The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-06

deavor movement Is an interesting mar
rative. II. T. Jenkins well tells 1t In
the Cleveland World. Fifteen years
ago. says he. the younger portion of the
community had little active part In the
church work. There was not organiza-
tion within the church which effectively
won and held the young people. About
this time the pastor of "a Williston
church of Portland. Me-, felt the need
of training and setting to work the
young people who had just become con-
verted. After much thought and
prayer. he invited the recent converts
as well as the younger church men,
bers to his house on the evening of
Feb. :, 1881, and after an hour of social
intercourse, presented constitution
which he had previously drawn up OF
the Williston Young People of Chris
tian Endeavor. This constitution en-
bodied the prayer meeting pledge"
which is the link which binds the Chris
tian Endeavors together. This pledge
Is as follows:
Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for
strength, promise Him that l will strive
to do whatever He would Ike to have me-
to pray and read the Bible every day, and
to support my own church In every way,
especially by attending all her regular
Sunday and midweek services unless pre-
vented by some reasons which can con-
scientiously give to my Saviour, and that
just so far as know how throughout my
whole life l Will endeavor to lead Chris
tan Efe. AS an active member l promise
to be true TO all my duties, to be present
at and to take some part. aside from sing
ing, in every Christian Endeaevor prayer
meeting unless h.ndered by some reason
which ! can consc.entiously give to my
Lord and Master. If obliged to be absent
from the monthly conservation meeting of
the society, will. If possible. send at least
a verse of Scripture to he read in response
to my name at roll-call.
The Father Ofthc Movement.
Every great movement in human
history has it's beginning in the heart
of some one man, and Rev. Francis f..
of Portland is the father of the Young
Peoples Society Of Christian Endeavor.
The first knowledge of this expert
ment given to the world was contained
I'm an article published in a religious
paper of Boston In August, 1881, en-
titled How One Church Cares for Its
Young People" This article resulted
In the establishment of similar socie-
ties all over the country. The second
society was formed in Newburyport,
Mass, by Rev. c. p. Mills in the same
year that the movement originated.
At first the Society of Christian En-
Iaa orr Ia, Oh,
little was done in systematic and
organized way to establish branches.
One of the first developments of the
new work was in the lime of annual
conventions. The first of these con-
ferences were held June 2, 1882, in the
Williston church, Portland, Me. But
six societies We're reresented, and the
total membership was only 4Sl. The
next annual convention was held in
the Second Parish church OF the same
city June I. 1888. At that date there
were SO societies with $3.50 members.
The movement however, was bound
to spread, and in 1885, when the con-
vention met at Ocean Park, a charm
ing seaside resort near Old Orchard
Beach, Me-, the United Society of
Christian EndeavOr was formed, a gen.
eral secretary was provided for and
headquarters We're opened in Boston.
There were then 253 societies, with
l4.s92 members, in all parts of the
world. At the Saratoga convention in
1887, Rev. Francis +. Clark, the origina-
tor, was chosen president. which posi-
ton he has held ever since.
Early Opposition Overcome.
This movement. of course. met with
opposition from many quarters. The
| radical change which it worked in
many churches Occasioned the enmity
of pastors. Some regarded it with sus-
picion and distrust; others objected to
pushing forward the young people,
believing that they should "be seen
| and not heard" However, the societies
doubled and the membership multi
Piled In order to set itself right in the
religious world, a platform of prlnci-
pies was adopted. 1t was asserted en-
phatically that the Society of Christian
Endeavor was not an organization in
dependent Of the church. but rather
the church at work for and with the
young people and the young people at
work for and with the church. The So
cieties exist in every evangelical de-
nomination, and this, in itself was a Sc
rious objection to many. The purely
| religious features of the organization
are paramount, although temperance
and all true moral reform work Is en-
gagged In.
Although DR.. Clark Is n Congrega-
tionalist and the Williston church Is
Congregational church. the Young
Peoples Society of Christian Endeavor
was taken up by other denominations,
| and today one of the reasons why 1t Is
SO powerful and influential is because
OF the interdenominational fellowship
| which 1t has continually emphasized.
There are at present Christian En-
deavOr societies in all the evangelical
denominations. including African
Methodist Episcopal. Baptist. Christian
Church Of God, Congregat tional Dis
ciples Of Christ. Lutheran, Methodist
Episcopal, Presbyterian, Protestant
Episcopal. Reformed Presbyterian.
United Presbyterian. United Brethren
and United Evangelical.
Rapid and Uniform Growth.
II the early history Of the Christian
Endeavor movement IL surprising. the
later history Is most astonishing, for
the successive conventions grew larger
| and larger. until last year at Cleve-
land. during the big railroad strike,
there was an attendance Of 10000.