The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1896-07-10
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVORERS.
Mighty Army Now Gathered at Na-
tion's Capital.
OPENING SERVICES in THE TENTS
HELD YESTERDAY.

One of the Immense Pavilions Blown
Down by Wednesday Nights Storm
Annual Address by President Clark
and Report of Secretary Baer.
Washington, July 9.-The collapse Of
the big white tent Williston, at l CLOCK
this morning, que to the heavy fail of
rain last night and the severe wind storm
that followed, somewhat disconnected the
committee OF arrangements with regard
to the formal opening of the 18th annual
international Christian Endoayor conven-
tion which occurred at 6. 80 O'Clock today.
Arrangements were hastily made to oc-
,upy Central hall until the Williston can
lie dried and re-erected. Extra seats were
hurriedly placed in the other tents.
Notices were posted announcing the
change in the plan and the work Of the
convention proceeded without delay.
The other tents, Washington and En-
deayor, were packed long before the hour
Of opening with a crowd of brightly
dressed, eager faced delegates, as were
the avenues leading to the several en-
frances.
Flags of every description, streamers,
banners and sashes, announcing the
various states and district organizations
were displayed with flourish and enthu-
siasln, while the delegates waited i'm
patiently for the opening OF the sessions.
Promptly at the appointed hour the
exercises began in each tent with sung
and prayer the great chorus Of a thousand
Nl..r, ~ -
welcome written for this occasion by
Colonel John Hay. The address of well
come by Chairman w. H. Smith and
Rev. S. II. Green followed, and responses
to these by DR.. II. j. Service of Detroit
and Prof. W. W.Andrews Of New Bruns-
wick.
The addresses of President Clark an d
Secretary Baer were then read simultane-
ously in each tent. They are as follows
REV. DR.. CLARK'S ADDRESS.
Fellow Christian Endeavorers This
Is good year to build platforms. Sew
eraI 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 plat
forIn. plank Is fitted to plank.
Our Christian EndeaVOr platform was
built for US at the beginning by Proyi-
denoe. Its strength has been revealed by
our history.
Ny task is an easy one, for I only need
write in words what I believe God has
written in deeds.
If do not state our platform correctly,
do not ask you TO stand upon it.
But if can read our history Alright,
these are its chief p1anks:
First Our Covenant Prayer meeting
pledge-the Magma Charta OF Christian
a. r..o.-..;ax, NsAi
guaranteeing the spiritual character OF
the Society.
Third. Our Committees-giving TO
each active member some specific and
definite work '.for Christ and the
Church"
Fourth. Our Observation-Disclosures and
International Fellowship, based upon oul
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS national loyalty.
Fifth. Our individual Independence
and Self-goyernUent, free from control
of United Society, State or local union,
convention, or committee; all of which
exist for fellowship and inspiration, not
for legislation.
Sixth Cur individual subordination
as societies to our own churches, OF which
We claim to be an integral, organic, in
separabls. part.
;ieyenth. Our Christian Citizenship
plank-Our country for Christ, but as q
Society, no entangling political alliance.
Our missionary plapk-Christ for the
world.
Eighth. Our ultimate Purpose-to
deepen the spiritual life and raise the
religious standards Of young people tbs
world over.
For fifteen years Christian Endeayor has
built upon this platform. The history OF
the Society which has wrought out in
practice these principles may be briefly
summarized, SO far as VOL DIS and figures
can summarize a movement, as follows
Forty-si thousand societies have been
formed.
Five millions of Endeavorers have been
enrolled, OF whom more than two million
seven hundred Thousand are today mem
bers.
Two millions Of others, Endeavorers lin
all but name, have probably been enrolled
in purely UNCONVENTIONAL societies.
Ten million Endeavor meetings have
bean held.
Five million copies of tho constitution
have undou btedly been printed, in forty
different languages, and at least fifteen
million copies Of the pledge.
Over
ONE MILLION OF OUR ASSOCIATE
MEMBERS.
have come into the evangelical churches
CDuH0Oteu Wltu ulGy ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS, ln-
fiuonced in part. at least by the Christian
Endeayor Society; and it is certain that
over two millions of dollars have been
given in beneyolencce through denomina.
tional and church channels.
THE past at least is secure, we say.
But ah! is it? Not unless we secure the
fnture by learning the lessons of the
past. The future stretches before listen
times fifteen years of Christian Endeavol
please God, and ten times that. We stand
yet at the beginnings, fellow Endeayor-
ers The stream is yet near Its source
Our concern should be nots to defect i;
into any channels of our own choosing.
Let God choose its way and direct it,
course, as he has done these fifteen5years
and then the future. too, is secure. "Wt
have but one lamp by which our feet are
guided, and that is the. lamp of expert
enae." By the past what does God teach
us for the future?
Let me try, as best may, to draw out
the lessons. Christian Endeavor, as oul
platform shows, is practical paradox, {
reconoiler Of irreconcilebles. IL has mar