Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-03-17
NATIONAL CHRISTIAN ENbEAyOR.
They VIII Hold Big Convention
Next July.

HOW the Gnr1Stiun EndeuVpr Societies |
Started and Their Remarkable Growth |
ELEVEN Years OF Progress.I
The New York Times of Sunday last |
gives the following story Of the birth |
and existence of the Christian Endeayor |
Societies of this country:
Eleven years ago last month the |
Young Peoples Society of Christian |
Endeavor was organized il Portland, |
Me-, and the first convention was held |
in June Of the same year. Six societies
were represented at the INSTRUMENTATION,
and the membership then VAS not over
400. From July 9TH to 10th this year the
eleventh annual International Conven-
ton Of the Christian Endeavor Societies
will be held at the Madison Square
Garden, and it is expected there will be
over $4,000 delegates in attendance. The
membership of the societits has grown
from 400 members until NOW there are
1,110,o00 names upon the rblls.
This order Of Christian young people
has spread from the state of Maine all
over the world and into every state and
territory in the United States. There
are 1850 societies, and they are to be
found in England, Mexico, China,
where there are seven societies; Ber-
muda, Japan, Ireland, India, Spain,
Scotland, the West Indies, Samoa, rur-
key, Africa and Australia, where there
are 80 societies.
The convention next July will be the
most memorable one in the history of
the organization, and those who are
interested in it are already working
hard in getting ready for il. AS early
as last August delegations from distant
states engaged their hotel accommo-
dations. AT that time the Illinois dele
CATION engaged quartersl at the Park
Avenue Hotel for 1000 persons. Ohio
has engaged rooms for 500, Washington,
d. c., for 400, Pennsylvania for 5000,
Connecticut for 800, Maine for 400,
Iowa for 500 and Coloradp for 800.
The topics which will be discussed at
this monster convention have not yet
been selected, but they will be those
subjects which are Of interest to
Christians in this and all countries.
J The temperance question will be
touched upon, as this is one that always
I receives great attention from the mem.
bers, and a matter upon which they arc
always earnestly engaged. The subject
of home and foreign missions will also
be discussed.
Ia This convention holds no elections
laand does not vote upon questions, anc
f~-fs peculiar in that respect 1t is held tC
awaken greater interest in church
work and all religious matters, and the
results looked for and generally realized
are greater activity by the members o
the societies in the churches to which
they belong, in all lines of church worl
: and Christian benevolence. AT ever,
convention of this kind some of tn
y best-known men speak upon topics o
interest to the Christian world. TIL
speakers for this year have not beef
chosen yet. The only delegates expecte,
outside of this country and Canada ar
from Scotland.
The committee in clarge OF the con
vention includes the Rev. II. McEwer
Chairman; j. MILFORD Allen, Secretary
Josiah II. Wray, Chatles j. Frye, Jr
NJ. s. Littlefield, Jr., Charles Caldwell
y Levi s. Hulse, Parsells Cole, w. j
y Stevens, James A. Cruikshank, A.
Healy and Harold M. Davis.
The Christian Endesi or Society move
ment commenced in a revival at tn
Williston Congregational Churchin Por
land in the winter Of 1SS0-S1. TIL
pastor of the church, the Rev. D
Francis E. Clark, now president of til
N United Society of Christian Endeavo
Il. was SPACIOUS concerning the young pee
and repea, had been converted. On Eel
right. Ma 1881, he called the your
mouth and klnbers to his house and pr
as time was Constitution he had drawn U
round, and iillston Young Peoples Sociel
their corneran Endeavor." This constiti
Round 2entially the same since adoptt
left and s&great majority of Societies
z tious ;istian Endeavor The society, as Il
Tl, CIa III . :
peatev, was simply an organized effort
s}lahd,d young people to Christ, and Il
Mbblin point upon which the constitute
1nonsists is the weekly prayer mectin
}moghich each active member pledges hir
I mcelf to attend.
al All the young people of the Willstc
il Church Joined the society, and to Il
delight of the pastor they lived up TO q
d prayer meeting clause. The plan su
q ceeded so well that an article publish
i9enl the Congregati0nnliSt of Boston,
inei.lgust, 1881, entitled, allow o
lHonturch Cares for Its Young People
Roracted general attention to the societ
F'itzsimfs were received by the Rev.
almost from pastors al over the count
terrible \ about the organization, and as
RounCesults were made known 9th
mouth, ters adopted it, and so it sprea
The landecond society organized was esta
iayoided ut Newburyport, Mass, by t
lMaher LEI. ?. MlA5.
got The first president OF the Unit
mons lares was w. J. Van Patten OF BIZ
the moua, Vt. Among Others conspicuc
eight of early history of the movemt
was all jhe Rev. James L. Hill of Medic
Roun., the Rev. S. w. Adriance
heavy ell, j. W. Stevenson of Portlai
nome Eli Manchester Of New lIav
ITO hisln.
ll R-.'here are three kinds o. members
kanchese Christian Eudoayor Socichc
tiansctive. associate, and affiliated or hon
lceivry members The active members
fronlose young persons who believe the
|, ally 9lyes to be Christians, and who 5
huer,rely desire to accomplish the obje
with,ecitied in the platform of principl
Eeretssociate membeil are those young p
bn tie of worthy character who are
tshmtliing to be conlidered decided Oh
\ simmns. Affiliated pr honorary meml
left { those who, although no lon
Honoang, are Interested in the soci,
RoT organization sinterdenominatio
centot undenominational, and is to
stonpuud in all evangelical donominatiy
on the platform Of principles says on
lIiehfoint: "'Hhe basis of the union Of
'simrcieties is one If common loyalty
himsArist, common methods Of service
the i'm, and mutual Christian affect
latte.ther than dcctrinal and eccosia
ibloysl basis. In such union all cvang
menll Christians can unite without
and udiating or being disloyal to any