The Portland daily press., 1893-07-07

Yesterdays Sessions OF the United Society
in the Great Drill Hall and Mammoth
Tent-Secretary Baer Names the Win
teresting Things DIR. Clark Told His
Young Co-Workers.
MONTREAL, July 6.-The Christian
Endeavor meetings today were enormous
filling the great drill hall and mommoth
tent. The board of trustees of the United
Society met this afternoon and chose
three new members. Rev. Canon Richard
son of London, Ont, representing the
Church of England in Canada; Rev. J. M.
Lowden of Boston, representing the Free
Baptists of New England, and George
Lewis Howe of Louisville, KY, repre-.
senting the Southern Presbyterians. The
trustees selected San Francisco as the
meeting place for 1896. This evening
Rev. Francis E. Clark, D. D., president
of the United Society of Christian En-
deavor made an address and John W. Baer,
general secretary of the United Society,
read his annual report. Mr.. Baer read
his report in the tent while DR.. Clark
was speaking in the hall. DR.. Clark,
after speaking in the hall, went to the
tent and repeated the address. Mr.
Baer reported that the prize banner for
the greatest absolute gain in numbers
for the year was awarded to the Penn
sylvania delegation which mustered 800
strong. New Mexico's delegates received
the banner for the greatest proportionate
gain in Christian Endeavor membership.
Prize banners were awarded Illinois,
New I ork and the District of Columbia
for increases in junior society member
ship.
DIR. CIarlxs, Address.
In his address, after speaking of the
growth of the society, DR.. Clark said:
Let us go SO far as to suggest two or
three Charger things for the year to
come, which believe may well occupy
the thoughts, the prayers, the energies,
of all the endeavorers.
One of these advance steps that we
may take is the cultivation of a larger
and more intelligent spirit of patriotism
and good citizenship. How shall this be
done? By all joining as society some
one political party? Not unless we know
of some party that embraces all the
saints and none of the rascals; one that
is always right and never wrong. But,
whether you are Democrat or a Repub-
lican, a third party man or a Populist, a
Blue or a Grit,i can be done by bringing
your vote and your infuence-for your
influence, fair Endeavorers, is often as
powerful as your brothers vote-to the
test of the Christian Endeavor pledge.
You have promised in that Ito do what
ever He would like to have you do'';
then vote as He would like to have you
vote; then you will not knowingly vote
for a bad man or bad measure; and if
need be, you will sacrifice your party
rather than your principles.
When politicians realize that men with
principles are watching their nomina-
tions, they will not dare put up bad
man for your suffrage, for they will real
ize what SO many of the secular papers
expressed last summer after the wonder
full convention in New York city; that
there is new moral force in this country
that must be reckoned with. Go to the
principles of your party, and take your
Christian Endeavor pledge with you. Go
to the caucus; get into the legislature;
stand for Congress or Parliament; but,
when you get there, for God and the
church and your country do what He
would like to have you do.
So, in humber ways, let your influence
be felt for every right cause. am glad,
for one, of the stand that Endeavorers
have taken for the Christian and the
American Sabbath. l believe that the
course of the society on this question has
set an example that we may wisely fol-
low in the future.
We have proved, for one thing, that we
| are not boycotters, whatever ill-natured
people may say. There is suspicion of
lawlessness in that word, borrowed from
the bogs of old Ireland. 1t is not our
word, nor does it express our attitude
We protested and petitioned; we did
everything that we could, as individuals
and societies, to save the nation from the
threatened disgrace; and now we, each
one for himself, without judging others,
will decide what He would have us do in
regard to going to the Exposition or
staying away from it.
Let it be understood that there is no
power or wish in the Endeavor Society
to compel uniformity, or to force the
| conscience of its members in regard to
| the Worlds Fair or any other subject.
This convention can pass no votes or
resolutions that are binding upon indi-
vidualS or societies, nor can any state or
local union, but it can and should lead
us, in this and every such matter, more
| fully to recognize our individual respon-
| sibility as citizens, as well as Christian
men and women. Some phase of this
very important subject of good citizen
| ship, viewed from our Christian stand
point, may well occupy our attention at
| more than one of our society prayer
| meetings, and at more than one local
union gathering of the year to come.
How may we become better citizens?
How may we be truer patriots? Let us
| give to these questions worthy answer.
Another important enlargement for
the year to come is an enlargement and
more practical exemplification of the
missionary spirit.
| / may as we'll confess it now and here,
one great object of my long journey of
nearly forty thousand miles across land
and sea, a journey that has been no sum
mer holiday trip, has been to make, if
| possible. more concrete the demands of
your brothers and sisters in all lands, and
| to kindle your missionary zeal into a
larger and brighter blaze, and TO increase