Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-07-08
A GROWING LEAGUE.
The Story Of Progress of the Chris
tian Endeayor Movement
TOLD IN ANNUAL CONVENTION.
a Strong Report Against Sunday Opening
of the Worlds Fair.
CONGRESS- soLEMNLY APPEALED TC

NEW YORK, July THE eleventh Inter
national Christian Endeavor Convention,
which opened this afternoon in the Madison
Square Garden, promises to be the largest
religious conference ever held in this coun-
try. Up to noon to-day over 10000 dele
gates from out-of- town societies had arrived
here, and nearly half as many more are ex-
pected BY the afternoon and evening trains,
while the New York societies will probably
have about 1000 representatives
The convention opened at 2:30 o'clock this
afternoon with PRAYER and praise service.
Following this came the address of well
come from New York pastors, Rev. DR..
Charles f. Deems, of the Church of the
Strangers, voicing the welcome. In closing
his address, DR.. Deems said:
During the lifetime of our young society,
the question of Christian union has at
tracted more interest than ever before since
the Reformation. The ecclesiastical projects
have ali been cold, faulty, pragmatieal and
1mpracticable schemes, working from with
out and binding people together with
eternal cords.
An Effective Movement Without p An.
This work has been more effective than
all other things combined, because it has
been spontaneous, without plan or purpose,
unworldly, spiritual and Christly.
The address of welcome from Brooklyn
pastor was delivered by Rev. A. c. Dixon.
ID. d. The response to the addresses OF
welcome, in behalf of the Board of Trustees
of the United Society OF Christian Endeavor
~ad the delegates present. was given by
DR.. Merrill E Gates. of Amherst College.
Rev. Mr.. Bratt, pastor of the WilIston
Church, Portland, Me-, addressed the
conference, saying his church is
the birthplace of the first Christian
Endeavor Society and he is the
bearer of the greetings of that mother
church to the delegates of the multitude of
Christian Endeavor societies throughout
the world now assembled in convention.
Mr.. Bratt concluded by presenting to Presi-
dent Clark, Chairman, a gavel made from
the pulpit and corner stone of the Williston
Church. President Clark accepted the
gavel in brief speech
The annual report of General Secretary
Baer stated that the regularly reported
number of societies was q $50, while there
we're others not yet recorded that would
bring the total up to %, 600. Last wear, at
number was 16, ,274
Divided Among Several Sects
The total number of societies covers 80
evangelical denominations, the Presby-
terians leading with 4, BOG; Congregational
ist, 4.495; Bsptists. 9, ,736; Methodists, 2, 1886
Disciples of Christ, ], ,557. The total mem
bership is !, $40, 200 New York leads all |
States, Territories and provinces in the |
lumber of societies, having 2, 532; Pennsyl- |
a is neyt with 1,S29; Illinois third, with |
Jhio fourth, with 1853; Massachu- |
III, with ], ,055; Iowa sixth, with ], 024 |
amer for the greatest proportionate |
of societies made this year goes to
The banner for the greatest abb
n in the number Of societies goes
the Province of Ontario. There
unior societies The banner of
cieties goes this year to Illi-
IL 266 junior societies Pennsyl-
van. Sc second. with 257, while New
York'IsN- with ia -
There are in Canada 1,377 societies, an
increase of over 500 during the past year
The five Provinces having the greatest num-
Der of societies are As follows: Ontario $50:
Nova Scotia, 26S; Quebec, 81; New Bruins
wick, 81; Manitoba, AZ. In Australia the
growth has been phenomenal Last year 50
societies reported; to-day there are enrolled
232 societies, and more are forming each
week. England now has 800 societies; India
has 80; Turkey, 20; Mexico, 10; the West
Indies, II; Samoa, 9; Africa, 9; China, 9;
Japan, 6. The total from foreign and mis-
sionary lands is 64S.
sankey, the Singer, Takes Part.
Ira ID. Sankey, of Brooklyn, next made
short but spirited address eliciting great
applause. He then sang ''Throu Out the
Lite Line, the great assemblage swelling
the chorus
President Clark here announced that an
outdoor meeting would be held this even
ing. President Clark announced the per-
sonnel of the committees as follows:
Business-Rev W, T. McEwen. New York
Chairman; V. Richard Foss, Maine; C. B.
Holdress. Illinois; Edwin B. Hayes Califor.
mia; Horace Breed, California
Resolutions-Rev; J. T Beckley, Pennsyl-
chusetts; Miss Elizabeth Wishard indiana:
&. A. Hardy, Ontario; S. V. karmaker, India
RrotaW. MassacSusetts Chairman. D. RaY w,
George B. steward, Pennsylvania: Rev.
Howard B. CROSBY, Massachusetts; Mrs. H
W Lenson, New York.
Nominations-Rev. e. W. Stewart. New
Jersey, Chairman; G. r. Lighthouse One
bee. William Blencoe, Oklahoma; Rev n n. I
n. Kinney, Connecticut; Miss Esther Clark,
South Dakota.
The report of the committee appointed at
Minneapolis last year on Sunday closing of /
the gates of the Worlds Fair was read by
Rev. r Y. Hunter, of Terre Haute, Ind
Previous to doing so, DIR. Hunter said:
f'There are some people who want the
Worlds Fair open on Sunday. Do we
want it open? A mighty shout Of stNo"
was the response. Dr. Hunter then read a |
paper, which formed the committee's re-
the following recommendations:
.