The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1894-02-05
GROWTH OF Y.P.SCE
From Humble Beginnings Only
Thirteen Years Ago.
The .caaln or MUSTARD sEEc..
Hsw the Movement OrIgfnated h A
Hsmbls Fsrish = It's strengtA
Tn Seattle.

Yesterday was generally observed by
the members Of the Young Peoples Socie-
ties nf Christian Endsavor tEroughout the
world as Christian Endesvor Day" the
preceding Friday haring been the shir-
teensh anniversary OF the birth Of the
movement.
The movement has well been called
''proyidential, {" and the circumstances az
tending its birth and growth have been
little short Of miraculous. Thirteen years
ago last Friday Rev. Francis Il. Clark. q
modest and unknown young pastor Of .
church in Portland, Me-, called together
the young people of his parish to organise
them for Christian usefulness. After
prayerfui consideration he and his wife
had drafted q constitution Of such . So
ciety as was desired. tbs object being ito
promote an earnest Christian life among
the members, increase their mutual ac-
eaain.ancc and make them more useful in
the service of God" The distinctive
feature of the plan was that each member
signed pledge 10 strive 20 do the full
duties Of Christian. 10 attend the prayer
meetings or the society and take part in
them. aside from singing. and TO support
the church and pastor in every way also
10 pray and read Gods word daily.
This first society was organized simply to
meet local needs, and with no thought of
the same methods being used IN other
churches. But during the first year the
work was so successful that 1t was intro
duced into other churches, and from that
time the growth has been truly marvel
Gus. By the next year there were seven
societies; in two years, 1883, there were
fifty-six of them, one being as far west es
Kansas City. Another year and the
movement had reached the Pacific coast,
and there were on record 156 societies, and
q national organization was formed for the
purpose of fellowship and exchange OF
ideas on plans of work. In 1856 the inter-
est in the movement led to the necessity
OF more effective organization, and be-
cause of the signal executive ability he
had shown, the founder. Rev. Francis f.
Clark. was asked to give up his passionate
and take the presidency Of the national
organization. which he did. but declined
any further remuneration than that
which came to him from his writings for
religious periodicals. At the end of ten
years from its organization there were 49,
600 societies reported, aud in the two years
which have elapsed since that time even
this large number has moro than doubled,
and there are over $1,000 societies with
membership of ! ,50o, 900.
This growth has not been confined to
the United States and Canada, but the
movement has spread to every quarter of
the globe. England has nearly 1000 en-
thusiastic Christian Endeavor organiza-
tons, while Australia has still more And
in India, China. Japan, Spain. France,
Turkey, South Africa, Samoa, Mexico. the
Sandwich Islands and other foreign fields
the principles have been adopted as eagerly
as in our own native land. Less than
year ago the writer of this article attended
an interesting gathering Of the union of
Christian Endeavor societies (nine in
number in the city Of Paris. France.
While the Presbyterians. Congregation
alists. Baptist and Methodists in the order
named have the greatest number of these
organizations, the movement has been
eagerly accepted by at least thirty five diff
ferent denominations, and each has found
its principles in exact accord with the gen.
ius of its work and methods. The Metho-
dist has found in Ii IRE, fervsncy and tssti-
mony; the Presbyterian, steadfast cove
nant-keeping; the Baptist. voluntary indi-
viduai conservation the Congregationalist
local self-government; the Episcopalian,
has found chiid-nurture and training; the
Disciple OF Christ, communion Of the
saints; the Friend. the moving of the holy
spirit, and the Lutherans, the very spirit
of the reformation. 1t has not broken
down UNCONVENTIONAL fences. but, as one
prominent clergyman has said. at has
taken the barbs of the fence wires"
One great feature of Christian Endeavor
has been the international convention held
every summer. Two years ago $4,000
young Christians gathered in New York
from ali parts of the country for the occa-
sion, and the New York papers 7ied with
one another in their commentator Of the
practical and hopeful common-sensa
Christianity exhibited not only in the
meetings. but in the hotels and on the
streets, by the delegates.
The convention this year will be held In
Cleveland, o.. where building with
seating capacity OF Id. 600 has been con.
structed. Already many of the Seattle
society are trying 10 arrange to send dele-
gates.
Christian Endeavor work in Seattle had
its commencement IN 1857, when a society
was organized in Plymouth Congregational
church. This was soon followed by 9TH
ers, and in 1859 local union was formed.
of which Mr.. A. s. Burwell was president
and Mr.. II. Willis Carr secretary. A
large measure of the prosperity of the
work IN this section is due TO the efforts of
these gentlemen and others who have held
the official positions during the last few
years. Mr.. Carr now holds the important
position of state secretary. At present the
officers OF the seatsls local union are:
President. Mr.. Henry c. Ewing: vics
president. Miss Agnes VI. Goddard; secre-
tary, Mr.. Ovid A. Byers; treasurer. Mr.. D.
s. Kinney.
The following are the societies compos-
ing the Seattle local union:
First Presbyter.an--J. S. Bushnell, pres
idcn;.
First Presbyterian Junior-Mrs. C. II.
Black, leader.
Calvary PresbYterian-Homs L. BUN,
president
Calvary Presbyterian Junior-Mrs. D.
b. Sinclair. leader.
Second Presbyterian - James Gibson,
president
Second Presbyterian Junior.
First Methodist Protestant a n.
Hutchinson, president
FRS. Methodist Protestant Junior
2ahel Seagrave. president.
Second Methodist Protestant Miss
Anna Shepherd. president.
south Seattle Methodist Protestant
Miss HoffssiIix
Ballard Inion-E Fa,ik,., $3.50;