The daily morning journal and courier., 1894-11-09
CLOSING OF CONVENTION.
INTERPRETING MEETINGS OF CHRIS THAN EsDEIY0RERs TEsTERDAr.

INTERESTING MEETINGS OF CHRIS
 THAN EsDEAY0RERs YEsTERDAY. Reports ef the Treasurer and secretary-
 Annual Address of President-Eioction of
 omosrs and Directors-EveninE session
 Addressed by Rev. R. R. Meredith of
 Brooiiyn-Resolutions Adopted.
 Largely attended sessions of Christian
 Endeayor convention were held at the Hyperion all day yesterday, although there was not quite as many present at the morning session as was expected. on account of the storm. A short devo- tional service was held led by RevH.W. Pope of this city. This was followed by
 the report of the state secretary. A. D. Kilbourne of East Hartford. It was in the main as followsi
 For the third time in the history of the Connecticut State Christian Endeav- or union the annual convention has as- sembied in New Haven. And for the sixth time 1t is my privilege. as secre- tary. to present to the convention the annual report of the union.
 The necessary brevity of thls report by no means indicates the amount of material to choose from, for there Is matter enough in the unusually large number of reports from societies and local unions to fill a volume, and 1t is with reluctance that have unreported so much of interest to all connected with our union.
 A single word in passing regarding the state union. On November 1S.18S5, in this city the first Christian Endeav- or union in the country was organized, and from that date until to-day, there has been constant and unfaltering pro- gress in organization and in the all-im- portant purpose for which we are organ ized.
 A carefully prepared statement show ing the growth of the state union may be found on the fourth page of our pro- gram. It Is 8 source of congratulation that a more complete presentation of of statistics for the year Is possible, ow- ing to the more than usually ready CO., operation of the various corresponding secretaries. A large number, and more full returns than in any previous year, have been received, and from these have been gathered the following fig ures:
 The enrolment Is 514 societies, with $500 members, classified as follows: 21,- 300 actives, 10,250 associates, 3,550 honor aries. Of the 514 societies 300 have been reported, from which submit the fol- lowing interesting figures showing work and progress:
 Two hundred and fifty of these so- cieties report contributors to benevo- fences aside from contributions to state work, an average of $40, as against $50 each in 1893, $55.71 in 1892 and $36.42 in 1881; the largest amount being s400 by a single society.
 It is most interesting to note the many ways our young people find for advancing Christian work by their conservation and other offerings.
 In answering the question of how many members have united with the church in the past year, the societies reporting show an average of 6 1-3 members per society, nearly three fourt1hs of which are reported in re- sponse to the question. "How many conversions can you report since Oc- tober last?" 3
 The work of the various committees is not the least gratifying feature of the annual reports ofl the societies. particularly in those committees en- gagged in more aggressive Christian work. Special mention should be made of the temperance work accomplished, in several cases. showing the efficiency of Christian effort in fairly warning against license and the saloon.
 Many other prominent features of work in the home field-such as main- taining Sunday schools and prayer meetings in outlying districts are shown. Earnest efforts in the home department of the Sunday school, and in the distribution of missionary and temperance literature. Many mentions are made of church. debts being lifted and the purchase of pianos and organs for church worship, and other under takings of like nature.
 In reporting for the twenty-four local unions, your secretary feels pleasure not unmixed with regret, that so much of importance must be passed over, or at least simplN mentioned. If were to read you the letters from the presi- dents, 1t would certainly take an hour, 50 full are they of the work actually accomplished in the past year. And it Is in these letters so cheerfully sent me by the presidents, in response to the call for reports, that find true loyalty to the state union and earnest devotion to the societies represented In the various uniona.
 With such leaders there is little to fear for the Christian Endeayor in the state of Connecticut.
 In general the local union meetings are well sustained and there seems to be an unabated interest, as indicated by attendance. There is an endeayor to put the unions upon a stronger foundation and to run the business portion of them on business principles. But improvement in organization is of course secondary to the important purpose for which we are organized, and the sense of privilege and respon- sibility resting with the local unions Is deepening from year to year. 2 I cannot better refer to local union press work than to quote from the New