Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-07-08
The Rise and Progress of the Christian
Endeavor Movement, From lis Be-
ginning at Wi||iston Church
in Portland, Maine.

singing in clarion chorus the hymn of the
new salvation.
There can be no intelligent computation
OF the vast amount of good that has been
accomplished through the agency of the
Christian Endeavor movement 1t is giving
to the young a proper conception of their
duties to man as Well as their duties to God
and doing 1t in a healthful and thoroughly
sensible manner.
The Cradle of Christian EndeavOr.
The story Of its origin and progress will
be of supreme interest at this time when
the thouss nds who represent the Young
Peoples Society of Christian Endeavor
have gathered in the capital of the great
est nation on earth to gain new inspira ton
and spread still further through the world
the enthusiasm which has become infec-
tious. Away up in Portland Me- is the
shrine to which every Endeavorer turns
with tender love and reverence. 1t is the
Williston Church 1t had formerly been Will
Hston Chapel. and was an offshoct from the
State Street Congregational Church. In 1876
Rev. Francis E. Clark became It's pastor
and in two years the membership grew
from 80 to 800, and a brick and stone edi-
flee was erected Mr. Clark was an earnest
and patient Christian, and his wife was a
mt companion for such man, and together
they labored in the cause of Christianity
Their dearest aim was to inspire and sus-
tain the interest of the young in religion.
So Williston Church had its debating soci-
came unavailing for the purpose. Mr..
Clark had formed a pastors class. which
was something like the present junior En-
deavor societies. and the pledge began SIM
ilarly: Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ,
L promise Him that l will strive to do
whatever He would like to have me do"
What more perfect religion could any one
have. be he young or old, 1t may well be
asked, If he Is faithful to such a pledge as
that?
The First Society Formed.
In the pastors class the church creed
was simplifed so that the young might I'M
derstand it, and Christian topics were stud
led. while such books as Pilgrims Prog
ress' were read. At the same time Mrs
Clark conducted the Mizpah Mission Circle,
whose members boys and girls. met every
week at the pastors house to talk on mis-
sion subjects and sew and work in various
ways for the missions. These little socie-
ties were to grow to big results. Late in
the year 1880 the young people of Williston
Church grew Jealous and animated There
was new life in prayer meeting, which
quickened by the meetings of the week Of
prayer, and twenty or thirty converts
suited.
Mr.. Clark knew how serious was the
prof. lem before them. and he labored to
learn how to hold them in their faith, pro-
vide an outlet for their young energies and
give them work that would enable them to
actually accomplish something for Chris
tianty ard the church. AS result. he
drew up a constitution for young peoples
society and asked the young converts and
some older ones to meet at his house We'd
nesday, February 2. 1881. 1t was bitterly
cold day, even for Maine, and yet some for
ty boys and girls. including a Sunday
school class OF young men under Mr. w.
H. Pennell. now Of this city, assembled.
The Original Constitution.
The constitution was produced 1t pro-
,ide hot fho Of ho I1o6
Williston Young Peoples Society Of Chris
tan EndeavOr. Its object to promote
earnest Christian life among its members,
to increase their mutual acquaintance and
TO make them more useful in the service of
God
The members were to consist of all young
people who sincerely desire to accomplish
the results above specified.
The prayer meeting clause was as fol-
lcws. 1T is expected that all the MEM
bers Of the society will be present
at every meeting. unless detained by
some absolute necessity, and that each one
will take some part, however slight; in
every meeting. The meetings will be held
just one hour. and at their close some time
may be taken for introductions and social
intercourse If desired. Once each month
an experience meeting shall be held. at
which each member shall speak concerning
his or her progress in the Christian life for
the past month. If any one chooses, he
can express his feelings by an appropriate
verse of Scripture. 1t is expected that If
any one is obliged to he absent at this
monthly meeting he will send the reason
of his absence by some one who will at
tend"
Timid About the Promises.
There was some timidity on the part of
these present about signing it. The pray
ermeeting clause seemed to hold them off,
But the hesitation was short-lived. Mr.. W.
Fl. Pennell stepped forward and affixed his
name to the constitution, and now occupies
the proud position Of being the original
men in his class to do the same and they
did so. and then Mrs. Clark secured the
signatures Of all those belonging to the
Mizpah Mission Circle. So that was the
genesis OF the greatest moral movement
the century has known. Granville Staples
a young man twenty-five or twenty-three
years old, was chosen first president, and
the first prayer meeting was held February
4. The second, week later, was led by
Master Henry B. Pennell, the eleven-year-
old son of the original signer, who was
chosen to emphasize the fact that the So
ciety was young peoples society.
The society prospered and met Pastor
Clark's highest aspirations regarding its
influence In causing the young to cling
closely to Christianity. So much was this
the case that Pastor Clark in August, 1881.
wrote an article. entitled. How One
Church Cares for Its Young People," which
was published in the Congregationalist It
tOiu, IN simple and Impressive style, the
story Of the first Young Peoples Society
Of Christian Endeavor. The article was
widely copied in religious newspapers, and
its influence was Immediately seen, and
many churches formed societies.
The First Convention.
The first annual convention of the Society
of Christian Endeavor was held in Willis
ton Church, June 2. 1882. The figures then
are interesting, compared to those of TODAY
and show with what stupendous strides the
movement has advanced. Six societies
were represented, comprising q membership
OF 4S1 persons. as follows: Williston
Church. 16s; st. Lawrence Street, g. Sec
ond Parish. 10; West, 3S; Winter Street of
Bath, IS; Hampden. 81.
In 1883 the second convention was held,
when tifty-six societies were represented.
with membership Of 2,o1S
When the next and third annual conyen-
ton was held. in the Kirk Street Church at
Lowell. Mass, in October. 1884 the So
cieties recorded were 1873 with a member
snip of S,905. There were societies in nine
teen states. one territory, and In Canada.
and societies were reported from Foo
CHOW, China, and Honolulu. The girdle
was already going around the world
The United Society Formed.
The fourth annual convention was held
at Ocean Park. Old Orchard Me-. July S