. I be-
lieve the work of this organization is
the most valuable auxiliary of church
work, for it embodies the thought
that we must begin with the very
youngest" When espoke of "Clark IS
Self-Binder, ''the delegates spent some
of their abundant stock of enthusiasm
in good hearty laugh. Mr.. Barbour
realizing that time was getting rap
idly away, did not deliver the long ad-
dress he intended, and which would
no doubt have been full of excellent
and thoughtful food, but he content
ed himself by saluting the convention
with benediction, which contained
these thoughts: snake you perfect
in every good work"
The chair introduced Mr.. Thomas
Hughes, president of the Mankato
Christian Endeavor Union, who de-
livered the following address in behalf
of our home society. He said:
Fellow Endeavorers:-It is my glad privilege
to bid you welcome i'll behalf Of the Mankato
Union. We have anXiously awaited your COM
ing and busted ourselves with many prepara-
lions to receive you, For months we have been
talking about you, planning for your comfort,
and praying for the Masters blessing on every
effort. Our committees and subcommittee
have rushed hither and thither, overcoming
mighty obstacles. Our sweet singers have at
tuned their voices, our homes have been swept
and garnished, our kitchen affairs have been red
olent with incense whose SAVIOR would tempt
not only the Junior but also the Senior En-
deavorer. Sad indeed would we be and full of
bitter disappointment if all these our prepara-
lions had been in vain. We therefore welcome
ty, and remember that the more you enjoy it
the happier it will make us. We welcome you,
in the second place, because we love the Christ
ian Endeavor Brotherhood, for we never see a
a cfrn
Ing the q. E. monogram but we at once seem
more than three.fourths acquainted In the
Christian young people OF our commonwealth
lies its hope, its strength and its life and COM
your presence and fellowship. Wewelcome you,
in the third place, because of the spiritual bless
ings you bring u.s. There is great awakening
and uplifting IN these mighty gatherings OF the
Israel of God, where the hosts are gathered, full
of enthusiasm and praise, not from single
tribe only; but from every tribe and kindred
and tongue a miniature OF that glorious Inter
universe Christian Endeavor Convention the
Patmos saw within the pearly gates. Who can
tell what bonds of strength to the old Hebrew
nation were its great feasts. nor how our mod
and patriotism. Who can estimate what a
power for civilization are our World Fairs and
Gxpositions How they emphasize the brother
hood OF man; how they broaden the vision; how
they inspire into nobler endeavor even the most
people OF the earth
The nations of the world are drawing together
shall the tribes OF God remain isolated, each in
It's little valley hemmed in by lofty, barren
peaks of theological creeds, each knowing little
or nothing of its neighbor and imagining the
whole saved world bounded by its narrow hori-
zon. Elijah in his cave thought himself the only
servant of Jehovah, but Gods broader outlook
disclosed 1000. The church of to-day needs
this broader outlook. 1t needs it for It's encour-
and Inspiration, 1t needs it for its de.
velopment in Christian culture and progress; 1t
needs it for the power it will give it, to over
come the world. We hear much OF late about
Christian fellowship. 1t is well. Let us hear
more. Christian Endeavor means more Christ
ian fellowship. Again, the worst enemy of the
present church, both without and within, is not
pronounced inidelity but Indifference. Mark
The average church member of to-day, and by
the average mean three-touths of those whose
names appear on our church rolls. How do
these trees planted in the house of the Lord ap-
pear? Are they alive and fruitful in every branch
of their church duties? corporate eXistence.)
How about the branch of attendance on the
midweek prayer-meeting? 0 well, that died
about the second week after the tree started.
How about the branch of attendance on the
evening service? o that withered long ago.
How ABOUT the attendance at Sunday school?
That branch died IN the bud How about per.
sonal work? That never even budded. How
about the family altar? The business worm
killed that before it got started. How about
attendance on the Sunday morning service? If
the weather is fair and the preacher interesting
there is slight sign Of life in that branch. Is it
the only limb on the whole tree with any signs
of church life? AS far as can be seen it is. Why
threefourths of the pastors energy is spent in
the effort to try to keep spark of life in the
average church member. The days have gone
by when church should exist as q depository
for religious relics whose eticasy for healing is
past sin sick soul can never be cured by the
touch of theological dogma any more than a
decayed piece of the true cross or the hollow
tooth of of canoniZed saint Modern science
teaches that life only can beget life, and it is on
ly live issues in the hands of living Christians
inspired by risen living Lord which can touch
dead souls into life. Yon have come here to
discuss no theological relic or dead dogma but
the live issues OF Christian character and work.
Christian Endeavor means life. Its marvellous
growth indicates life. Its very comp osition from
the youth of the land bespeakS life. Its fruit in
every church where planted is life. Christian
Endeayor is crusade-but it is crusade which
goes forth like its great Prince not to destroy
and take life but to give life and to give it more
abundantly. We sent delegates to the great
conventions at st. Louis, at Rochester, at Min
neapois, and they returned in each case with the
breath of life upon them. Fresh from the study
in our Sunday schools, of that wonderful Fourth
welcome you because of this mission of Christ
ian Endeavor and may God grant that this
double portion of His spirit may descend richly
upon our convention" (Applause.)
At the conclusion Of the brilliant
and earnest address of Mr.. Hughes,
the president suggested that the con-
vention give Mr.. Clark the salute.
The next moment, hundreds of hand
kerchiefs were being waved in the
air. and such an enthusiasm was ex.
hibited as was never before witnessed
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