The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1892-07-08
THE ENDEAVOR CONVENTION.
First Days Proceedings of the Madison
SQUARE Meeting.

| NEW YORK, July THE eleventh inter
| national Christian EGdeavor convention
| opened this afternoon in Madison Square
| garden. 1t promises to be the largest
| religious conference ever held IN this coun-
| try. Ten thousand Out-Of-tOwn delegates
! have already arrived, and nearly as many
more are expected. These, with the 1,OUo
delegates from the New York societies,
| will make a total of about p ,OO0 Delegates
| The hall was profusely decorated with flags
and bunting. Many delegates are present
| from Europe, Asia, Africa, Australia and
| Canada.
A prayer and praise service opened the
session, which was led by Edwin Lee, gen
eral secretary of the Young Mems Chris
| tian association of Brooklyn.
Following this came an address OF well
come from the New York pastors deliv-
cred by Rev. DR.. Charles +. Deems, pastor
of the Church of the Strangers. This WAS
followed by an address of welcome from
| the Brooklyn pastors, delivered by Rev. A
c. Dixon.
The response to the addresses of well
come, in behalf of the board of trustees OF
the United Society Of Christian Endeavor
and the delegates present, was given by
Dr.. Merrill Gates of Amherst college.
Rev. Mr. Brett, pastor OF the Wllllston
church, Portland, Me-, whose house was
the birthplace of the first Christian En-
| deavor society, in an address, presented to
President Clark, the chairman, gavel
made from the pulpit and cornerstone OF
the WilllstOn church.
The annual report of General Secretary
Baer of the Uniied Society OF Christian
Endeavor was next presented.
The report stated that the regularly re-
ported number of societies was 81, ,OS0,
whilst there were others not yet recorded
that would bring the total up to 22,OUO.
Last year the Minneapolis convention re-
ported the number at 1924. The total
number of societies cover thirty evaneeh-
cal denominations, the Presbyrerians lead
ing. with 4.SU6; the Congregationalists,
4. 495: the Baptists, 1856, and the Metho-
dists, 1885 The total membership Is
$40, 200 New York leads all the other
states territories and provinces IN number
of societies, having ,532. Pennsylvania is
next, with 1923; Illinois, third, with ,447:
Ohio, fourth, with 1853.
The banner for the greatest proportion
ate increase in societies made this year
goes to Manitoba The banner for the
greatest absolute gain in number OF so.
cieties goes this year to the province of
Ontario There are 2, 157 Junior societies
and the banner for Juuior societies goes
this year to Illinois, that stale having 266
junior societies. Pennsylvania IS close
second, with 257.
There are in Canada 5,377 societies, an
increase OF over 500 during the past year
In Anstralia the growth has been phe-
nomenal. Last year 81 societies reported;
today there are enrolled 232 societies and
more are forming each week.
Ira D. Sankey next made a short but
spirited address. eliciting great applause.
He then sang Throw Out the Life Line, J"
the great assemDlage swelling the chorus.
Various committees were then an
pounced, after which the report of the
committee appointed at Minneapolis last
year on Sunday closing of the Columb bian
exposition was read by Rev. Mr.. Hunter OF
Terre Haute, Ind. The committee recon-
| mends that the convention relterate its
! action of a year ago III opposition to the
| opening OF the worlds fair on Sunday;
! calls upon the authorities TO forbid the
! sale of intoXicants on the exposition
| grounds, and urges congress TO exercise It's
| prerogative, by passing joint resolution
| iustructing the United States commits
| sioners to close the gates of the fair Oh
| Sunday.
! Adjourned until 7:SO D. m.
| AT the evening session General Foster,
/ the new secretary oi state, was introduced
| and made an address.
! Rev Francis h. Clark OF Maine, presl-
dent OF the United Society of Christian
! Endeavor, then delivered his annual ad
| dress. His subject was: The CHRISTIAN
! Eudeavor-More than Society," Provi-
Dental Movement.
The convention sermon was next
preached by Rev DR.. Bashford. president
| of he Ohio Wesleyan university.
| At the close of the sermon the conven-
! ton adjourned until tomorrow.
! For those unable to gain admission to
the garden overflow meetings were neld.