Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-11-12
Discussion of UNCONVENTIONAL Move.
ment in Endeavor Circles.
VIEWS OF MINISTER'S And OTHERS
Question of Loyalty to Church
Considered by Leaders.
ONSENSUS OF OPINION

Referring to the report, to which refer
ence vas made in The Star of Wednesday.
of the impression among many church
members that efforts are being made by
some of those who exercise controlling
power in the Christian Endeavor move
rnent to render that great body of young
Christians an undenominational rather
than an interdenominational organiZa-
ton, which the society started out to
be, a letter from one of the general Off
GERS of the society at Boston to CORE
spondent in Washington says:
AN effort has of late been made in some
Presbyterian circles to prove that young
Presbyterians were in danger of losing
their UNCONVENTIONAL loyalty through the
Christian Endeavor Society. and the speci-
fc charge has been made that the Disci-
pies of Christ desired. under cover of
Christian Endeavor. to weaken the ties of
UNCONVENTIONAL fidelity and to bring young
Presbyterians into their fold. In other
words. that they desired to make the En-
deavor movement an undenominational
rather than INSTRUMENTATION So
ciejy-
We have always believed that our
brethren who made these charges mSun-
derstood the spirit and purpose of the great
denomination called Christians. or Discf-
pies of Christ and that there had been
needless alarm at some expression which
did not represent the feelings OF this peo-
pie at large
SO we are very glad to send you the
opinions of several leading men among
them:
Expression of Views.
Nothing in this intercourse of young
Christians with each other has, SO far as
/ have observed. affected their church
loyalty. nor is there anything in Christian
Endeavor to warrant the fear that such
he he Tine
c:ety has emphasized UNCONVENTIONAL
loyalty 5 of its cardinal principles,
says another 1t stands for loyalty to the
local church and loyalty TO its denomina-
zion, and all its interests and activities; it
seeks denominationai cooperation, but not
ut the expense of UNCONVENTIONAL autonomy.
In a word, it is interdenomina tional, but
not uHdenOmina tiCnal,' says d third.
We are glad of these outspoken state
ments from those who have a right to
speak and We are sure that they will re-
ieve the anxiety of our friends, who have
feared that there was some disintegrating
force at work i'll Christian Endeayor, and
who, because of this misrepresentation, have
said some unkind things about its fellow
ship
Continuing the publication of expressions
of opinion from well-known religious work
ers here, views on the subject are pre-
scented from Rev. Charles III. Butler presi-
dent of the Junior District Christian Eli
deavor Union; Rev. DIR. A. w. Pitzer. pastor
of Central Presbyterian Church, and Presi-
utnl Ordnt Leet OF the DlStrlct Z. f.
Union
Always in Opposition.
Rev. C. III. Butler said: by some denorni-
nations, and by some people, all union
Christian movements are opposed. The
Christian Endeayor Society, Evangelical
Alliance, Young Mems Christian Associa-
tion, Sunday School Union Women's Chris
tian Temperance Union and similar general
Christian agencies are let severely alone.
The Church of the Lord Jesus Christ, in
its conquest of the world, has been not a
little retarded through improper and
an un-Christian spirit existing among the
various divisions OF the one great army.
Our Lord prayed for the oneness of His
followers, and He once rebuked even the
beloved disciple for cherishing the wrong
spirit toward a man outside their COM
pa2y. but who was working miracles in
Christ's name.
To-day the church is beginning to see
eye 10 eye. and the Christian Endeayor
Society is mighty agency raised up of
God to show the vast majority of things
which all denominations Of Christians hold
If common, ard to break down bitterness