The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-07-09
CHRISTIAN ENDEAvOR CROSS.
THE BIG CONVENTION BEGINS ITS
WORK AT 'FRISCO.

rate the Exercises of the Day--Over
10000 Persons In Mechanics Pa
Wilton when the Convention
Proper Began Its Proceedings.
The Annual Address of the Presi-
dent and the Annual Report of the
Secretary.
San Francisco, Cal, July S.-With the
daylight this morning began the prayer
meeting of the Christian Endeavorers
| churches, the subject being the same in
each-prayer for the convention.
Long before the hour appointed for the
opening of the convention, every seat in
the vast pavilion, which accommodated
over 10000 people, was taken. women pre-
dominating. Promptly at $3.50 o'clock the
great gathering was called to order by
Rev. Z. r. Wilke of this city,and after a
musical welcome by the choir. brief devo-
tional exercises were conducted by Rev.
Philip f. King of Benton. Tex.
Then the welcome of the committee of
1897 was delivered by Rev w. w. Watt.
After the applause which followed the
remarks Of Mr.. Watt had subsidized, the
welcome of the Golden Gate pastors was
given by Rev. John Hemphill. Dr. Hemp
hills address was eoquently delivered and
evoked much enthusiasm.
Lieut.. Gov. Jeter then assembled the plat
form, and in brief, but well expressed
speech, welcomed the delegates and their
friends on behalf Of the state Of Califor-
MIA.
An anthem was rendered by the choir,
and in behalf of the visiting Endeavorers
Io.,xr = I 10, .lratI Of 40
responded to the various addresses of well
come.
The subject of the annual message of
the presidents the Rev. Francis e. Clark,
D. D., was "a World Encircling Religious
Movement; How Shall 1t Fulfill Gods
Design" He said In part;
Il have attended conventions since last
l met you, in the Metropolitan tabernacle
of London and in the Beols of Bengal, in
| st. Andrews hall of Glasgow and ia the
ancient capital of Pumjab; among our
Irish Endeayorers in Belfast and on the
| sunburnt plains of Southern India, in
crowded Berlin and on the lonely table
lands Of the Transvaal; among the Alps
of Switzerland and on the vast veldt of
the Orange Free State; in sea-girt Stock
holm and in the karoo of South Africa;
in lordly Fars and in quiet wellington;
in the Cape of Good Hope and every
where amid ali these diversities of Gus
toms and costumes of manner and meth
DDS, of language and laws, l have found
that the Christian Endeavor ideals are
substantially the same.
Moreover, the people whom I have seen
have been of diverse creeds and views of
religious truth, all, 20 be sure, have ac-
knowledged the supremacy of Jesus Christ
as the Son of God and the only Sa-
vior of the lost sinners; all have accept
ed the Bible as the word of God and the
holy spirit as the sanctifier comforter
and guide. In such only can Chris
tian Endeavor flourish. But in minor par
Uculars the creeds and forms Of church
government OF these hosptable hosts of
our society differ as widely as their COM
plexions. The shade of tan of a mans
cheek does not make or unmake his man
hood; the shade of his creed does not
make or unmake his Christianity. BY
Methodsts and Baptists, by Presbyter-
ans and Congrega tionalists, by Friends
and Disciples of Christ, by Episcopalians
and Lutherans. by adherents of the state
churches of Germany and Sweden and
Holland and Scotland and England, as
well as by representatives of every free
church. have ] been kindly received in
the name of Christian EndeaVor, and by
every missionary society at work in In
dia or Africa Why2 Because of the elo-
quent endorsement which a common and
universal method OF Christian service rem
dcrs to its advocates.
"Only one denomination still seeks to
prevent the increase Of Christian EndeaVor
societies and that has introduced Chris
tan Endeavor principles, and though we
regret the absence OF full fellowship. we
are glad of the extension of the ideas for
which we stand-in that we repoice, yea,
we will rejoice
our society, then, has these signs Of
universal movement 1t was born in OBJ
security and weakness. 1t has not owed
its extension to human advocacy or eccle-
siastical authority. IL has spread to ev-
cry land. IL has been found adapted 10
every evangelical creed, to every form OF
church government and to every race and
class and language and condition of peo-
pie. IL has failed only where the princi-
pies involved in our covenant pledge have
been ignored or where II has been crushed
out by UNCONVENTIONAL authority"
In answering the question OF the text
he said the movement must be true TO its
fundamental ideas, must necessarily be
unifying, must be pervasive force, must
be sacrihcial, and must listen to Gods
voice and continually obey Il. Contin-
uing he said:
This is a world movement thank God.
a way from materialism. Journalism and
a barren ecclesiasticism back to God him
self. Endeavorers. let this be the motto.
the purpose, the prayer OF this. our coming
seventeenth year: To abide In Christ. to
surrender ourselves TO Him, TO let Him
use US, TO think less OF our efforts and
more OF His fulness, to seek a larger In
nlling from above. deeper draughts OF His
life, more emptiness OF self more fullness
OF Christ. Thus only Will Christian En-
deavor, and all for which II has come
to Standardization citizenship. Christian
missions. and thousand forms OF benev-
olence, receive ever afresh life and vigor.
The report OF John Willis Baer general
secretary, was next on the programme,
and contained the following facts:
In 1881 there was one society and 81
members; In 1897 there are 5O.7s0 societies
and total membership Of 100000. or the
states having more than 1000 local socie-
ties. Pennsylvania leads with 34f3, New
York has 3,0l9. Ohio 1883. Illinois 2.0i3 On
tario 1888. Indiana 1881, Iowa 1896. and
Michigan i.OT. These figures do not In
clude the junior intermediate, the senior
and mothers societies. Pennsylvania leads
tIfIfI 1 aeGs