The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-07-10
A MONSTER CONVENTION.
SESSION OF THE SOCIETY OF
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.

The Meeting the Largest Religious
Convention Ever Held-ren Thous-
and Voices Join in the Chorus.
Fidelity and Fellowship" the Sub
ject of the Presidents Address.
Growth Of the. Order.
MINNEAPOLIs, MINI, July 9.-The tenth
annual international convention of the
Young Peoples Society of Christian En-
deavor began in the big exposition hall this
afternoon, with a chorus of 1000 voices.
The convention is the largest ever held by
the society, and is probably the largest re-
ligious convention ever held on earth. The
building was handsomely decorated. The
formal beginning Of the convention came
when President Clark called the body to
order and 10000 voices joined in the sing>
ing of IAN Hail the Power of Jesus
Name There was prayer and the usual
addresses Of welcome.
gIOELIrY AND FELLOWSHIP.
For his annual address President Clark
had chosen the topic Fidelity and Fellow
ship" and spoke first of the basis of the
movement. Two elements that promi-
nently marked the history of the Christian
Endeavor Society were fidelity to the local
church to which each society aud each MEM
ber of each society belonged, fidelity without
which true Christian endeavor cannot exist ;
fellowship, fellowship cemented by common
name and common vows and common
methods of service-fellowshi that Is exem-
plified by this magnificent assembly. The
Society of Christian Endeavor, by its very
principles, when they are understood and
adopted necessarily increases church loyalty
and denominational fidelity.
NO sRCTs IN HADEs.
He added UNITED strength of the COM
mon enemy demands that we oppose to him
the united strength Of our common fellow
ship. There are no scots in he'll. The evil
one marshals all his forces for the attack.
Let not the children of the pit be wiser than
the children Of the light. The
watchword Of the day is combination
to resist good laws and obstruct
righteous legislation We must not pla V
into the enemy's hands by weakening our
ranks and dividing our hosts"
He deprecated, not denominations, but
the spirit that would perperuate differences
and promote rivals. In this name Chris
tian endeavor," a common bond Of union
was found.
GROWTH OF THE SOCIETY.
General Secretary Baer's annual report
showed LnaC one year ago Lnere were Il,UI0
societies, an increase over the previous year
of 3,34l societies. There are now 1924
societies regularly reported; 307 societies
are reported from across the water. There
are others not heard from. England has
100 societies, Austria So. India 30, Turkey
IL, and China Z. New York led the
states with 1855. Oklahoma was
the banner territory, showing the
largest percentage of gain. British Colum-
bia is second and Nova Scotia third. Vir>
ginia is a close fourth. and Alabama, Arkan-
sas and Mississippi, with the same ratio.
take fifth.
Among the denominations the Presby-
terians have 4,019 Christian Endeavor
societies; Cougregationalists 3,545; Bap-
fists, 3 ,331; Methodists, ZOOS; and Chris
tians Disciples, 801. As to individual
members, the report says tine growth is mar
velous. At Philadelphia, in 1883, 10000
members, reported at Chicago in 1889, 4S5, =
600; at ST. Louis last year $50, 900; aud now
the 1924 local societies have l,005, $50
members. But numerical growth was not
all the great good that has resulted. 1t was
known that 81 900 members of the societies
have become church members within a
year.