Pawtucket tribune. (Pawtucket, R.I.) 1890-189?, 1895-07-10

country to furnish special detectives 10
watch for pickpockets In the CROWDS.
These officers arrived here yesterday ana
will be maintained at the expense OF the
city of Boston. None Of the regular force
of the city will be absent during this
week, except on sick leave, so the city
should be Well guarded against criminal
invaders.
The Society's Remarkable Growth.
Though one of the greatest religious
movements the world has ever seen, the
beginning was modest In the extreme. In
the winter of lSS0-Sl there was revival IN
the Williston Church, Portland, and
many of the young people gave their hearts
TO God.
The pastor, Rev Francis Il. Clark. DID,,
and the. older church members, were
naturally anxious concerning these young
disciples, and felt that great wisdom ana
care were necessary To keep them true TO
the Saviour during the first critical years
of their discipleship. To fill the gap be-
tween conversion and church membership
and to train these young people and set
them Mt work was the problem.
After much prayer and thought Dr.
Clark invited the converts and others or
the young people of his church to his house
on the evening Of Feb 2, 1881, and after
an hour of social intercourse presented
constitution which he had previously
drawn up of the "Williston Young
Peoples Society of Christian Endeavor. I"
1t will be seen that the society was
founded on necessity, and that 1t had q
very definite field.
The authorship of the Christian En-
deavor idea has been claimed for Others.
A western paper has stated that the Chris
tian Endeavor idea was obtained from
Rev. Edward Eggleston. This talented
author once was pastor Of a church called
the Church of Christian Endeavor, but no
organization like the present society ever
existed In his church.
This society has also been said to have
been modelled after a young peoples So
ciety In DR.. Cuyler's church In Brooklyn
This most wise and eminent pastor did,
indeed, have a vigorous yoahg peoples or
ganigation in his church, and the success
of this effort inspired the belief that young
people could be effectively organized for
Christian work But this admirable Or
ganization never had the special features
of the Christian Endeavor society.
So far as careful search reveals, the dis
tinctive features of the Christian En-
deavor movement-the strict prayer meet
Ing pledge, the conservation meeting, the
rollcall, the variety of committee work
and the duties of these oommittees-were
characteristics of this organization alone,
and, wherever adopted, have been copied
from 1t.
At each of the international conven-
IL. TnIa 4o<l Ia
1t has seemed certain that the high water
mark had been reached at last, but every
year witnesses increased interest and
greatly augmented crowds Of delegates at
the annual conferences.
Perhaps nothing SO clearly shows the
power and strength Of the Christian En-.
deavor idea as these annual gatherings Of
the young people Of all denominations
from all over the world.
Not only has It's growth been phenom-
enal, but its wide extension has also been
wonderful. From country to country the
idea has spread, until now there are Chris
tian Endeavor societies In every country
ON the face Of the globe, civilized or not
except Russia, Italy, Sweden. Austria,
Greece, Belgium, Iceland and Greenland
A Talk With President Clark.
The man who is primarily responsible
for the hosts Of delegates who are now
visiting Boston, and in whose thought
this entire Christian Endeavor movement
had Its origin, Rev. Francis Il. Clark,
DID,, is probably the busiest man in Bos.
ton, but he took few moments to speak
of the convention that has already come
to the city.
ha oft
liminary conversation, that the delegates
who have already arrived include several
from other lands. In out treatment Of the
convention we must bear this thought IN
mind, for this Is prominently an inter
national convention. All the delegates,
from whatever part of the earth they may
come, are on an equal footing.
1--WE have endeavored to have fair rep.
resentation Of all the nationalities. as be-
comes hosts worthy of our home and repu
tation. You must think that our display
of foreign flags Is somewhat liberal, but
assure you it is as .othing compared with
the treatment that has been accorded
Christian Endeavorers visiting foreign
lands.
ut was my privilege some time ago tc
visit many Of the countries of the world In
the interest Of Christian Endeavor, and ir
most Of these places, especially In England
and Australia, the Stars and Stripes wert
shown fully as prominently as the nativs
colors, and in many cases more so.
christian Endeavor Is interstate, in
ternational interracial, and most thor
oughly nterdenominational Every evan
gelical denomination In America will bt
represented In this convention, 50 tha,
you see we may we'll be called, as you say
q society Of inters.
"It Is more than likely" added Dr
Clark, "that there will be an opportuntt,
for the public to attend the THURSDAY
morning services, as many of the dele
gates do not arrive in time to attend thi
meeting"
Each delegate to the convention is pre-
sentcd with map Of the city, an ofiuis
badge and p copy of the souvenir edition
Of The Golden Rule, remarkably fin
number OF 6S pages.
sEmzsasSAsS EsHMgsaDsk
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