The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1892-07-08
The ENDEAY0R HOST.
The Opening Session of Their Con.
vention in New York.
PASTORS GIVE CORDIAL WELCOME
Tremendous Gains Reported The
Worlds Fair and the Sunday Qucs-
tion-The Progress of tho Society In
This and Other Countries.

NEW YORK, July s.-The opening ses-
sion Of the Christian Endeavor conven-
tion commenced yesterday afternoon in
the Madison Square Garden. Over the
main entrance Of the hall are hung two
large American and British hags, while
bunting and fags are profusely used as
decorations throughout. There are
nearly 5000 chairs on the ground floor,
with a. many more In the boxes and gall
leries. At the east end of the hall is an
immense platform upon which there are
over 800 chairs.
Edwin F. See, general secretary OF the
Brooklyn Y. M. Q. A., opened the meet
ing with prayer. The choir of 800 voices
led the praise services, after which the
the delegates with an address on behalf
OF the pastors of New York.
Rev. A. G. Dixon, ID. D., OF Brooklyn
welcomed the delegates on behalf OF the
pastors OF Brooklyn.
He said in part: While New York and
Brooklyn are separated by . river of wa
ter, they are united by q bridge of iron.
30 with all evangelical ohristendom.
Above the huctuating issues that separate
us and the noisy questions that distract
us 10 the iron linz of love for "Christ and
the church" which binds us together In
peaceful union.
We welcome you most cordially for
what you represent. Instead Of digging
at the foundations OF the cathedral OF
truth, Christian Endeavor invites all to
walk In and enjoy its beauties. Christian
Endeavor Is dispensary OF food and
medicine for which people are dying,
rather than a laboratory for the analysis
Of new prescriptions. It Ia not q rival
gas or electric company but an organi-
Eation whose aim is to induce people to
come into the sunlight. 1t believes in
the text: 'Tn Thy light shall we see
thought, but claims the privilege OF
bringing it into the light Of Gods
thought.
President Merrill e. Gates OF Amherst
College, responded to the address Of well
come In behalf of the society's board of
said: We accept your welcome most COR
daily. We confidently expect Gods
blessing to attend this great gathering.
We believe in the future OF these socie-
ties. We have confidence in the move
mant which these thousands of delegates
represent. This meeting commands the
attention OF the nation today. This is a
great popular movement In the best sense
OF that word. The movement is in the
best sense q popular movement Since
the people under God are sovereign, q
movement in which all the good people
Of our land are interested 10 a movement
which deserves attention and promises
results.
-Endeavor Is the secret of advance. En-
deavor is the evidence OF life. The move-
ment 10 to succeed, not because IL Is q
popular movement; not because 1t Is
composed OF young people and Is popu-
lar; not because 1t Is apopuiar movement
OF great numbers OF young people associ-
ated in endeavor, however fiery hearted
and strong; but it is to succeed because
It In Christian.
Rev. Dwight M. Pratt Of the willeston
Church, Portland, Me-, the birthplace of
the Y; T. s. c. f., then presented the
and founder OF the society, with gavel
made from portion OF the granite COR
ner stone and piece OF the original oak
of the pulpit of the church.
Rev. II. V. Hunter OF Terre Haute, Ind,
chairman Of the committee on Sunday
closing OF the Columbian Exposition, re-
ported upon the doings OF that body.
"Those who want the fair open on Sun
day." he said, "are those who derive a
revenue from 1t; the liquor dealers; those
from foreign countries where they OBJ
serve a continental Sabbath and the
this continental Sabbath forced upon us.
We call upon the authorities to prohibit
the sale OF Intoxicating liquors on the
grounds Of the Worlds Fair and close the
gates on Sunday"
The annual report OF the general secre-
tary was read by John Willis Baer. II
stated that the regularly reported num-
ber OF societies was Fl ,0S0. Others not
yet recorded would bring the total up to
22,000. Last year the reported number
was 1924. The societies cover 30 evan
gelic denominations, the Presbyterians
leading with 4S06; the Congregational
lists being second with 4i95. The total
mem bership is !, ,370,3 300. New York leads
all the states, territories and provinces in
the number OF societies, Luving 2532.
Massac husetts comes fifth, with 1866.
The greatest proportionate increase OF
societies this year was in Manitoba. The
greatest absolute gain wns In the province
OF Ontario. There sre 257i junior socie-
ties. There are in Canada 1877 societies,
an increase of over 500 during the past
year.
In Australia the growth has been phe-
nomenal. Last year 62societies reported;
today there are enrolled 232 societies, and
more are forming each week. England
now has 300 societies; India 81; Turkey