The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-01-01
THE ENDEAVORER.
President Clark Speaks of the European
Situation.

The Rev Francis E, Clark, D. D., presi-
dent Of the United Society of Christian
Endeavor and the originator of the
movement, has returned to Boston after
European visit of over three months.
AS result of his presence about a
dozen societies have been organized in
Germany, two of which are in Berlin
one among the university students. A
third is stationed at Weisbaden, another
at GottiDgen, while the rest are in the
other principal German cities.
These organizations mark the hrst
practical introduction of the Christian
Endeavor movement into Germany.
In recent years the Germans have be-
come interested in the work, but prevl-
GUS to President Ciark's visit to that
country nothing practical had been &C.
complished.
II was invited to attend the meeting
to explain the movement, said Fresl :
dent Clark to a Post reporter Saturday,
land / was surprised at the enthusiasm
displayed in the matter by the German
people. | also visited Copenhagen,
Stock holm and Christiana."
Mr.. Clark was accompanied by Mrs.
Clark and left Boston on Sept. /, return
ing on the last trip of the Lucania to
New York.
The last two weeks of the time we
spent in England. had been there
many times before, but found on this
occasion much greater interest in the
movement than I expected to see and a
very rapid multiplication of societies.
They have now over 1000 societies In
England. and more than half of these
were formed during the past twelve
months.
an London there are $3.50 societies.
and in Bristol 100. Glasgow, in Scot
land Belfast and Dublin, in Ireland,
and Cardiff in Wales, are also making
found that the interest was very widely
distributed throughout TIE United King
dom.
. zone of the things l noticed was the
enthusiasm which is now shown in con-
yentions-a feature which was always
thought to lie foreign to the English
idea.
"There were 5000 people at the last
convention held in the Metropolita n
Tabernacle (Spurgeon's church) in Lon
don, and it is expected that i'll Birming-
ham next May 1000 people will attend.
"Iu our coming convention in Boston
when there will probably be SO, 900 people
present, it is expected that we will
have about 90 delegates from Great
hrlG61u.
awhile. of course, the English move
ment is naturally not SO large as the
American , yet it may approach nearly
to ours some day.
"The principal participants in the
work over there are DR.. Dale of Birming-
| ham, Dr. Stalker of Glasgow, DR.. G. A.
Berry of Observation-Disclosures was asked
to succeed Henry Ward Beecher-and the
| Rev Thomas Sturgeon"
Cpooki,o of the eOciafV in General Mr.
| Clark said:
| ait looks as though the work were
| going on with unabated vigor. The
| growth of the order in America has
| been far greater this year than ever be-
| fore, and the increase of the last two
| weeks is larger than that of any other
period of the year.
| "There are now in the world over 81,
| 900 societies-the great majority oil
which are in America-with about g.
| $50, 900 members.
| "Chrlstian Endeavor Day, February
End, is now observed all over the world.
| From resent indications it looks as
| though the work will in time take its
place with the Sunday schools in all the
| churches. The work is growing in all
! denominations in all parts of the world,
and almost without exception every
| evangelical denomination is increasingly
cordial and friendly"
| While DR.. Clark was in London mon
ster reception was given him ana MRS rs
| Clark in the Metropolitan Tabernacle
| There were COCO people present and both
| Mr.. and Mrs Clark delivered addresses.
| The Sunday School Chronicle of Lon
| don issued a special number on that &C.
| oacJan