Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1896-04-01
THEIR DISTRICT CONVENTION.
Christian EndeavOrers Meet in Seve nth
Annual Session.

Annual Session.
In his excellent address of welcome
last Friday night Mayor Moak spoke
of the Christian Endeavor movement
as one still in it's infancy. It seemed
impossible to think of so vast move
ment as yet so young. This suggested
to THE REPUBLICAN that few general
facts concerning this movement would
be a fitting prelude to the report of the
meritorious G. E. convention just held
in this city and would be of interest to
our readers The first society was or
ganized fifteen years ago last February
in Portland. Me-, by Rev. F. E. Clark,
! ID. ID. The society grew in membership
and Importance, until its fundamental
principles of service and testimony
have been taken up by nearly every
denomination and applied to the young
people Of the churches Every one
joining G. E. society pledges himself
| to certain definite lines of service, and
to special loyalty to his own church
and her services. The one society of
fifty members in 1881 has grown to over
$4,000 societies with over 1000, 900 mem
| bers. The increase in the number of
organizations is over one hundred
week. 1t is indeed a vast interdenom
| national movement that is repidly en-
/ listing the young of all churches. Be-
side the church societies there are
army, navy and state prison societies.
England now has 5000, Australia $50,
Canada 3 300 and foreign and mission
ary lands 5, 100 societies.
The sixty-five societies connected
with the South Central Wisconsin union
are in close touch with a movement
that has "girdled the world" 1t
touches all denominations on plat
form, not of doctrine, but of service.
A quotation from Dr.. Clark's latest re-
port viii not be out of order:
On the common platform of Christian En-
deavor, which is a platform Of service and
not of doctrine, canal Christians stand, with
ouEoeing:false to a single belief, without CIV
ing up single feature of church polity by
near to God. To this broad platform of COM
mon service and of loyal devotion to the in
dividual church and denomination Christian
! Endeavor still invites all to come,
Almost every denomination has accepted
the invitation in behalf of its young people,
or at least has left the door open for them to
| accept it if they desire to do so, and our fel-
| lowship was never such potent factor, and
was never growing SO rapidly as to-day.
| The seventh annual convention ofthe
| South-Central Wisconsin Christian En-
deaver union, comprising societies
in the counties of Columbia, Dane,
Dodge, Jefferson and Sauk, which
was held at the Congregational
church on Friday, Saturday and
Sunday. was one of the best
IN the history of the union. A true
Christian spirit, more than ordinary
interest and the utmost good feeling
| pervaded the meetings, rendering
them at once profitable and enjoyable
The youthfulness, spontaneity and fine
ability of the attending clergy, a super
fluffy Of enthusiastic girl delegates, and
a corresponding lack Of men delegates
were marked features of the conyen-
ton. Rev. j. W. Cochran, the young
and aggressive pastor Of the Presbvter.
ian church, Madison-a host in himsel
conducted the sessions as president
of the union, while the proceeding
were recorded by the secretary, Miss
Ethel SAWYER, of Horizon.
The initial session was at 8 O'Clock
. Friday afternoon, beginning with pray
er and praise service. Then followed
. the opening address by the president
organization Of the convention anc
nomination Of officers for the mex
year. A general discussion of the sub
ject, 'The Y. P. S. C. E. Not an End il
5 Itself, but Means to What Ends?" en-
sued, and II. Fl. Jacobs, Of the Madi
son university, closed the meeting will
an address on "Self Surrender anc
Conservation"
In the evening song service wa
held at 7:3O, after which came the ad
dresses of welcome by Mayor j. T
Moak and Rev. A Haupert, of the Mo
ravian church, responded to by Presi
dent Cochran. The principal feature
OF the program was an able and inspir
iting address by Rev. E. G. Updike, D
D., the noted Madison diyine. Rev
William Strohmeier, of Lake Mills. alsc
gave an address. After the meeting 4;
reception to the visitors was given il
the church parlors by the local socie
ties, which formed pleasant means O
making acquaintances. Ice cream anC
cake were served.
Saturday there were three session
T held. The morning meeting began q
8 with prayer and conference, followed
by two-minute reports from officers O
I, the societies represented. Commit
tee Work, Importance and Results +
be Expected" and 1.-The Most Import
ant Committees, and Why" were tw,
subjects thoroughly discussed. Rev. s
1 To- oil oc 7