The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1897-11-20

STATE ~EDDElVORBRS.
How the c. E. Societies
Have Multiplied in New
Jersey Since 1882.
FOUNDER OF THE MOVEMENT
Interesting Facts Reported at the
Annual Conyentions-Among
the Churches.
FOUNDER OF THE MOVEMENT

Because of her situation between States
SO large as to claim the Impressive titles
Empire" and 'keystone," New Jersey
is apt to be overlooked. Her people, how
ever, are argus-eyed and aggressive. BY
a strange coincidence, her first society OF
Christian Endcavor was organized on the
very same night and hour that New York
organized her first society. For, on April
Ii, 1882, while the Rev. f.. A. Johnson,
pastor Of the congregational Church of
Chester, N. j., was organizing the first
New Jersey society, a Congregational
church of New York State, from which
his wife had come, was forming the first
society in that State. The Chester society
claims to be the second organized west
of the Hudson, and the ninth in the whole
organization. Also, it was the first to
nave affiliated members, and was the
first, in its denomination at least, to have
recorded an Offering for benevolence.
About ten months later came the sec
ond society, in the Presbyterian Church
Of Jamesburg, the Rev. B. S. Everitt,
d. D., pastor, and a few days later found
the first society in the Dutch Reformed
denomination, oganized in Belleville, the
Rev. r.. w. Brokaw, pastor. Thus at
LII WHY DtSlliIllllS tliC =
al features became prominent. 1t is wor-
thy of that the two societies
organized were in country churches.
In 1885 there were about eighteen socie-
ties. A State Unicn was organized De-
cember of that year at Jamesburg. Sew
enty-seven delegates were present, repre-
senting thirty churches, and a State or
ganization was effected, with the Rev. r.
w. Brokaw president and the Rev. f. b.
Everitt secretary and treasurer.
Taking the annual State Convention as
the date of the statistical year., the SUBJ
sequent history can be traced in the fol-
lowing outline
1SS7-Newark c~onvention;i 800 delegates,
representing 81 societies ana 4,UUo
membership.
1SSS-Trenton convention; 400 delegates,
representing l91 societies and 10000
membership.
lSS9-Jersey city convention; GOO delegates,
representing 30l societies and lo,Oeo
membership.
1S90-Camden convention; 500 delegates, rep
resenting 401 societies and 10000 MEM
berShiD.
1S91-Newark convention; 1000 delegates,
representing $50 societies and 34,4l4
membership.
lse2-Bridgeton Convention; 500 delegates,
representing 69 societies and 3l,603
membership.
1ses-Trenton convention; 1000 delegates,
representing 74 societies and 1925
membership.
1S94-New Brunswick convention; 1900
delegates, representing 907 societies
and 10, 40 membership.
1895EAtlantic City convention; 1.200 dele
gates, representing 1,002 societies and
Is. e96 members.
1S9e-Plainfield convention; 5000 delegates,
representing 1,071 societies and 57,472
members.
Since 1894 the growth has been very
rapid and steady in 1888 it was twenty
one members to one convert; in 1891 1t
was fourteen members to one convert, and
now it is about four to one, thus testify
ing to the growing efficiency of this great
host in soul-winning. Local union work
has kept pace with the rest, and the State
had a several Christian Endeavor pa
pers published within its borders. Since
1891 the State has been divided into dis
tricts, now according to counties. over
each is a district secretary. In 1888 was
begun the department system by elect
ing Rev. A. w. Spooner superintendent
of the Junior department. The following
year the : Evangelistic, Missionary and
Good Citizenship departments, and in 1885
the Correspondence and Press depart
naents were added.
In 1891 the orange and black was for
mally adopted as the State colors, and a
pretty and unique badge was designed by
Rev. f. B. Everitt. In 1894 a State hymn,
entitled Forward. E~ndeavorers,' was
written b. ]. A. Sanford, of Montclair,
n accepted as the banner hymn of the
Gfntn union