The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-12-01
WINNERS OF THE BANNER
WARDED THE THIRD CHRISTIAN
CHURCH.
Rev. DIR. George Cooper Makes splendid
Address Before the Local Union Oh
Christian Endcnvor societies.

The Christian Endeavor societies OF
Richmond and Manchester held their
monthly local union meeting last even
ing at CowaIdin-Avenue Chli ls.ian
church. in Manchester, and the Oc.as ,,,o
was one OF the happiest and most aLS-
cessful ever held. Mr Paul Pra'' pre-
sized. ,o.
notably large, and the church was
crowded to the doors. ,ho
COwarJin- Avenue church choir LED the
singing with hne spirit; Rev. l. H.
Omer offered prayed. and Rev y. H.
Moore read the Scripture lesson.
Then followed an open parliament lor
a falf hour the members informally as
cussing the duties ana capabilities OF the
prayer meeting and social committees
m Christian EndeavOr societies, and the
representatives from the various socie-
ties reporting the methods maintained
in their own societies and suggesting
additional ways OF making them useful.
THE Address.
Then followed the address Of the even
ing. by Rev. DT. George Cooper. which
was the most entertaining talk to young
people ever heard In that clty-tull OF
wit and humor, and underlald WIN I'M
pressive lessons for Christian guidance:
lie beautifully described the vlgor and
advantages OF youth. and thanked COD
that so many of the young were ChTls-
tan EndeaVorers and that the Good Ola
Days 60 had passed, when conservation
was Synonymous with consumption, ana
piety with dyspepsia. HIS decflpuoh OF
the old fashioned churches ana the
prayer meetings when he was BOY
was richly portrayed ana instrucuNely
compared with the christian methods
of work to-day having in the vanguard
the youth OF the land with its grand
lie humorously described this the age
of organization. and then seriously
treating the greatest or all modern or
.,.ga. ~. I.tsaNr n.
cie'y-referred 10 and endorsed the words
Of President Clark. That IL was divine
ly born and divinely guided.
lie said it's 100000 members had pos,
sibiities ahead of them never dreamed
of short time ago.
me STAGES.
lie said all such movements had 10 90
through three stages. The 'Pooh-Pooh
stage. when somebody in every church
said il was no account ana WouIu u'e
II let alone; the "boW-Wow stage, Wheh
somebody barks against it,, objects. KICKS
and saws II IS going 10 create trouble,
is Il church within Church, ana such
like remarks, and then the 'here-heFe,
stage. when everybody Acknowledges II
a success. applauds and wants to lend
a helping hand.
ne placed the Christian Endeavor So
ciety in the last stage, ana bfieHy OUT
lined what had been done and what
would be done by TINS WohderluI army
of young Christians.
Dr. Cooper dwelt especially on the ten
dency Of members of the society 10 De
come students Of the Bible. lie CONFUSED
the audience with humorous lhustId-
tons OF awkward situations and ildicu-
ious quotations in the pulpit for Il want
of familiarity with the Bible.
He impressed upon them the lmpoi-
lance Of Christians being well Nersed IN
the Word Of God. and wondered now
many persons were present who made II
a Systematic rule to read the Bible daily.
He was invited by the chairman 10
SitiSfy himself, and the response 10 MS
invitation was so nearly unanimous mat
H. expressed surprise and pleasure. he
said the response was very inherent
from others he had seen. and cited one
case where in large congregation only
four could respond truthfully TO the
10 this Rev. Mr.. Moore responded:
meeting" which was followed by APP
plausC.
Dr. Cooper said the saving Of souls
had almost become lost art in the
churches. and thanked God for the life
and spirit that the young people had I'M
parted 10 them. He saw I'm II a nObler.
manlier, sturder type Of piety and APP
pealed to all to be ready to me cry
Of onward which was now the watch
word of youthful Christians.
THE SOCIETIES.
At the close of Or. Cooper's address
the roll of the societies was called, In
order to ascertain by the percentage OF
attendance to membership which So
ciety was entitled to the Local Union
Banner. to be carried by the successful
society TO the State Convention, at
Staunton next winter.
Cowardin-Avenue had the largest num-
Der present. and showed an attendance
Of eighty-eight per cent, but the Third
Christian church. which had much
smaller society, had ninety-one percent
age of attendance, and won the ban
ner, which was gracefully rendered them
by DR.. Cooper.
The societies were encouraged to rail-
~ at the State Convention at Staunton,
January 18th. nth and 18th by the an
nouncement OF an attractive programme
and a very low railroad rate on a spe-
Cial train from Richmond, and the chair
man of the committee said he expected
$50 to 90 from Richmond and Manches-
ter
Among the speakers already secured
are: \. W. II. Holder president of the
New York city local union. and Rev.
Fun's $ Hamln. Of Washington.
The delegates will be entertained by
the Christian Endeavorcrs and EpWorth
Lcaguers of stanton.