The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1895-12-12
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvoR.
Meeting of the Trustees of the Great Re
ligious Society of Young People.


Detroit, Mich. December 1.-THE
trustes of the United Society of Chris
tan Endeavor began their seni-annual
meeting yesterday in this city. The trus-
tees are from all the leading denomina.
tions, and from all parts of the country,
and represent more than two and half
millions of Christian Endeavorers. Chris
tian Endeayor being an interdenomina-
tional society, these bodies are represent
cd at the meeting: Presbyterian, Bap-
fist, Congregational, Methodist Episco-
pal, Lutheran, Reformed Church in the
United States. Reformed Church in
America, Methodist Protestant, Reformed
Episcopalian. Diciples of Christ, Free
Baptist, Canadian Presbyterian, South
ern Presbyterian, Cumberland Presby-
teirap, Methodist Episcopal, South,
Friends, United Brethren, United Pres
byterian, Protestant Episcopal, and
Methodist Episcopal Of Canada.
Speaking of the growth of the society.
President Clark, in his report, said
In fifteen years the society has grown
from one organization to nearly forty
three thousand; from fifty members to
fifty thousand times fifty. In these If
teen years the society has girdled the
world, and is becoming as great force
in England and Australia, and in MANY
other lands, as in our own.
The expansion of the movement IN
other lines than those of numerical
growth has been quite as marvellous The
revival of the prayer meeting idea; the
extension of the activities of young Chris
tans in hundred lines; the growth of
confidence of older chucrch members in
the piety of youth, and in their fitness
for the chucrh, the coming into the
church Of 100000 young people infiu-
enced in part by the society; the awaken
ing of missionary zeal in hundreds OF
thousands of young hearts; the desire
Tor larger things and wider outlook,
which has sent many boy and girl to
college; the widespread desire for better
citizenship and for purer political at
mosphere, which has resulted in the mar
vellous patriotic awakening among our
youth the unconquerable desire which
has been awakened by our great conven-
tions for wider spiritual fellowship,
and the blessed practical results which
have flowed from tbs fellowship in local,
state, ..national, and international unions
all these expansions are worthy of our
devoutest gratitude 30 Almighty God
And perhaps having in mind certain
CRITICISM on the trustees he made this
statement:
The glory of the movement from the
beginning has been that it is Gods move
,nent. There has never been any "boss"
or any commander in Christian Endeav-
or. Principles have been laid down as
the principles of the society, but it Eas
been for any pastor OF any chucrh to ac-
cept or reject or apply them as he
chooses.
Ac d,,ft I'D oA1
of the United Society, we have resolute-
" refuse TO exercise any authority, to
legislate for any society, or to docide any
local questions Of administration. All
these matters belong exclusively to the
pastors and churches that have been
adopted into the society.
= This idea, so difficult for the general
public to understand, enters into all our
conventions, and moulds the character of
our brotherhood everywhere. Our con-
yentions are mass meetings, larger OF
smaller, as the case may be, but always
without one legislative function, with
out the possibility of interfering with
or directing the affairs o f any society.
SECRETARY BAER'S REPORT.
Secretary Baer in his report said:
Last spring, when the new societie,
were reporting at the rate of an ave rag
of one hundred week, it SCENE as ii
the growth would at some near day be
retarded, that the progress that was b @
ing made could not be kept up; but God
continues to direct its momentum, and
the same average is being made week at
ter week. Last week 1873 societies were
enrolled; the week before, 1l5; and the
week before that, 105. There are now
AZ, 500 societies, with memb ersihp of 2,
sos. 600; "a, 1892 societies are in the United
States, 3, 1856 in the Dominion of Canada
and 1903 in foreign and missionary
lands. You will be interested to know
that in England there are now 5000 So
cieties. and in Australia over 1900.
Let mo give you herewith a detailed
statement of the social enrolment for the
week ending November 80, 1895:
United States-Young 2 eople's, 25,2
Junior, s, 988; Intermedia late, rs: Mothers,
So; Senior, 20.
Canada-Young Peoples, 2, 7S7 Junior,
1886; Parents, q Mothers, l.
Foreign Lands-Young Peoples, 4, 49,
Junior, 267; Senior, 4; Mothers, l.
Floating societies, 100: total societies
a, 800; total membership, 2, sos, 600.
In general way I have sought to tel
you something of the work as it is re-
viewed from this office. There is no time
for detailed account of what has been
b done from week to week, but this report
would be Incomplete in every way il
mention were not made of the fact that
from correspondence with secretaries O!
denominational missionary boards the
gratifying information comes that every
year the Christian Endeavor societies are
contributing increasingly large sums to-
ward mission work at home and abroad.
From pastors letters and from pastors
tetlmonies given at conventions, and
from reports that come to this office, we
learn that the Endeavor societies are
making of ta
the souls of men, and are supplementfne
to great degree the pastors work in
thousands Of ohurhces throughout the
land Yes, the Endeavor movement is .
God-given and God-giying movement,
and is a missionary and evangelistit
force.