Smyrna times., 1892-07-13

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Young Peoples Society of Christian
Endeavor, have made very deep i'm
preston upon the newspapers of that
city. Some are chiefly impressed by
the visitors themselves and others by
the movement which they represent.
The delegates proper are $4,000; but
the whole body of visitors are estIma-
ted at twice or three times that num-
Der. This society is one of the most
remarkable developments of modern
times. Almost within decade it has
grown to include 18,500 societies, with
total membership of over 100000.
Picked members from this great body
OF enthusiastic youthful Christian
workers are now shedding the light of
their countenances on New York city.
and while they stay there they will by
their very presence and numbers raise
to very respectable height the usual
low average of purity, virtue and
Christianity in that city.
The first meeting of the day was
held at 6 o'clock and at this early hour
several thousand would be in attend.
ance. Thus they followed in the con-
sideration of one object or another,
consuming about nine hours in the
day.
The evening session of Thursday was
one OF the largest gatherings ever wit
messed in the Madison Square garden.
Thousands upon thousands were forced
to turn away disappointed. The meet
ing opened with singing, and then
Hon. John Wanamaker stepped on the
platform and he received grand ova-
tion. The applause was renewed when
he was introduced by President Clark
as the presiding officer of the evening.
Mr.. Wanamaker, when quiet was re-
stored, thanked his hearers for their
generous reception, and said
believe that few men, and then
only once in lifetime, have such a
privilege as mine at this moment. In
the wonderful activity of the time the
church cannot lag behind.
Christianity is practical wherever a
man is willing to investigate it. Day
by day its fields grow broader and it
will soon girdle the earth. I think
one of the grandest surprises that
could ever come to this wonderful CITY
is the way that Christian men TODAY
have taken hold of it. l rejoice that
the Christian EndeavOr has practically
something to do. 1t is not local or a
temporary organization, but something
that goes throughout the whole world.
Hon. w. c. P. Breckenridge, who
had been engaged as one of the speak.
ers, telegraphed that he was unable to
come. Chauncey NJ. Depew, who is
always ready for a speech at a mo-
ment's notice, was gathered up to fill
the breach, and the reception given
him exceeded even that given Mr..
Wanamaker. He said he had been
drafted into a service of which knew
nothing and had heard nothing, but
his humor was refreshing to the packed
audience. He said:
We welcome you to New York.
New York is the best watering place
in the United States. Tammany Hall
we have always with us and we are
pleased to have the Christian Endeavor
as an antidOte occasionally. The beauty
OF your organization is that it has in IL
the element which makes any move
ment a success. That element is
youth. Nothing succeeds like youth
because youth is hopeful and knows
no such word as fail.
Another speaker in the free parlia-
ment" was Whitelaw Reid, who was
kept standing for several minutes to
wait for the ovation to end. He
seemed impressed with the magnitude
of the occasion and the great audience
in front OF him, and said
This is a most inspiring sight. Such
an organization as you here represent
does an inealculable amount of good.
not only in the communities of the
cities and towns, but throughout the
whole country.
You expect no remarks from me.
and yet ! cannot resist the temptation
of taking advantage of this opportu.
nifty to express my thanks to YOU for
permitting me to gaze upon such
scene.
Only one word more, and that a rec
objection of the Fourth of July. Our
forefathers, who laid the foundation of
the civil and religious liberty which we
enjoy, planted their banners on the
Notifications of the schoolhouse and
the church. Let US guard them both
most zealously.
The Commissioners of the Worlds
Fair have the strongest remonstrance
from them that 1t is possible to send
against opening the Columbian Expo
sition on Sunday or allowing the sale
of intoxicants within the enclosure.
Harper's Weekly thus refers editorially
to the great gathering
Those who say there is nothing new
under the sun would be sOrely put to
IT to find the counterpart of the Young
Peoples Societies of Christian Endea.
vor. When, before this year of grace,
has the earth thrilled to the tread of |
l,2OO,O yonng people bound together
with a single pledge--tO do what ? |
Elect Cleveland? Elect Harrison ? !
Pedal bicycle or swing tennis rae |
quet? No; to read the Bible and prav |
every day. to take part regularly in |
prayer-meeting, support their own |
CHURCHES, and engage in active Christ |
ian enterprises. There's a new aspect
OF Young America for you! Young
America ! should rather say Young
World.
If any one thinks that Christianity is
senescent, he has sufficient answer in |
this army of l 200 full regiments. II is
marching with the steady swing of vet.
erans, and yet with the buoyancy of
youth. Now and then an old Christian
shrngs his shoulders, "After as che de.
luge." True; a delpge of ffesher yigor
keeneP wits, stronger faith. Look At |
the young peoples religious societies i
OF this decade. and you will have no |
fear for the church of the twentieth |
century.
SFo xya9na and XIfni,o;Arr