Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1897-01-28
OF CHRISTIAN ENDEkVoR INTEREST.

The more hear and read of the work of
the Christian EndeaYor Society in all parts
of the world. the more this movement fills
ME with happiness and joy. All the signs
of the times indicate that highest service
can be rendered only by those who rise
above the restraints and limits OF sectarian-
ism. The most blessed feature of the Chris
ttnn Endeavor movement is that it brings
together the Young representatives of the
too long divided, separated and isolated
sections OF the true catholic church. which is
one in Christ.-Rev. Hugh Price Hughes of
England.
CHRISTIAN rSpEAvoR DAr-How TO cKLE-
BRATK IT.
Very soon We shall as a society be sixteen
years old.
Birthdays are worth celebrating.
the year has been lived well, each one
Is little better worth celebrating than the
last. This best year of our Christian En-
deavor history should have some appro-
PIRATE commemoration.
am sorry for the man that takes no
notice of his birthday, that allows the years
to slip away one after the other into eter-
nifty, and has no thought of gratitude for
the past and no high resolution for the
future. 1t is still more important for an
organization. since by one celebration of
the right kind the lives Of a hunared may
be uplifted and strengthened.
The formal answer to the question
How" is very simple one. The United
Society publishes very excellent Christian
Endeayor Dav exercise every year. Use
this, If you like, at the meeting of the week
within which falls the second day of
February.
Or, if You prefer. prepare an original exer-
else of your own. Get your pastor to recog-
nize the day in some way, If he will. at least
by special petition in his pastoral prayer,
for our cause the world around. Above all,
do not forget the thank-otfering for your
missionary boards, for which ! hope you
have been preparing during the whole year,
by filling your treasury full of sacrifice
money.
| But, after all, these are the mere formal
| methods, and | believe another and still
| better answer can be given, which will affect
\ the life OF your society for good during
| many year to come. In phrase the
answer may be given: Take new depar-
ture.
Not that one answer excludes the other.
We ought to have the special celebration Of
the second OF February: only If possible let
us feel its effects all the year through.
A NEW DEPARTURE.
| But hat kind of new departure?
| Well, that is for YOU TO say, but am very
sure that your society is not so perfect that
it cannot be benefited by some advance step
of course no common sense society will
will study its own needs while keeping in
the van of progress.
But let me make few suggestions
Have You Junior society in your church,
That question mist he answered in the
negative by something like fifteen Thousand
Endeavor societies in the United States and
Canada.
Why not celebrate Christian Endeayol
Day by starting one?
Have you an intermediate society?
This is not so universally needed; bu
there are hundreds, if not thousands, OF
large churches that would be better for al
Intermediate society
Have you Senior society in your church
Probably not. am not sure that you neet
one yet; but study your problem, and Sc,
whether something should not be done TO
your grad ate members.
| Do all your committees report their worl
regularly every month"; If not (and this il
fundamental matter in a good society
celebrate Christian Endeavor Day by estab
fishing this custom.
Have you an information committee, or
pastors committee to report the sermon
II not, would not this be good new depar
ture for YOU?
DO your members give systematically AM
regularly to the Lord? If not, do, beg o
you. start some movement in this direction
! The Tenth Legion" of New York admit
affiliated members who DO not live in Nes
York City. | am proud to be an affiliate
mem der; Cannot you have company o
the Tenth Legion in your society?
These are only a few suggestions | an
sure there is some new departure that YOU
society needs take. Will you not celebrat
Christian Endeavor Day by taking it?
PERSONAL QUESTION.
, How about our own hearts and lives?
there not a new departure that as an ind
vidual Christian you should take; depa,
ture from the old into the new, from ia
lower into the higher departure that wi
lead you into the green pastures Of deepe
richer spirital life
Will you celebrate the day with me b
, spending the first waking half-hour of Tue
day, February ID, 1887, alone with Co
3 seeking more of His life in our heart
t practising the presence OF God" as Jerem
Taylor puts it,
shall be in India on that day. God viii
ing; but ! will rememner this cornpa,
wheI ever am, and should like to feel tfi
, multitude Of Christian Endeavorers a,
also during that hnf-hour seeking the lii
that is hid with Christ in God This hal
o hour may mark new and blessed tlepartul
n in multitude Of lives. Your friend
Francis u. CLARK.