The evening times., 1896-07-10
In CENTRAL HALL.
Exercises Scheduled for Tent Willis
ton Were Held There.

There were not more than zoo people
In the audience this morning ut Central
Hall, where the praise service, led by Mr..
2. p. BilLorn, the musical director, OF
Clmca go, began.
II was not generally understood among
tine Endeayorers last night, where the excr-
cises, which were to have been in Tent
Williston, would take place.
The services opened with the singing OF
Hear Us, o, Savior" by the c. E. choir,
which was rendered with thrilling effect
Devotional exercises were conducted by
Rev. Adam Reooh of this city, who, In a
brief but fervent prayer, invoked Divine
blessing and guidance. Responsive read
ngs were selected from the seventeenth
chapter Of the Gospel according to john.
In introducing the first speaker Presi-
dent Francis E. Clark, d. D., who presided
at the meeting, referred to Rev. CbarIes
A. Dickinson, u. d., of Boston, as one
Of the pioneers in the Christian Endeavor
movement. when our wonderful society
was struggling for success in its infancy
he was our leader. and now in the later
days of our grand achievements, he is
with us and still directing u.s." said
President Clark.
AN EARNEST ADDRESS.
DR.. Dickinson's subject was the Inter
mediate Society of Christian Endeavor."
DIR. Dickinson said, among other things:
The Intermediate Society is to the Chris
tan Ende;lvor movement as a whole what
the trunk is to the tree. 1t is, or should
be, that part OF the organism which con-
meets the roots and branches. 1t conservcs
and regulates the flow and counterflow Of
those influences which are to determine the
character and quantity of the blossoms
and fruit. 1t covers that nexus of critical
Years which joins infancy to young man
hood and womanho0d.
I The discussion luf the question at this
time is but naGira result OF that w3n-
derful evolution Which has characterized
| the Endeavor movement from the beginning.
| Each succeeding year has presented 10
the common sense. OF the Christian En-
most of these questions have been fol-
! lowed. by practical and helpful solutions.
| Thus the work has grown from the tiny
beginning to the ,woEd-spreading tree.
SUCCESS OF THE MOVEMENT.
In speaking of the trunk of the treee, it
| goes without saying that it requires as
| much care as the root and branches.
Trunk shielding and trunk Strengthening
and trunk pruning are some OF the most
| important points Of arboriculture. have
seen row of naples every one of which
was scorched and shriyeled on the southern
| side the first year after they were trans
| plduteu. 1nelE tTuNkh were DIOtecIeu
from the burning sun; and as a result they
| will always have O mass OF dead wood at
! the core. The woods and fields are full
| OF crooked trees, which might have been
| straight had withes and stakes been np-
| piled to them when they were young.
In my Judgment the Christian Endeavor
! movement owes its phenomenal success and
| great prosperity to the fact that it started
| as an Intermediate Society, and adapted
| itself from the very outset to the peculiar
| needs and perils of the adolescent periods.
| The first society was composed very largely
| of boys and girls.
The formation of Junior societies was an
| important step toward establishing that
| law of circularity by which orgaDiZat ations
| and institutions become permanent through
| the infusion from year to year of the fresh
| young life of the community, but there is a
| long distance between the Juniors and adult
societies. The graduate from the junior
| society5is in no sense fitted to become an
| active member in the older society, as it
| exists today in most of our churches. He
does not feel at home there. He is over
| shawowed and slenced. --,-.----.-------
PREDICTION FOR THE FUTURE.
| am not sure but that this fact will be-
| come SO apparent as the evolution OF the
l society goes on that some such eprbv1Shof
| as the Intermediate department will seem
to be a Necessity in every church.. Indeed,
am inclined to think that the intermediate