The morning times., 1897-01-10
FIRST OF THE ENDEAV0RERs
William II. Pennell, Now of This
City, Has That Homer.
SIGNED PLEDGE In MAINE
Movement to Start Society Almost
Halted When He Set Example
to His Sunday-SehoOl.

This month marks the sixteenth anniveT-
sary OF the organization of the first Young
Peoples Society of Christian EndeaYOr, at
the WiIliston Church in Portland, Me-
which was the initial movement in the
formation OF the great worldwide organ
ization. which in these few " short years has
reached out into all the countries OF the
globe and even to the islands of the sea
Thehonor ofhaving been notOnlya charter
member OF the first society, as well as one
or its most earnest promoters, but also OF
having had the privilege OF being the first
to attach his name 10 the Christian En-
deavor pledge, which more than 5000. 900
people have since signed, belongs TO o
gentleman who is now a resident OF Wash
ington. He is Mr.. William H. Pennen, OF
No. 420 c street southeast, and the society
which has done more than any other move
ment ever inaugurated to break down the
UNCONVENTIONAL barriers of Protestant
Christian . rches, largely owes its exist
ence to the man who glOries justly in hav-
ing been its first member
Perhaps no less honor should be accord
ed to Father Clark, the head OF the United
Society, who was the pastor of WilIistOu
Church, the cradle of Christian Endeavor.
but Mr.. PenneII, and not the pastor, was
the first to attach his signature 10 thg
pledge.
PennelI Broke the Ice.
1t was one cold winters night, way
back in 1881. that a company OF young
people, among whom We're a few older
ones to direct, assembled in Pastor CIark's
study for the formation OF church So
ciety which should unite the efforts OF
its members in Christian work. Mr. Pen
nell, who was a teacher in the Sunday
school. was present, and when the con
stitution of the proposed organization,
which had been drafted by some OF the
leaders of the movement, was read and
discussed, there was hesitancy on the
part of thuse present TO come forward and
append their signatures. The pledge
which exacted the attendance OF prayer
meeting, unless detained away by some
thing which could absolutely not be pre-
vented. and participation In the pro-
ceedings, no matter how slight, seemed
more than many We're at first willing to
exact of themselves
For a few moments il seemed as il the
new organization was after all destined
to failure, and even the most sanguine did
not once imagine or dream OF the impor-
tance OF the work they were hesitatiug To
begin, and their little band OF scarcely
more than score was destined to be the
fOrerunner OF a great move ment which
should so strongly lend its aid To Chris
tlanizing the world and bringing all people
intOclOserreligiOusc connection Even Father
Clark, whose generalship has led the vast
army OF Christian EndeayoreTs to such tri-
unphs OF success, was for the moment un-
able to set pace for the movement.
Then it was, as it seems there always is
that some one stepped into the gap, and by
so doing Mr.. Pennen secured the honor OF
being the first signer OF the first Christian
Endeavor pledge \ start once made, and
| 1t was easier for others TO come after; the
Bible class OF which Mr.. PenneII was the
leader, followed his example, and the
| movement which had so simple, though
not altogether easy, birth, was thus
! started
An Ardent EndeavOrer.
Mr.. Pennell's interest and enthusiasm in
| Christian Endeayor has never since abated
| in the least With no small amount OF JUS
| tifiable pride, he watched the growth OF
| the little society, first in the church. then
| in the city OF Portland. then in other cities
| and towns, until it has crossed the seas,
~
and encircIed the world The pledge to
| which he was the first signer now numbers
| its adherents by the million, and everyone
knows the history OF the society since that
| time.
Mr.. Pennell was president OF the first and
| second annual conventions. and at the lat
| ter read an able paper ON "Our Rules in
which he declared that they should be oh
I IifaralIU
/ where there were no verbal reservations in
/ in any of the rules there should be no
mental reservations in agreeing to them
! When the United Society was formed in
| 1885, about four years after the Willis
ton society had started, Mr. Pennell was
made one OF the members OF the board Of
trustees, and still continues in that office
HeisaIso chairman OF the good citizenship
committee OF the local union. and an active
| participant in all the affairs pertaining to
| Christian Endeavorin this Scity, wherehe has
resided for the past seven or eight years.
| His efforts were uHtiring tO bring the big
convention here last summer, and duringits
meeting, and previous toits assembling, he
| labored necessarily for its success.
What 1t Has Profited Him.
You ask me what Christian EndeavOr
has done for me- said Mr.. PennelI, to q
Times reporter 1T would take volume
to tell the story. IL has kept me in touch
with Christian work II has helped me to
accomplish some little work for the glory
of God and the good OF mankind Ii has
brought me into close relationship with
| many Christian workers n the country and
among all denominations. IL has shown
me that sectarian differences are very
flimsy barriers to keep brethren apart, and
that when these brethren meet upcn the
common ground OF the fatherhood OF God
| and the brotherhood OF men, AZ taught and
practiced by Our Saviour, the world is
made better by every Christian life
1T has shown me that young people
have a strong desire to make the world
/ better by their lives, and that they are
| willing and glad TO leave all Theological
discussions and denomin ational diver
-sions to those who can be profited by
them- With the motto given US by our
beloved president. Dir. Clark. For Christ
anu the Church. each one Is willing TO d..
vote all energies TO building up their OWL
church home, that in that way Christ ma
be exalted. All this Christian EndeayOl
is teaching me. and may God help US al
tn live the life that shall best giorify oul
Saviour
Mr.. Penneil is about fifty years OF age
and lives with his wife at the number ahov,
given. leading an exemplary Christian
life, and being an eStimable citizen witt
a host OF friends. and Justly proud Of having