Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-08
om,nations were represented In the Chris

tan Endeavor movement. There were d.
0SO regularly reported societies. Of which
the Presbyterians had 1906 the Congre-
gationalists, 4,49o; the Baptists, 2,736; the
Method.sts, 1885; the Disciples Of Christ,
1857 There were' 1,337 societies In Can
ada, ~ In Australia, over 3oo in England,
SO In India, 20 II Turkey, 10 in Mexico, II in
the West Indies. . in Samoa, Africa and
China, respectively; in Japan. and from
one to five In almost every other country.
In the preceding year over 10000 of the
members had become church members and
the total membership was 1920
The twelfth convention was held IN Mon
treal. Owing to various causes, chief OF
which was the financial str1ngency prevail
ing throughout the United States, the
worlds fair and the failure to reduce rail-
road rates from the south and west, there
were but 1850 delegates in attendance.
At Montreal the forces were set at
work which resulted in the Endcav-
orers giving great attention to mat
tiers of good citizenship and missionary eX-
tension. and during the year there was
civic and missionary revival among the
young people. no less than quarter of d
million dollars being subscribed for mission
support.
The thirteenth convention in 1894 was held
at Cleveland, from the Sth to the 10Th OF
July. at a time when the railroad strike
was at Its worst. The Cleveland con-
vention however, was a success, ana the
secretary's report showed 33,6I9 companies
~
work, of which 2S,696 were in the United
States. The total membership was 2o2', $40
and during the year 1860 members had
joined the evangelical churches.
Progress Shown mt Boston.
Last year the fourteenth Of the national
conventions was held in Boston. The
historic Boston Commons was given
over to the Endeavorers for the cree
ton of their tents, and all citizens
seemed to vie with each other to make
the Ende avorers have good time. The re-
port of the secretary showed that 7,l:D
new societies had been formed during the
year. making total of Al 30 In all, with
2,473, 40 members. OF these 4,tl2 socletles
were outside of the United States. There
were 9,122 junior hands reported, ana dur
Ing the year s149, 1900 had been given TO
missions. Secretary Baer reported that
2121S5 members had Joined the church
from the Christian Endeavor societies
since the last convention, while In SIX years
the enormous number of Sl6,:s;5 had done
the same thing. 1t was shown that Penn
sylVania led the number of states In the
Union with 4.l39 societies, followed by New
York with 3,S22; Ohio with LIST: Illinois
with 2,446: Indiana with ] 1872, and
In the United States the Presbyterians led
with 1852 societies; the Congregationalists
had 5,s9S; the Disciples of Christ, 33l9;
Baptists, 3,4SI: Methodist Episcopal, 1.:i22;
Methodist Protestant, LOO; Lutheran,
1,o43; Cumberland Presbyterian, $50. In
Canada the Methodist Episcopalians led
with 1,179 societies. chiefly Epworth Leagues
Of Christian Endeavor In England the
Baptists were at the front, while in Aus
tralia the Wesleyan Methodists had the
greatest number of societies.
Societies of u Special Character.
Not the least important work of the
Christian Endeavor Society Is performed
by special branches of 1t, whose members
follow certain occupations. Among the life
savers along the and the lake coast
there are many societies, and a national
committee has been formed whose business
IT is to organize the EndeaVorerS for work
among the sailors the ocean and lakes
and the boatmen of large rivers. In 1899,
In Philadelphia, the Travellers Christian
Endeavor Union of America was organized,
and since that time a very large percentage
of commercial travellers in all parts of the
country have become members of il
Another Christian Endeavor specially
that was one of the first to be developed,
and is one Of the most important of all is
the floating society Of Christian Endeavor
for the advancement of the work among
the sailors. whose life and many hardships
make religious service and counsel neces-
sary. The first floating society of Christian
Endeavor was formed on the United States
revenue cutter Dexter when 1t was at
the sailors signed a pledge. organized
society and held their first conservation
meeting. The work. has been largely ex-
tended. and floating societies are now found
on board of nearly all of the American
men-of-war. many of the English vessels
and in sailors homes and mariners
churches in many parts of the world
Christian Endeavor societies are also ex-
erting their Influence in the army, the state
prisons in various parts of the country and
among the Indians.
Christian Endeavor day is February 2.
1t was established originally as a day upon
which thank offerings were to be given for
the support of the United Society Of Chris
tian Endeavor. but when this society be-
came self-supporting the collection taken
up by the societies is devoted to the mis-
sion boards Of their respective denomina-
lions. This custom has been observed dur
ing the past five six years. and has
brought large sums into the various mis-
slonary treasures. Since the Christian En-
deavorers have become SO numerous in all
parts OF the country they have been taking
an applaudable interest In such questions
as temperance, Sunday observance, good
cltlzenship and other reforms, for the push
ing of which practical methods have been
adopted.