The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-10-14
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR.
Its History, Principles and
Method of Work.
TIE ACTIVE MEMBERS PLEDGE.
"Ihe Man Who Conceived 1t Be-
lleyed in Youthful riety and
Practical Christianity"
THE ACTIVE MEMBERS PLEDGE.

TRENTON. Oct. Q. 1893 The question
What is Christian Endeavorp'; is often
asked. In answer to the query. we give
some of the facts connected with b
history, principles n methods of work
of a movement. which. though so young.
has already obtained so far reaching and
marked an influence.
In the winter of 1Ss0-S1 a revival OF
religion occurred in the Williston Con-
gregational Church. Portland. Me-. when
a. number of young people entered upon
q Christian llfe.5 Ths Pastor. Rev. f :.
E. Clark, realizing the difficulty OF keep
ing alive the interest thus begun until it
should settle into a ixeI aud lasting
principle of action sought earnestly and
prayerfully for some means to carry out
the work begun. Some method of bridg-
Ing over the chasm between conversion
and full church membership In which so
many drift away aud lose their mold
upon Divine things. some means ny
which the young souls could be trained
to the active labor SO essential to a
healthy Christian life. The answer came
ln that grand inspiration, the IDEA of the
Christian Endeavor Society.
ITS GIANT GROWTH.
Most effectively it ided in the Willis
GuH SnuECu, auu very soOu OLQer PASTORS
discovered in this new organization
something which answered to needs they
had long felt. In one church ana Ru-
other, Christian Endeavor Societies were
organized; 1t passed on to other cities, to
other States, to other lands. One writer
has said 1T was like an epidemic. the
society was conta gious like the measles;
IL one church had it. The church next to
1t was pretty sure to catch IL also" A
little, and it a crossed the ocean and
| girdie1 the GLOBE. and today at ter a his
tory of but twelve years. every grand
division, nearly every country OF the
| globe had It's societies of Christian En-
deavor. The membership which began
with one little circle of young people IN
a single church. numbers today /, AIS, COO.
THE FIRST CONVENTION.
In the summer of 1882 a convention
was held in the church whore the first
| society was organized. AT that time,
but six societies reported with a total
membership of 431. Small as was this
meeting compared with the grand gath
ering of recent years, it was full of
earnestness n devotion, full of power
aud praise. Since that time the conven-
| ton has been a reZulsr yearly feature of
the Christian Eudesvor movement. We
can judge of the rapidity with which the
society mas increased in numbers aud
influence II we compare the grand con-
course Of Christian workers, VINO came
together in New York in the summer of
'92 with the small assembly in Portland
AT that frat Christian Endeavor conven,
ton just one decade before. Thirty
three thousand delegates were reported
at the New York convention.
Even our great metropolis became con-
scious of a crowd aud stopped to wonder
| and to question. Broadway, the BoWery,
| and even Wall street were thrilled with
q new sensation. The convention held
in Montreal last July. though somewhat
less in numbers, was marked by a still
deeper spirituality OF tone, and already
a great company OF Christian workers
are looking forward with happiest anti
cipatiou 30 the conventions OF '94 and '95,
appointed respectively for Cleveland and
San FranciSco.
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR UNIONS.
AS the society increased in plumbers,
the need of some central body became
evident and accordingly an organization
known as the United Society of Christian
Endeavor, was founded and Incorporated
under the laws Of Maiue. in connection
with the convention of 1885. This Is SIM
ply a bureau OF information, printing the
literature Of the society, answer
ing letters of inquiry, and in
general laboring to spread the
Christian Endeavor ideas. Ii levies no
tax, however. aud assumes no authority
over any local society. Each society,
next to Christ, is amenable to no author
itY save that or its own church aud its
W pastor. Since 1887 Rev. F. L. Clark
has been President of this UuIon and
editor OF its literature, especially the
Golden Rule" which IS the chief organ
Through which the Christian Eadeavor
ideas are propagaGed.
Among the prominent features In the
recent growth of Christian Eudeavor is
the establishment OF State unions in
nearly every State In the Union. Con.
.nectlcut led the way in the formation If
such an organic ltion. but others quickly
followed. New Jersey stepped inOo lin
in December l, 1886, at lamesburg. At
present the New Jersey Uuion is under
the able leadership Of Rev. j. Judson
Piersou, Pastor of the Woodbury. BAptisa
Church.
THE TRENTON SOCIETIES.
The. first Christian Endeavor Society
organized in Trenton WAS that of the
Prospect Street Presbyterian Church,
which held its opening meeting OSt1ber
1, 1886. Other societies followed III rapid
succession, aud a local Union was formed,
which has added much TO the Interest of
the individual societies. This union now
includes seventeen or eighteen S ~scieties
iu and nearby the city. The work of
Christian Endeavor was never in q more
fourishlng condition than at tn, present
time.
1t will be In interesting to consider what
are the ideas which have allied SO
! widely aud gaiue | SO large q following
in such a brief space OF time. The earn
est Christian worker will not fluid in
Them anything stranga or startling. 1t
| Is only a simple solution of u problem
that has vexed many u PASTORS soul, but
involving withal that essential element
| of the greatest genius. 1T seems natural
| we feel RS though we might have thought
1t out ourselves ii DR.. Clark had rot. The
| essential features OF the society are mainly
| indicated in It's ACTIVE Members
Pledge"
THE PLEDGE.
tiTrustipg in the Lord Jesus Christ for
strength, l promise HIM that / will strive
to do whatever he would like TO have me
do; that l will make it the rule OF my
| life to pray and read the Bible every day,
| aud to support my own church, IN every
way, especially by attending all her
regular Sunday and midweek services,
unless prevented by some reason which
| c-orscientiously give to my Savior, aud
| that just SO far as l know now. through
out my who 10 life, l Will endeavor to
lead a Christian life. AS an active
member, I promise TO ba true
to all my duties. to be present.
at, aad Co take some part,
aside from singing, ia every Christian
EudeavOr prayer meeting, unless hin-
dereu by some reason which ] can con-
| scIeptiously give to my Lord aud Master.
II Obliged 10 be absent from the monthly
| cousecration meeting of the Society, /
will, II possible, seud at least a verse of
scripture to be read in response to my