The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-08

| Rev j. Lincoln Litch. OF Bethlehem.
! the first state president. was asked by
Mr.. Mcdonald to say something of
the beginning Of the Endeavor move
incnt. He was greeted by Chautauqua
salute as he approached ihe platform.
SUCCESS DUE TO FAITH.
After speaking of the trepidation and
uncertainty with which the work was
started he remarked that much of the
success of the movement was due To
its faith. Rev. DR.. j. r. Beckley. now
of New York city. the second president.
could not be present. The third presi-
dent. Rev. Or. q. b. Stewart. of Har-
risburG. was introduced and like Mr..
Lincoln was greeted by the waving of
handkerchiefs He spoke especially
OF the Self-denial of the old state otii-
GERS.
| Rev. Charles Roads. u. L.. Of Phla-
delphia, the fourth president. though in
the CITY. was not in the church, and
Or. McCrory. now president. declined
to take up the conventions time.
j. G. Manning. of Pittston. district
secretary Of Luzerne. county, told
briefly and in q general way concern
ing the work in the different Endeavor
| departments in his district
| Secretary Mcdonald remarked that
an immidiate and great growth in cities
where conventions had been held and
quoted figures to prove it.
Treasurer Raymore. who was chair
man OF the general convention com
mittee at Erie last year said that there
had been ten new societies formed, the
department work had been accelerated
| and free-giving had been increased
two-fold.
ntf,r
| to settle one point, the controversy as
to which was the Oldest society in the
state. After searching the records H.,
was satisfied that the first society was
organized in the Plymouth Congrega-
ttonal church, of this city. in April.
| lSS2. and the second in the WatsontOwn
Lutheran church in July. 1884. He re-
| marked upon Pennsylvania's record
which makes it today the strongest
Endeavor state in the union.
VERBAL REPORTS MADE.
Brief verbal reports were made by
District Secretaries Wilson, Of Colum-
bia and MOntour counties; Miss Susie
X. Peck, Of Bradford and Sullivan
counties: Mr.. Benson, of Philadelphia.
Others would have been called upon, ST.
Mr.. Mcdonald said, but for the lack of
| time.
| a delightful break in the programme
was the solo by Miss Elsie a. c. Van
DervoOrt, the contralto soloist of Elm
Park church. She sang with much feel
ing and with that rare faculty of vocal
expression Of which she is so capable,
'Pll Follow Him."
Miss Margaret Leitch, of Bethlehem,
n. H., a missionary who has lately been
heard in several Scranton churches,
spoke of the Armenian situation. She
occupied but few moments, but by tlH
rapid use of figures and explicit dis
cussion of fact greatly interested the
audience. She concluded with on elo-
Quent appeal for liberal giving in aid
of the Armenian cause.
An open parliament lasting forty
minutes on the topic THE Strong and
Weak Points in Your Society,"" was
conducted by II. c. Lincoln. of Phila-
| delphia. Someone in the near gallery
answered the question by saying THE
| strongest point in our society Is the
| fact that the active members are ac-
| tive in meetings" Another delegate
| created ripple Of laughter by saying
| it would be better to let the active work
| be done outside. That was a sample
of the sallies that interspersed the par
| Lament. during which maybe $50 per-
| sons spoke.
WHERE STRENGTH LAYS.
1t appeared to be the consensus of
| opinion that a society's strength lay in
| it's activity and its work among stran-
gers in the church. and it's weakness in
| an absence of those conditions. Over
| organization and too many committees
| were deplored. A few hard working
committees would be preferable to a
large number Of non-working bodies.
| 1t would be better not to encourage any
prospective members to join unless they
would be useful. Much benefit is felt
from strict attention to attendance at
business and prayer meetings.
| 1t IL a good plan for the prayer meet
ing committee to engage in a brief
period of prayer with the leader Of
prayer meeting just before the meeting
convenes. This Is done IN many soci-
eties.
| Where a society is 50 large that its
| committees cannot contain all menu
bers the society should be divided into
sections, numbered societies A" "B."
&C." etc. This Is a favorite plan in
Philadelphia, where in one church the
sections are numbered as far as IL"
There were many assertions that pas
tors did not attend the society meet
ings or take an interest in Endeavor
| work.
| The session closed with benediction
by Or. McCrory
| Evening Session.
| 1t was $50 o'clock when the evening
session began in Elm Park church.
There was scarcely a vacant seat in the
church when the opening service was