The Jersey City news., 1892-01-09
JUNIOR CHRISTIANS.
Making the Endeavor Lea
que a Pronounced
Success.
HISTORY OF THE ASSOCIATION.
Objects of the Consolidation and
Who Are Interested in Pro-
noting Them Other
Church Matters.

Church Matters.
An event of no small Importance to the
younger members of Jersey City Sunday
schools and churches is he recent founda-
tion of local union of the Junior Chris
tian Endeavor Societies of Hudson
county. While there are many fiourish-
ing local unions OF The Senior Endeavor
Societies, the Junior branches have NO
yet received their share of attention. and
although there are local unions in Massa-
chusetts and Connecticut. the League this
week organized is the first in the State OF
New Jersey The constitution will ex-
plain the objects of the League. 1t is rs
follows:-
Article This society shall be called the
Junior Christian Endeavor Union, Of Hudson
Article 1.-THE object of this union shall be to
stimulate and encourage an interes in Junior
Christian Endeavor work; T. promote ths growth
of the child EN- in a Christian life, and to inter-
est them in church and Sunday school.
Article IIf.-Any Junior Society Of Christian
Ende avor of Hudson county, by adopting the
Jun. or pledge, may Join this union on its vote to
do so. Communicated to the secretary OF this
union and approved by its executive com.
NIT 90. The members Of any society bsongng
to this union will be entitled to all its privi-
leges.
Article Iv-The officers Of this union shall be
president, vice presidents, secretary and
treasurer, whose duties shall be those usually
belong ing to such officers.
Article v.-Ihe leaders Of each society be-
longing to the union shall form the Executive
Committee. eThey shall join with the officers In
having cha ge OF arrangements OF all meetings
of this union, and all business not Otherwise
Article vi There shall be meeting Of this
union for devotional services, discussion, papers,
addresses, business and social intercourse. as
the Executive COMMITTEES may arrange Inere
snail also be an annual meeting In October Tor
the hearing Of reports and an election OF
officers.
Article What each meeting each society bs-
longing to this union may be represented by
seven delegates, who shall constitute the votn ng
body in that meeting: but all members ara
urged 10 at end every meeting or the union.
and to participate In the worship and dis
Arlicle vIII.-This constitution may be
amended by Two thirds vote.
Mrs. j. l.. Scudder has long been iden-
titled with the cause OF Christian En-
deavor work. rs, indeed, sne mas been
with everv department OF practical Chris
tfanity. Four years ago she reorRanizd
the Covenant Band" aud from small
and unimportant society, formed whit Is
now one OF the largest and most inhuen-
tial Junior EndeAvor Societies in this
city. For several years she has edited the
Junior Endeavor depar inent IN the 'Gotd-
en- Ru e, while her works Are HcceDl all
everywhere as text books for the socie-
tie. Mrs. Scudder was amoug the very
first to bring forward the idea OF Junior
Endeavor local unions, held by the older
societies, at which all the children with
in certain limits of territory should meet,
to sing the same songs listen TO attrsc-
tive addresses. aud most Of all. promote
that Christian fellowship W ich It Is
never too early to instil into the mind of
a child. II Is the intention of the man
ayers that ch society own banner.
which is to be brought 10 all union meet
ings where the altar will be draped viii
the many colcred ensigns. The follow
ing societies have already ratified. the
constit utiou, and more are sure to follow: !:
j. E. Societies from the Tabernacle; First
Presbyterian Church, the Rev. Charles
Herr, pastor; Bergen Reformed, the
Rev. Cornelius Brett, D. D.; South
Bergen Reformed. the Rev. w. d. Gram;
c. Clauseu, President OF the Hudson
County Local Union of Senior Endeavor
Societies: Wayne Street Reformed, DR..
Van Cleef; Greenville Reformed, First
Reformed OF BayOnhe. Summit Avenue
Baptist. the Rev. Edward McMinn, and
Scotch Presbyterian, the Rev. ID. Mitch
ell.
HISTORY OF THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
The history of the Cnri-tian Endeavor
movement IS fraught with interest. 1t
was comparatively few years ago that the
Rev. DIR. Clark. then pastor OF small
church in Portland. Maine, became
convinced that the church was
not exhibiting sufficient interest in
its young men and women.
The vows taken at baptism were so very
general in their application as to be un-
pleasantly indefinite. and beynn1 attend
ing q service where only the elders par
ticipated and, perhalsteaching Sunday
school class. tnere was no district work
that shoull promote Christian fellowship
amCng the young church goers and
bring home to each the thought that he
was an integral tart Of the church mill
tant. So DR.. Clark ueclded that there
should be a pledge for his young. people.
meetings. and, since they had promised
to give all 10 Christ. to give up one night
in the week to the church. Then came
the idea of app intng committees for
special work. The Lookout Cnmmitlee,
Music and Flower Committees aud many
formed. And gradually DR.. Ciark's
Church Society attained such proportions.
and DR.. Clark IS church began to become
so popul ramong The young people that
IL caused a rustling among the Try homes
o her Portland ministers took up the idea
WHICH SiuA = An0 dO oOoiAS ~ ScpJ
right, aud from Portland It snread
through Maine and through New Eug-
land, and then through the whole Uulled
States, and wherever society has
sprung up there has arisen wonderful
accession of interest on the part OF
Young people. And this success Is not
surprising. 1t lies in the fact that the
Christian EndeayoI Society does not deal
in generali'i ies bu particular cases. The
broad command. to do good and fearspot,
is most appalIingly indefinite. and APP
peais but slightly TO the mind OF the
child unused TO abstractions, but In this
society the duty of every member and
each individual member Is clearly set
down in black and white.
JUNIOR BANDS.
1t was the inienti OF Hev. DR. Clark
to reach the children of the church in
particular by the Christian Eudeavor So
cie;y. but the young men aud -maidens
found that its purpose so perfectly full
filled their needs that thev fiucked to It's
standard aud for several Years the chill
dren were practical y Ignored. But Dr.
Clark's intention wa cArrie'i ou5,by the
formation If Junior Endeavor SocieiIes.
whose purpose and meth ds are idsnIfcAl
with those of the older branch, but in
which more instruction is gwen.
The society is Invaluable In that it cul-
tivates Christian fellowship without re-
gard to sect or creed. Iu no other church
society convention could ne found tonr
officers from four denominations. while
..,l.I .Irl..