The Hawaiian gazette., 1896-01-14

the history Of the world. Before it the
Moody meetings Of the spring Of '94
will pale into insignifcance. A con-
sentative estimate fixes the number OF
delegates expected to attend the IF
teenth international Christian Endeav-
or convention at $4,000, and it is not
improbable that more than 10000 per-
sons will register on the official list
II present plans are perfected-and the
committee in charge Of arrangements
is working faithfully and well to have
them carried out-religious services
will be held simultaneously during the
convention in size equal to ten Of what
Washingtonians have been accustomed
to term Moody meetings. Forty thou
sand people will be accommodated with
seats at one time.
The growth of the Christian Endeav-
or movement has been marvellous, and
is unique in the worlds history of re-
ligious achievements. Its inception is
due to Rev. DR.. Francis E. Clark, who
started, in February, 1881, in church
in Portland, Me-, of which he was then
pastor, a society of young people upon
the principles now recognized the
world over as being the basic elements
of Christian Endeavor. Today there
are more than two and one-half mill
lions of young people scattered in every
quarter of the globe who have pledged
allegiance to the. principles of the or
ganization. For Christ and the
Church" is the motto of the society,
and it's members are banded together
to promote right living, and to engage
in evangelistic and missionary work.
1t is an adjunct to the church, and has
proved to be a most powerful and eff
cient aid.
When the United Society of Chris
tian Endeavor began the practice of
holding annual conventions, the at
tendance was scarcely more than 1000.
Now there is no auditorium in this land
of size sufficient to accommodate the
vast concourse Of young people attend
ing the meetings. At the Minneapolis
convention in 81, $4,000 delegates were
registered, and that number was more
than doubled the next year, when the
meeting place was New York. Forty
thousand persons attended the con-
vention in Cleveland in '94, although
the general railroad strikes kept down
the number considerably, and last year
Boston received more than $4,000 dele
gates. A corresponding increase
would indicate that 4, 900 persons will
bet in Washington during the early
days of July, when the convention will
be held, but the committee of '96 is con-
sentative and does not claim an attend
ance greater than $4,000. Experience
has shown, however, that at nearly ev.
cry convention the registration lists
foot up a total in excess of the esti-
mated number, and this is especially
likely to be repeated in the case of
Washington, as the capitol city has
strong attractions for every American
citizen. There will be delegates from
abroad also. even Oriental countries
being represented.
1t is the custom in the Society of
Christian Endeavor to award the con-
vention to a city two years in advance
of the date fixed for holding the same.
Thus, at the Cleveland convention, in
1894, Washington was selected by the
board of trustees as the meeting place
in the summer of '96. BY this plan a
long season Of preparation is assured,
and the time is diligently occupied by
the members Of the society in the con-
vention city in arranging the multitude
of details for the proper reception of
the delegates and guests. The program
for the session of the convention is al
ways prepared by committee of the
officers and trustees of the United So
ciety. They decide upon the topics for
discussion, and assign the speakers.
The local committees are not concerned
with what is to occur after the conven-
ton meets.
Their duty, almost their whole duty,
is preliminary. OF course, as hosts,
they must look after the comfort and |
pleasure Of the delegates after they ar
rive, and plan excursions for them and
help them In seeing the sights during
their stay, but they do not concern
themselves about the exercises con-
nected directly with the convention it
self. This is all arranged for them.
And so today the. Washington COM
mittee of SO is hard at work organic
ing the different auxiliary bodies
which are necessary in such an under
taking as preparing for an information
al convention Of Christian Endeavor
societies; and just as diligently the
he program committee Of the United