The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1896-07-09

many, 10; japan, %, hauaRhscaf, W;
and so on until every country in the
world is represented, save three or four,
making a grand total Of s6, 125 branches.
The "badge" banner, which is given
for the greatest a Dsolute gain in number
OF young peoples societies, can again be
carried back TO England's shores. Penn
sylyania and other States have made q
splendid effort to keep IL on this eide of
the "pond," but Ii Is evident that our
brothers and sisters on the other side
have firm grasp upon IL.
The banner for the greatest proportion
ate gain in mum Der OF societies for the
first time crosses the "brjny deep" to
year bring forth? Shall both banners
float on the Queens domainsf
But time Is passing, and we must cease
our counting branches, twigs, and leaves,
and get to gathering the fruit from this
mighty paradox of Gods planting, this
tree with mushroom rapidity OF growth
and the sturdiness and solidity OF the
oak.
The fruits, what are some of them?
Systematic Bible-study; circulation of
good literature; denominational loyalty
intensified; pastors encouraged; Sunday
schools enlarged; church services at
tended; pastorless churches assisted;
midweek prayer meetings sustained; cot
tage prayer meetings inaugurated; evan
geiistic services in asylums, almhouses,
prisons, reformatories, in factories. in
street-car stations, at homes for the aged,
the feeble minded, sold iers' homes, and
other public institutions; open air gospel
meetings at wharves and coal-docks, In
parks, and at street corners; gospel
wagons employed; public drink ing -foun-
tains erected; poor children and mothers
given free river, ocean, and car rides;
new churches built; old ones repaired;
city. missions revived; young men prepar-
ing for the ministry; Endeavor volun-
teers for home and foreign missionary
fields; more money than ever before
given to the cause OF home and foreign
missions.
And that leads me to make mention OF
the missionary roll OF honor which will
be unrolled In our meetings on Friday.
Upon 1t are the names OF over 1859 Young
Peoples societies and 1881 Junior So
cieties from 80 states. territories, 2
proviences, foreign lands. These So
cieties have given sl54, ,022.6S through
their own denominational boards TO the
cause OF home and foreign missions. In
addition 10 this amount which has been
given by these $500 societies tnat we have
enrolled upon the roll OF honor, we find
that S206, 150.2l has been given by these
same societies for Christ and the church
in other ways, making a total OF 1850,
172 SO, the largest amounts given by any
one society being 81, 107.01, by the Claren-
don street Baptist Society OF Boston,
and a little over $1,000, by the Calvary
Presbyterian Society of Buffalo, N. Y.
Let me make it plain that the sl5,-
022. 6S given direct to mission boards by
the eight thousand societies, and then
gifts OF S206, l50.2l for other benevolences,
represent only the record OF the societies
that have asked to be enrolled upon the
"missionary roll OF honor"
But there 10 other good fruit, such as
open hostility TO Sunday baseball playing
and Sunday excursions, whether. by BIZ
cycle, train or boat, and every violation
OF the Sabbath Day.
Race track gambling and lotteries an
tagonized; well-plapned Christian citizen
ship battles fought at the primaries;
aggressive and organized voters warfare
against the saloon; increase of hatred
for the entire liquor traffic and It's power
in the party politics OF all nations Ay,
q more intelligent spirit OF patriotism has
been promoted everywhere. Christian
Endesvor believes Bishop Berkeley knew
what was needed when he said, years
ago: ITO be a good patriot, q man must
consider mis- countrymen as Gods
creatures, and himself as accountable for
his acting towards them."
Then another fruit, and blessed one,
as been. he growth OF our interdenomI-
national fellowship. To have once tasted
IL is to turn IL like sweet morsel on the
tongue We want nothing to blight 1t.
u
each year it is expressing itself in new
leaf and blossom and bud, as convention
after convention, local, district, State,
Provincial, national and international,
gathers, Increases in numbers ana
spitual power. Brethren, "forsake not
the assembling of yourselves together"
Let US examine the interdenoml national
fruitage a little more definitely.
In the United States the denomina-
tional representation is as follows: The
Presbyterians still lead, with SASS Young
Peoples societies and 2599 Junior so
cieties; the Congregationalists have 4l09
Young Peoples societies and 2077 Junior
societies.; the Disciples of Christ and
Christians, 29il Young Peoples societies
and 1857 Junior societies; the Baptists,
2679 Young Peoples societies and 927
Junior societies; Methodist Protestants,
975 Young Peoples societies and 302
Junior societies.; Lutherans, s54 Y oung
Peoples societies and 26S Junior So
cieties; Cumberland Presbyterians. 500
Young Peoples societies and 2S9 Junior
societies, and SO on through a long list.
In the Dominion of Canada the Metho-
dists of Canada lead, with 10i1 young
peoples societies and $50 junior societies
(most of the societies A.aown as Epworth
Leagues of Christian Endeavor); Cana
dian Presbyterians are next, with 1925
young peoples societies and 134 junior
societies; Baptists next, with 173 young
peoples societies and "a junior societies;
CongrcgationalIstsn next. with 103 young
peoples societies and 40 junior societies,
etc.
In the United Kingdom the Raptists
lead, with over 500; Congregationalists
next, with nearly as many; then the
Methodists, with over 700, and the Pres
byterians, Episcopalians, Moravians and
Friends, in order named.
In Australia the Wesleyan Methodists
lead, and Congregationalists, Baptists
Presbyterians follow.
Let me refer in closing TO a prophecy
maze just 10 years ago by DIR. j. Il.
Twitchell Of New Haven, Conn.,:
81 am no prophet, nor the son of a
prophet, but 1 venture that the 50, coo now
composing the Christian Endeavor So
ciety in five years Will become 500, 900;
anu 4 would not be at all surprised IL in
10 wears IL should roll upa round million.
Ii Is Christian, on the right basis, and
breathes the true, prophetic life. God
has place for it, and a work
for ii, and help for 1t, 1 am sure.
How patriarchsl our brother, Dr.
Clark, the founder, will feel 10 years