Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1895-02-02

religious life. AS consequence of this
lack of spiritual employment the young
people frequently drifted away from the
church. Young peoples associations of
many different natures pardy solved the
difficulty in many places, but it was
served for Rev. Francis E. Clark, pastor of
Williston Congregational Church, Portland,
Me-. to introduce plan of organization SO
simple and yet so complete that it has been
adopted the world over. The story of the
formation of the first society is well known,
but 1t Is In place to repeat 1T here.
In the winter of 1SSU-Sl revival visited
the Willston Church of Portland Me- and
during its progress number OF young peo-
pie OF the church became Christians. The
problem now presented itself Of keeping
these young converts actively engaged in
Christian work, in order that their spiritual
life might be one of progress and develop
ment. Already the pastor was conducting
a class of boys and enc Of girls, with the
end in view of preparing them for church
membership. The church, however, was
not willing to receive them, on account of
their youth, and in this emergency Dr.
Clark conceived the plan which he put in
practice in the following manner:
Story of the First Signer.
Mr.. W. H. Pennell, the first signer of the
Christian Endeavor constitution, who is \
now a resident OF this city, thus tells the
story Of the first meeting: 1.-The children
who had professed Christ were asked to
come to the pastors house and take tea;
the teachers were asked to come in the
evening to meet their scholars. When all
were together, with the young converts in
the parlor and the teachers in the hall and
dining room, which opened from the par
Tor with folding doors, SO all could see and
hear. Mr.. Clark, standing in the doorway,
explained to the children what he pro-
posed to do, and then read from a book
he had prepared, the constitution almost
word for word. as it is today. He explain
ed the plan thoroughly to them and then
put the question of the adoption. 1t was
unanimously adopted of course, and be-
fore the company dispersed fifty-eight
names had been signed to the constitution.
Thus was the first society Of Christian
Endeavor launched, composed Of young
converts and the teachers present" The
Society of Williston Church was so sue
cessful that DIR. Clark was led to publish
an account Of the work among the young
people Of his church. His article. How
One Church Cares For Its Young People,"
published in August, 1881, in the Congre-
gationalists and later, similar article
published in the Sunday School Times, at
tracted wide attention.
Without concerted effort of any sort, So
cieties began to spring up In all directions.
Six societies were enrolled by June 2,
1882. when the first Christian Endeavor
convention was held in Williston Church,
Portland, Me.
During the early years Of the movement
information in regard to 1t was transmit
ted by personal contact and correspon-
at Old Orchard Beach, the United Society
Of Christian Endeavor was founded and
incorporated under the laws of Maine.
Mr. W. j. Van Patten Of Burlington, VT,
was chosen president, and provision made
for general secretary, who should devote
all his time to the work.
Mr. George M Ward Of Lowell was chosen
for this position. and Mr.. William Shaw of
Boston became treasurer Of the United So
ciety a position which he still holds. Head
quarters were established in Boston, and
the United Society began the important
work of extending the movement by sup
plying information about the society to all
who applied for 1t.
In the summer of 1887, at the Saratoga
convention, Rev. Francis E. Clark was
chosen president of the United Society and
editor Of Christian Endeavor literature, a
position which he accepted in the following
autumn, resigning the pastorate of Phillips
Church, South Boston. The growth of the
movement has been nowhere so clearly IL
Illustrated and so strongly emphasized as by
the annual conventions.
As was stated, the first Of these conven-
lions then called a conference) was held in
Williston Church, Portland. in June. 1882
and six societies, with membership of
4S1, were reported.
InterdenOminatiOna Fellowship.
The International convention Of this pres
ent year will be held in Boston, and in
1896 the hosts of Christian Endeavor will
assemble here at the nations capital. 1t
is confidently expected that this gathering
will exceed in size. enthusiasm and spir-
itual power any previous gathering of its
character.
The purposes Of the organization. as was
mentioned In the outset, Is to train young
people for the duties of their own church
and denomination. The unit Is the individual
society organized within a church, and it
exists there for the purpose of rendering
the members more efficient In the service
of Christ and of that particular church.
Societies Of Christian Endeavor are found
In churches Of all the principal Protestant
denominations, and this fact has brought
about a remarkable spirit of interdenomi-
national fellowship, which has come to be
one of the leading characteristics Of the
movement. The two mottos which have
been universally adopted by Christian En-
deavor societies evidence these two great
principles of fidelity and fellowship, For
Christ and the church" states succinctly,
and yet completely. the objects of the Or
ganization, while zone is your Master,
even Christ, and all We are brethren" will
serve as an indication of the broad feeling
of fellowship which abounds among it's
members.
The organization of the individual So
ciety Is exceedingly interesting. Its men,