Evening star., 1896-07-09
THE c. E. PLATFORM
Annual Address of Rev. F. E. Clark,
President of the United Society.
WHAT GOD HATH JOINED TOGETHER
The History of Fifteen Years Work
is Briefly Summarized.
THE BANNS PROCLAIMED

The folio wing is the annual address of
Rev. Francis E. Clark president of the
United Society of Christian Endeavor.
which was presented simultaneously in the
three tents this morning:
Fellow Christian Endeavorers:
This is a good year to build platforms.
Several have been constructed already.
From the great metropolis of the west we
can almost hear the resounding blows of
hammer and chisel as. in.another platform.
plank is fitted to plank.
Our Christian Endavor platform was
built for US at the beginning by Providence
It's strength has been revealed by our his
tory.
My task is an easy one, for 1 only need
write in words what 1 believe God has
written in deeds.
If do not state our platform correctly.
i do not ask you to stand upon it.
But if l can read our history Alright.
these are its chief planks:
First our covenant prayer meeting
piedse-the magma charta of Christian en-
deeyor.
Second. Our conservation meeting-guar-
anteeins the spiritual character of the So
Ciety.
Third Oar committees-giving to each
active member some specific and definite
work for Christ and the church,
Fourth Our rinterdenominational and in
ternationaI fellowship, based upon our de-
nominationai and national loyalty.
Fifth Our individual Independence and
sen-CoVernment. free from control of unit
eli society, state or local union. convention
or committee; all of which exist for fellow
ship and inspiration. not for legislation.
Sixth Our Individual subordination as
Societies TO our own churches, of which
We alaim to be integral organic, in
separable part
seventh. Our Christian citizenship plank
for 'hri- hut
no eutd1glng political alliances. Our mis-
sionary plank-Christ for the world
Eighth Our ultimate purpose-to deepen
the spiritual Ffe and raise the religious
Standards of young people the world over.
History Briefly Summarized.
For fifteen years Christian Endeavor has
built upon this platform. The history Of
the society which has wrought out in prac-
tice these principles may be briefly sum-
married.. so far words and figures can
summarize movement, as follows:
Forty-slX thousand societies have been
formed.
Five millions of Endeavorers have been
enrolled. OF whom more than 100000 are
TO-DAY members.
all but name. have probably been enrolled
in purely denominational societies.
Ten million Endeavor meetings have been
held.
Five million copies of the constitution
have undoubtedly been printed, in forty
different Languages, and at least 15oOOogO
copies of the pledge.
over 100000 of our associate members
have come into the evangelical churches
Connected with fifty denominations influ-
enced in part at least by the Christian En-
deavor Society: and it is certain that over
$2~S,TD have been given in benevolence
through denominational and church chan
EelS-
The past at least is secure" we SAY
~ ~ &c Not
future by learning the lessons of the past
The future stretches before us-ten times
fifteen years of Christian Endeayor please
God, and ten times that. We stand vet at
the beginnings. fellow Endeavorers The
stream, is yet near its source. Our concern
should he not to uefiect it into any chan
relS of our SNn choosing. Let God choose
its way and direct its course, as He has done
these fifteen years. and then the future,
too. IS secure We have but one lamp by
which our feet are guided. and that Is the
lamp Of experience: By the past what
does God teach US for the future?
Let me try, as best / may, to draw ont
the lessons Christian Endeavor, as our
platform shows. is practical paradox,
'econciler Of iEyeconcilables- 1t has married
orposites. 1t has brought into an har-
monious family ideas which have been
thought to he mutually exclusive. I am
tempted to consider this the most import
ant work of Christian Endeavor, in the
future as in the past
b. Loyalty nnd brotherhood.
Our platform specifies some of the banns
that have been proclaimed by Christian En-
deayor.
First. 1t has married the ideas of denomi-
national fidelity and fellowship between
denominations. and has written on the door
posts of the home thus formed: Fidelity
and fellowship. one and inSeparable"
These ideas have been thought by many
to be inconsistent, if not hostile one to the
other Hence, many eccieSiastfCS are TODAY
afraid of our fellowship because they be-
lieve 1T Will weaken our fidelity. Christian
Endeavor. sooner or later, will show them
the groUndlesSnesS of their fears.
. BY combining these disassociated ideas
Christian EndeavOr has created a new idea
which has required new word-a word
which ia found only in the very latest die
tionary-the word ''interdenomina tionaI.' a
denomnationalism which is not sectarian-
ism on the one side care-not thinR-ism on
the other Mind your prefixes, Christian
Endeavorers; not ''un." nor "non" but .in-
ter
Closely linked with this idea of interde-
pominational fellowship Is that other great
idea OF international fellowship. Look at
these intertwined f1agsi They tell their
own story. They tell of our intense love
for our own 1ag-the stars and stripes.
fOld Glory. il We live in the United States;
Jhe Union Jack, IL we live in Canada or
Great Britain 1nterlinked as they are they
fen OF our worldwide brotherhood Our
society Is arbitration neatipO u,bjob