St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1896-07-17
Growth of the Christian Endeavor
Society.

Secretary Baer presented at the 18th
international convention at Washington
last week. All interested in this great
society will be amazed at the growth OF
this organization:
EXTENT OF 1T.
Now let us count the branches on this
great tree. 1t is a task upon which we
enter with enthusiasm Oithe states and
provinces that now have each over one
thousand Young Peoples societies OF
Christian Endeavor, the keystone state
of Pennsylvania still heads the list with
1928; New York next, 2,971; Ohio,
2,311; Ontario has now passed to fourth
place with 1917; Illinois, SOP In
diana, 1852 Iowa, ,302.
These figures do not include the numer-
Gus other kind OF Christian Endeavor So
cieties that are now fast becoming sturdy
branches OF the mother tree such as the
Junior, the Intermediate, the Mothers
and the Senior.
The Junior "branch" claims our first
attention. God be praised for its growth.
1t is said root OF corn will grow an
inch in fifteen minutes, and the Junior
branch bids fair to surpass that. There
are now 10,OS+ Junior societies. Penn
svlvana leads with 1924, then New
York not very tar behind with 1,104;
Illinois, $50; Ohio, ZIG; Indiana 1893;
Iowa, 46S; Massachusetts, 46l; Cali
fornia, 442 Notwithstanding many of
the states have made splendid advances
in Junior societies, Pennsylvania will for
the third time secure the Junior badge"
banner for the largest gain in number OF
Junior societies.
And the other banner now in the hands
of Asslniboia, must pass across woimag-
mary lines to our enterprising neighbors
in Mexico, for her record for the greatest
proportionate increase in number in Jun
Tor societies is far ahead of all others.
All Canada has 1929 societies, and in
foreign and missionary lands there are
now $500 societies enrolled The United
kingdom has over 5000; Australia over
1000; France, &C; West Indies, GO; In
dia, 1913; Mexico, 62 Turkey, Al; AZ
RIGA, So; China, 40; Germany, 1S {; Japan,
&c; Madagascar, 90; and so on until
every country in the worlds represented,
save three or four, making grand total
Of 46 1875 branches.
The badge" banner, which is given for
the greatest absolute gain in number of
young peoples societies, can again be
carried back to England's shores. Penn
sylvania and other states have made a
splendid effort to keep it on this side OF
the "pond,' but it is evident that our
brothers and sisters on the other side
have a firm grasp upon it.
The banner for the greatest proportion
ate gain in number ofsocieties for the first
time crosses the "briny deep" to Scot
lands shores. What will another year
bring forth? Shall both banners float on
the queens domains?
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 ofthe oak.
WORK DONE.
The fruits, what are some of them
Systematic Bible study; circulation of
good literature; UNCONVENTIONAL loyalty
intensified; pastors encouraged; Sunday
Schools enlarged; church services at
tended; pastorless churches assisted;
midweek prayer meetings sustained; cot
tage prayer meetings naugurated; evan
gelistic services i'll asylums, almshouses,
prisons, reformatories, in factories, in
street car stations, at homes for the aged,
the feeble-minded soldiers homes and
other public institutions; open.air Cos
pei meetings at wharves and coal docks,
i'll parks and at street corners; gospel
wagons employed; public societies have
given $154 ,012 6S through their own
UNCONVENTIONAL boards to the cause of
home and foreign missions. In addition
to this amount which has been given by
these 5000 societies that we have en-
rolled upon the roll OF honor, we find
that 5000, 1902 has been given by these
same societies for Christ and the church
in other ways, making total of $780,
172 80, the largest amounts given by
any one society being 81, 10701, by the
Clarendon Street Baptist society OF Bos-
ton, and little over 81 900, by the Cal
vary Presbyterian society of Buffalo,
N. Y.
MISSIONARY GIVING.
Let me make it plain that the $751;
0226S given direct to mission boards by
the 5000 societies, and their gifts of
$206, 1921 for other benevolences, rep
resent only the record of the societies
that have asked to be enrolled upon the
"missiOnary roll of honor"
AS TO DENOMINATIONS.
In the United States the denomina-
tional representation is as follows; The
Presbyterians still lead, with 5,45S
Young Peoples societies and 2,599
Junior societies. the Congregationalists
have 400 Young Peoples societies and
2,077 Junior societies; the Disciples of
Christ and Christians, 2,941 Young
Peoples societies and 1,0S7 Junior socie-
ties; the Baptists, 2,679 Young Peoples
societies and 927 Junior societies Metho-
dist Protestants, 975 Young Peoples
societies and 800 Junior societies {;
Lutherans, S54 Young Peoples societies
and 26S Junior societies; Cumberland
Presbyterans, sos Young Peoples socie-
ties and 299 Junior societies, and so on
through long list
In the Dominion Of Canada the Metho-
dists OF Canada lead, with 1,041 Young
Peoples societies and $50 Junior soeie-
ties (most of the societies known as
Epworth Leagues of Christian En-
deavor); Canadian Presbyterians are
next, with 1026 Young Peoples socie-
ties and 1874 Junior societies; Baptists
next with 173 Young Peoples societies
and 81 Junior societies CONGREGATIONAL.