Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-07-11
THE ENDEAvORERS
FContinued from 1st page.

yond he average daily city supply have
been engaged, the amount depending
somewhat upon the weather. Ihe con-
tractors are q the opinion that their az
rangements we been ample, and are con-
fident Of being able to supply the extraor'
binary demand for the week.
In point of police protection, the chris
tan Endeavor convention and the pnpih
generally will be given ample attention
during this week Superintendent ED
ridge has asked all the large cities OF TIE
country to furnish special detectives 10
watch for pickpockets IN tne cro"us,
These officers arrived here ycstefdiiy ant
will be maintained at the expense OF the
CITY of Boston. None of the regular force
of the city will hc absent during this
week, except on sick leave, SO the city
should be we'll guarded against crlmlna.
invaders.
The Society's Remarkable Growth.
Though one of the greatest religion,
movements the world has ever SEEM the
beginning WAS modest in the extreme. IL
the winter OF lSS0-S1 there was revival In
the Williston Church. Portland and
many of the young people gave their hearts
to God.
The pastor, Rev Francis E. 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 dt,cipleship. To fill the gap be
tween conversion and church membership
and to train these young people and sci
ehop, work was the DrOblpIn
After much prayer and thought. DR.
Clark invited the convsles and others OF
the young people of his church to his hous,
on the evening of Feb. ?, 1881, and aftei
an hour of social intercourse presented
constitution which he had previously
drawn up of the "Willston Youne
Peoples Society of Christian Endeavor.
1t Will be seen that the society wa
founded on necessity, and that it had q
very definite field.
The authorship of the Christian En-
dcavor idea has been claimed for others
A western paper has stated that the Chris
tian Endcavor idea was obtained from
Rev. Edward Egglcston. This talented
author once was pastor of a church called
the Church Of Christian Endeavor but III
organization ike the present society even
existed in his church.
This society has also been said to have
been modelled after young peoples so
cicty in DR.. Cuyler's church in Brooklyn
This most wise and eminent pastor did
indeed, have vigorous young peoples II
ganization in his church, and the success
of this effort inspired the belief that youns
people could be effectively organized TO.
Christian work But this admirable or
ganization never had the special feature
of the Christian Endcavor 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, th
rollcall, the variety of committee worl
and the duties of these committces-wer
characteristics of this organization alone
and, wherever adopted, have been copiet
from it,
At each of the international conven
lions of tho Christian Endcavor societies
it has seemed certain that the high waite
mark had been reached at last but ever,
year witnesses increased interest ant
greatly augmented crowds of delegates a.
the annual conferences.
Perhaps nothing so clearly shows thu
power and strength of the Christian En-
dcavor idea as these annual gatherings OF
the young people of all denominations
from all over the world.
Not only has its growth been phenom
email, but its wide extension has also been
wonderful. From country to country tn
idea has spread, until .1ow there are Chris
tian Endeavor societies in every countr,
on the face of the globe, civilized or not
except Russia, Italy, Sweden. Austria
Greece, Belgium, Iceland and Greenland
A Talk With President Clark.
Tho man who is primarily responsible,
for the hosts of delegates who are nov
visiting Boston, and in whose though
this entire Christian Endeavor movement
had its origin, Rev. Francis e. Clark
ID, is probably the busiest man in Bos
ton, but he took Il few moments to speal
of the convention that has already com
to the city
"You notice." he said after some pre-.
liminary conversation, that the delegate,
who have already arrived include severa
from other lands. In out treatment of thu
convention we must bear this thought il
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 underworld to have fair rep
resontation of all the nationalities, as be
comes hosts worthy of our home and rcpu
tation. You must think that our displa,
of foreign flags is somewhat liberal, but
assure you it is as Lothing compared will
the treatment that has been accorded
Christian EndeavoTers visiting foreign
lands.
1T was my privilege some time ago to
visit many of the countries of the world in
the interest of Christian Endeavor and in
most of these places, especially in England
and Australia, the Stars and Stripes were
shown fully as prominently as the native
colors, and in many cases more so.
christian Endeayor is interstate, in.
ternational, interracial, and most thor.
oughly nterienominational Every evan.
gelical denomination in America will be
represented in this convention, so that
you see we may well be called, as you say.
a society of inters.
1T is more than likely" added DR.
Clark, that there will be an opportunity
for the public to attend the Thursday
morning services, as many of the dele
gates do not arrive in time to attend this
meeting
Each delegate to the convention is pre-
sented with a map of the city, an official