The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-09-08
CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
The Seventh Annual Convention 10 Be Held
Here September 30th.
! HISTORY OF THIS GRAND SOCIETY
Tho Session VIII Continue Four
Dnys-Mnny Prominent Men and
IN Interested in tho Work OF
The Society VIII 10 Present
Juniors VIII IInvc II Day.

winston church, In Portland, Me,
had rs it's pastor in 1881 the Rev. Fran
els =. Clarke. The problem what to do
with the young people of his church
confronted him, as 1t had done many
other pastors. He felt the need of
training them In the duties of personal
reliS!on. OF church membership, and in
general Christian activity. Pastor
Clarlte's solution of this difficult and
important problem was the organization
of the first Young Peoples Society Of,
Christian Endeavor OIL February I'd,
1851.
The spread OF the movement proves
how satisfactorily 1t met Il widely felt
want.
In lSSs there were ISL members In the
various societies then organized. Since
then that handful has increased. until
to-day there are more than three mill
lion members in all parts of the world.
The society is NOW found IN almost all
of the evangelical organizations, and Is
growing with remarkable rapidlty. Thu
encouragement of interdenominational'
fraternal fellowship is doing much to
promote the cause Of true Christian uni
~; net necessarily organic unity, that
IS not desirable. but union In heart and
purpose. The great annual information
al conventions have been phenomenally
large gatherings OF consecrated work
crs, II fountain heads of inspiration
and influence FOR the whole movement.
The Christian Endeavor Society took
MS Its motto. For Christ and the
Church." which guarantees loyalty to
fundamental Christian truth, as we'll as
10 the local church. The natural out
growth of this motto has been the idea
OF deepening the spiritual life.
one THING commcnds Christian Endca-
vor to all denominations and that Is the
fact that it Is entirely unde. the con-
troll OF the local church. The society
must be what the church Is in which II
exists. 1t may be Presbyterian. Baptist
or Methodist at home. In the great
conventions it is what all would have
1t to be-Chrlstian-thc members there
seeing Jesus only.
The three cardinal principles Of the
movement are the pledge. the consecra-
ton meeting, and q system of commit
tees for practical Christian service.
In the pledge we have n public COM
mitment to q plan Of duties that have
been outlined for our future actions. 1t
brings to us the realization Of the re-
sponsibilitics OF life and the dignity of
Christian living.
Conservation Is no new idea to the
world, but the plan as used by Chris
tlan Endeavor Societies is somewhat
unique. 1t is spiritually unlfftlnG 10 he
ASSOCIATED with n body Of young Chris
t!nns VINO freely, yet without hypocracy
or cam talk OF their ~a'ellgious life, OF
their hopes and fears. of their victories
and defeats.
The committee work divides itself into
three parts. The lookout onmfttee
should not only secure new members,
but should hold faithful to their du-
ties those already obtained. 1t has
been beautifully said that this commit.
Tee should look out. look in. look up.
The prayer meeting committee has n
great work In training It's members md
the whole society in the school of Drav-
cr-private prayer and public prayer.
me social committee Is responsible for
increasing the mutual acquaintance OF
the members, and in co~nsecrating their
social talents and opportunities to win.
ning souls to Christ.
From the Rev. William X. Kennedy
president of the Virginia Christian En-
deavor Union, the following details as
10 inc union In Firginian are learned:
It was organized in the Seventh Stree,
Christian church. OF Richmond. Janua.
ry 23th, 1882. The Rev. Francis u,
Clarke. D. d.. president OF the United
society of Christian Endeavor, was pres
INT ana made an address. The Rev
abe Hall, d. d., the honored pastor
or the church where the meetings were
held, was chosen the first president of
the State Union.
DIR. Clarke. in speaking Of the con-
T"ntion afterwards. said: 1.-THE union
was n lively infant from the first. and
/ predict that he will escape the dis
eases incident to childhood and be an
honor and a blessing to the Old Domin-
From his ANAL h~ecinnInn-a raru Gam