The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-02-03

The pecennIaI Convention at Willis
ton Church.
A Splendid Congregation Listens
to Or. Clark.

trimmed with evergreen, and the notices OF
the society "For Christ and the Church"
and 'Ye are all Brethren" were on either
side of the pulpit in letters of evergreen. and
ported plants and cut flowers gave home
like look to the room. Nearly all of the pas
tors In the city were present and very many
from out of town, but the most Of the dele
gates are expected today.
After the Anthem, "Of Whom Shall / Be
Afraid" by the choir, Rev. DR.. Clymer Of
Pine street church, read part of the third
chapter of st. John. Rev. DIR. Plummer of
Boston offered prayer. The hymn Rock Of
Ages" was rendered by the choir, and then
Mr.. Geo. F. Libby, president of Williston
Society of Christian Endeavor, gave an adj
dress of welcome, In which he briefly, but
cordially welcomed all the friends of the Sc
ciety.
Rev. Mr.. Pratt, pastor of the church gave
cordial welcome. He said:
We do not think of you this evening as
strangers, but as members Of one family;
and 1t Is like an old THANKSGIVING reunion.
God has been very gracious to the Christian
Endeavor family In the ten years of its life.
II took three centuries for the Christian re-
ligion to dominate the Roman church-the
reformation inaugurated by Luther took
thirty years, but in ten years the Christian
Endeavor Society has captured the world.
We welcome you to this place because Of its
himself here and Williston church win al
| ways be known as the birthplace of the
Christian Endeavor Society. We welcome
| you to the inspiration point We welcome
nSs 3 ne osrf e %as the father Of F the
Christian Endeav0r Society, he was glad to
call himself the stepfather.
The choir then sang "The King Of Love
My Shepherd Is"
Rev. F. e. Clark, ID. D., Of Boston, former
pastor of Williston, was then Introduced and
said:
The true meaning of this occasion is a re-
union-a Thanksgiving, in our home as well
as Gods house. He said he should speak
few words IN an informal way. of that child
VINO was born ten years ago, gone out all
over the world, and the marvellous growth.
He paid handsome tribute to his wife, who
rocked the cradle, and as she was not pres
emit he had the freedom of speech that hus-
eands have when wives are away. First, it
was little mission circle; little by little 1t
grew until the I'd of February the child
christian Endeavor" was born. The older
members of the church welcomed the little
stranger, and the relatives, the other
churches. showed no jealousy. The step
father will nourish this child, which is all
his own now. The old Second Parish church
is the great-erandmother, High street church
the grandmother, and State street charch the
mother of Williston. The Second Parish
had the second Christian Endeavor Society
in this city, St. Lawrence the third. At the
first convention Of the society, about a year
and half after Its organization, Williston
church was only quarter filled. The child
was born and has come to stay because of
Gods hand-because God had a place for
him. mot unto us. Oh Lord, but unto Thy
name be all the glory" This is the Lords
doing and 1t Is marvellous.
w. 81. Pencil, Esq, was next introduced
as the first person who enrolled himself
member of Christian Endeavor Society and
said he always liked to follow DIR. Clark.
Even though he did not see the guiding
hand, he believed that the Christian Endeav-
or was Gods plan for oranized work.
The congregation Joined the choir in sing
ing "Stand Up, Stand Up for Jesus" and
Mr.. Baer of Boston, the general secretary
was introduced, and said that he had come
17OO miles out of his way to attend this meet
ing.
Rev. Mr.. Hall of Medford, Mass, said he
could understand why Joshua commanded
the sun to stand still in order that he might
talk talk to a Christian Endeavor Society.
and he wished he had 80 minutes instead of
of five to talk on the subject of Christian
Endeavor.
Rev. DIR. Whitman of the Free st. Church
thought we should keep our eye on the mot
to-, 'For Christ and the Church."
Rev. Chas. A. Dickinson of Boston, former
pastor of the Second Parish church, said he
felt very venerable. as he had often been
called the grandfather Of the society. lie
spoke Of the first meeting of tie society he
ever attended, and he has been in close
touch with Clark in this work. He thanked
God for what he has done through the in
taking possession Of Christians hearts ire
spective of denomination. 1t is that univer-
salty which has given 1t its power.
Rev. c. II. Nash Of Hartford, Conn, read
telegraphic greeting from 80 delegates en-
route, and related how nearly WIlliston
church lost its claim to priority in the Chris.
tian Endeavor movement. Because DR..
Deems of New York said il DR.. Clark and
Williston church had waited six months
longer DR.. DEEMS church would have had
the first Christian Endeavor society.
Rev. Mr.. Parker of Connecticut spoke
from the standpoint of Connecticut pastor.
Christian Endeavor answers this problem,
How to put people into active work? 1t is
doing a grand work for our young people.
We are making some progress, learning that
the chief end is not to get, but to give. Like
the drummer boy who could not sound the
retreat because he never learned how, so we
want to sound the charge all along the line
Rev. G. P. Mills Of Newburyport, Mass.
thought the month of February was good
month. 1t was the month which gave birth
to Washington, to Lincoln, and to Christian
Endeavor.
Rev. DR.. Baynton, of the Union church,
Boston, said that the things which attracted
him in this movement was simplicity and
that it was such a practical thing. And
having these qualifications, Christian
Endeavor grows. After singing by the
choir, benediction was pronounced by Rev.
DR.. Clark, and then there was an informal
reception to visitors by Willston Y. T. S. C.
E.
We give the programme for today
FORENOON.
"a. m.-Early prayer meeting lin Second Par
ish Church) led by Rev. j. M. Frost, Pastor
Congress st. M. E. Church.
8.0o-Addresses Of Welcome. Tin City HalD:
Mayor II. Meicher; (c) In behalf Of Churches,
Rev. ID. M. Pratt, pastor OF Williston church.
$40 a. m.-Response, j. w. Baer, General Sec
rotary.
10 a. m.-Bistory of Y. P. .C.E.: (a) Origin.
Rev. c. p. Mills, Newburyport; (b) Devotion,
ment, Rev. G. A. Dickinson (Berkeley Temple)
Boston.
100 a. m.-Convention Sermon, Rev. A. H.
Plumb, ID. ID.
AFTERNOON.
200 d. m.-Devotional Service.
2.l5 D. m.-The Christian Endeavor Movement
Its practical results thus far, Rev. @. NJ South
gate, Worcester, Mass. Followed by open meet
Ing giving the young people chance to say what
800 D. m.-Possibilities of Christian Endeavor,
Rev. Geo. Ii. Wells, d. D., aontreal Can.
$50 p. m.-Address: How Christian Endeavor
meets the demands of the times In developing
Christian workers, Rev.L. s. Bean, South Wind
ham, Me.
4.UO .. m.-Address: How Christian Endeavor
meets the demands of the times In securing an
intelligent spiritual development REV. y. u. Mer-
Till. y. d., Portland. Me. c
400 p. m.-Conference OF officers OF state
unions In Y. M. q. A. Hall.
EVENING.
ZOO p. m.-Praise service.
pL r.SO p m:-Address, Rev. j. ii. Beckley ID. d.,
Philadelphia.
800 p m.-Address, Rev. F. E. Clark, d. ID.
Mr.. Thomas Lecture.
concerning Charles N. Thomas Of Boston,
who. for thraa