The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1895-07-02
MYRIADS OF THEM
THE TWO AND A QUARTER MILLION
CHRISTIAN ENOEAvORERS.

Their Coming Convention In Boston-won
derfui Growth of the Orsanization-Hov
Visitors Will Be Cared For-City to b
Generally Decorated.
Some one at Christian Endeayor con
vention. when the organizations numbe
was in the vicinity of 100, 600. said tha
the day was shortly coming when / 900. 90,
would be the mark Of membership in th,
society.
Wild was tine enthusiasm with which
the prophecy was greeted, and cheer aftel
cheer PAID tribute TO the earnestness of tn:
speaker, but down deep in their hearts ths
delegates to that now famous gathering
uld not see how such declaration could
ever be true, how the society could eve.
reach such magnitude. One million mem.
bers-the suggestion was too good to be
possible, of too great magnitude TO be true,
OF TOO Immense = scope TO be practical.
Yet when Secretary John Willis Baer
stands on the immense platform of the
Mechanics building al the annual con-
vention next month he will tell tie thou
sands within sound Of his voice and it
will be repeated TO millions of newspaper
-s-b
persons enrolled in the membership of the
society, which about Is years ago started
with less than 100 earnest young people
determined to try some new method in
winning friends to the church.
Some one may say in July that within
five years the membership shall reach
5000, 900. 1t would not cause half the in
terest half the enthusiasm, half the hope
Or half the doubt that did the original
prophecy that some day there would be
1000, 900 Christian Endeavorers.
Tho 2,250, 900 members who now con-
stltute the united organization belong TO
40, 600 different societies, most of which
ere in the United States, but there arc
hundreds Of members in all parts of the
world-some in Alaska, many in Europe,
large numbers in Australia, some in Per-
STA and not a few in Asia and Africa.
This all came from the little meeting
which was called by Pastor (now Presi-
dent) Clark of the Williston church of
Portland in the yestry of that society OF
Feb. 2, 1881.
The convention in Boston will be the
fourteenth that has been held by the So
ciety. In its days of infancy, for the first
four years, the members of the organiza-
ton gathered in places in Maine or in
cities adjacent to the Pine Tree State
which could be easily reached by the dele
gates from that commonwealth, the con-
ventions then being largely composed of
members from Maine and Massachusetts,
The first convention was held in 1882 in
the Williston church, Portland, where the
organization was born. 1t was not called
"a convention, but an anniversary, and, in
Fact, convention" was not used until
1886, when, in response to the growth of
the society outside Of the New England
states, the meeting was held in Saratoga.
The word conference answered until then,
after anniversary became obsolete. Now,
however the gatherings are indisputably
conventions and will probably remain so
while the organization lives.
The second anniversary was also OBJ
served in Portland in 1888.
The third conference was in the Kirk
Street church, Lowell, in 1884.
The fourth at Old Orchard Beach il
1885.
The fifth convention was at Saratoga in
1886
The sixth at Saratoga in 1887.
The seventh at Chicago in 1888.
The eighth at Philadelphia in 1889.
The ninth at st. Louis in 1890.
The tenth at Minneapolis in 1891.
The eleventh at New York in 1892.
The twelfth at Montreal in 1898.
The thirteenth at Cleveland in 1894.
The fourteenth will be in Boston in
1895.
The fifteenth will be in Washington in
1896.
San Francisco, Portland, Or, and Los
Angeles are already putting in their claims
fer the sixteenth in 1897.
1t was at the fourth annual conference
at Old Orchard, Ne, July s and 8, 1855,
that the crusade enthusiasm began TO take
possession of the hearts of the delegates
and the vision of the great things to come
was opened TO their eyes. Two hundred
and fifty-three societies were reported from
p3 states and Canada, with a membership
of ii, 1872. Steps of vital Importance were
taken at this convention. July the cor
poration, bearing the title "The United
Society OF Christian Endeavor,' was
formed under the general laws of the state
of Maine, the object being TO bind differ
ent societies together in IA common inter
est and to provide responsible central or
ganization through which the work of the
society may be carried on in the way Cf
raising, receiving and paying out money,
and for giving proper custody for whatever
property the society may acquire. Mr.. Van
Patten of Burlington, Vt, was made pres
ident of the United society, and George III.
Ward of Lowell was elected secretary. 1t
WAS also voted to put "a general secretary
into the field. who should be paid suit
able salary for his work.
At the second meeting of the board of
trustees after this convention Rev. :. ".
Adriance of Lowell was elected general
He entered on his work in No
vember, but owing to the strong pressure
which was brought to bear on him by the
church of which he had been the honored
and successful pastor he held the position
only for a short time. The treasurer, Mr..
George NJ. Ward, WAS elected TO succeed
him, and Mr.. William Shaw was made
treasurer.
The rapid growth of the society outside
of New England made it necessary to re-
move the convention from the Atlantic
coast farther inland. Saratoga Was the
place selected for the fifth anniversary,
which. in point of numbers and enthuSi-
asm, far exceeded all its predecessors. 1t
was here that the cosmopolitan and inter
character was forecast as
never before The second Saratoga meeting
In 1887 was unlike its predecessor only II
It's larger attendance, wider and more va
rious representation and a deeper spiritu-
Atty.
At this convention The Golden Rule
was adopted a. the official organ of the So
cietv. over 2 600 societies Were reported,
and more than 81, 600 was raised for carry
Ing on the work The most noteworthy
feature OF this second Saratoga conven-
ton however WIS the announcenent Of