The National tribune., 1895-07-25
WITH THE
ENDEAVORERS.
The Better Half Visis Boston With
the Latter Day Pilgrims.

|
trsordinarily ehivalrc and strong in their do.
votiou to the faith. Fair maidens sent off their
lovers to the quest and listened eagerly to the
| tales OF war against the strange and heathen
folk. The Pilgrims were pious, godly, poor in
worldly goods but rich in spirituality, long,
suffering, travelling great distances and endur-
ing trials innumerable in order to worship at
| some holy shrine. Poetry and song tell OF the
brave deeds and noble efforts of those times
until one laments little that in our days we
| have nothing so picturesque And yet every
year there is a pilgrimage of godly people who
journey from all parts of the world to proclaim
their religion and to unite in one effort to mako
| the world better-to vanquish sin and misery.
| 1t is pilgrimage not devoid of picturesque
details. Perhaps Time will paint these jour
neyings with a coloring of romance and future
generations will envy us that we knew the
first Endeavorers While the cars are rushing
across the country bearing the pilgrims, stories
of brave deeds, loyal hearts. sentimental jour
neys aud jolly travellers that would not shame
the pen of a Chaucer, might be told as incidents
of the pilgrimage.
Perhaps it may somewhat dim the glory of
sades offered snug berths for lazy knights, re-
treats for wicked ones. and easy glory flor the
cowardly. crusade gave man social stand
ing and cancelled his sins against society or the
Church or State, and it was not always simple
devotion 10 his faith that prompted him to go
to war with the heather. After the great pill
grimages to Mecca that even nowadays arouse
SO much interest, the country is visited with
plague and disease, so unclean are the pilgrims.
So we may look on this end of-the- 19th-cen-
fury Crusade of our countrymen with compla-
cency and pride, even when comparing it with
those romantic ones, and rejoice in the goodly
number-more than ever joined in one of the
old time Crusades-who proclaim their relig-
ion.
One who has never joined these Christians
assembling in their great yearly conven-
tions, should take advantage of the first
opportunity to do so.e 1t is a crowded journey
ing, and one that is undesirable in hot
weather. but the knowledge gained is worth
this discomfort. The cars bear great banners
and the countrymen stop to stare and smile as
the train whizzes by them. Everywhere-in
crowded stations. on the cars. on steamer decks
in street cars and psrks-the Endeavorers sing,
and sing remarkably well. Their ng-services
are splendid affairs Their favorite hymns
seem to be America lthcy are enthusiastic
patriots as we'll as church goers), Onward
Christian Soldiers" ahdrsThere is Sunshine in
my Soul" When they ring out
Like mighty army
Moves the {hutcll Of Code
Brothers. we are treading
Where The saints have troa
We divided,
All one body we.
One In hope and doctrine,
One in charity.
Onward, Christian soldiers
Marching TO war.
With The cross OF Jesus
Going OH before"-
the thrill OF gladness that so generous and
broad minded religion exists. goes through
one. Indeed, these young folks represent the
highest religion known to us. Fearless aud
progressive in their methods, they yet firm
in their faith Enthusiastic they are also self
controlled; jolly and sincere in fun, they are
patient and unremtting in their religious devo-
tions. They arc usually free from cant, and
not inclined to dogmatism but are active in
work They arc anxious for high citizenship
in this world as well as in the next, and take
heed of the present as well as the future.
80
Boston is all in red and white. Besides the
flags aud buntings that brighten almost every
roof, window, and door, the haberdashers have
filed their windows with red and white neck
Ties and sweaters. Milliners adorn their stores
with rose-trirnmed hats florists arrange carna-
tons in Endeavor symbols; costumers set forth
frocks and ribbons to show the coors, and dry
goods stores display everything possible in the
same gorgeous tint, until the city has blossomed
very much like rose.
"a
The Endeavorcrs are uncommonly vigorous
sightseers. They leave very little of city
visited, and when they are through with Bos-
ton they will know more about it than tho
average Bostonian. They often puzzle the
policeman in their search for historical spots.
They have seen the Common, and have patched
together their memories of the boys who re-
fused to give up their skating aud sliding TO
the British soldiers, as told in the Fourth Reader
long, long ago. and they have marveled that the
Frog Pond" is frogless. They have seen the
Washington Elm, Oliver Wendell Holiness
grave, aud also Mother Gooses, Boston Harbor,
Plymouth Rock, the Museum of Fine Arts, and
have not missed the graveyards.
All towns seem to be unnecessarily proud Of
their cemeteries. Why is curious problem.
Boston points with special pride to her burial
places. Strangers are Immediately recon-
mended TO them. Probably Massachusetts, had
little the start over the other States in these
affairs aud hers may be fuller. but other places
have had people TO die and be buried, aud
graveyards are not entirely new to thom.
One of the favorite "sights" is the Longfellow
homo. 1t is quaint yellow house, set back
among the trees and looking far out over the |
Charles River. The good town of Cambridge, |
remembering the poets love for this view of the
river. and his poems about it, have set aside a |
wide parking prettiy terraced, that the beloved |
view may not be Distracted.
80,
or course. in gathering together people |
from SO many places. the differences among
them are very noticeable, especially in the
speech. The ar" rolled sturdily by the West
erners was softened by the men and madens
of tho South. until it was almost entirely lost
The New Workers. funny fiat as were opposed