The San Francisco call., 1897-07-03

agement, until to-day it has mem bers in
every country in the world.
An hour before the society was formed
not a single member had an idea that it
would be. The young people OF W!lliston
Church had met for social evening at the
home of their pastor, and all expected
that the evening would end as hundreds
of other evenings had. Instead the even
ing was a milestone in history, and all the
world has reason to rene ber that WIN
ters night early in the year OF 1881.
Just who the person was who uttered the
words that soon led to the formation of
the society is not matter of record The
young ladies and gentlemen of Willis
ton Church, most OF them attend
ants of the Sunday school, were ali
gathered in DR.. Clark's parlors
spending the evening as only
laughed and played harmless games and
thoroughly enjoyed the refreshments
served. 1t was happy evening. Every
body was in the best of humor and the
pastor was only too ready to accede to
any demands to continue the good feel
ing.
In some way-nobody knows how-the
conversation turned upon Christian work,
and naturally enough the young people
were soon all attention.
There were about fifty young folks pres
ent and before they could realize it the
social aspect of the evening had been lost
sight of. Games were forgotten and
laughter ceased. An important question
was before the assembage and suggestions
were wanted. And il might be added
were soon forthcoming.
How could the young people of Willis
ton Church be more useful to God? How
could they be more helpful to their
pastor? how more loyal to their church
and how aid in the dissemination of Gods
word so that it would bring others into
the fold?
The first question propounded led to the
others, and the last pointed the way to
how the work was to be done.
In very short time everybody was
fired with enthusiasm. Suggestion after
suggestion came to which DR.. Clark lis
tened attentveIy, allowing the young
people to manage things to suit them
selves.
1t was soon shown that there were
number of young men and women, in
reality members of the church, who sell
dom attended service. They seemed to
have no interest in Christianity, but SIM
ply went to church once week as duty.
After that they forgot 1t for six days.
How could these young people be made
good church me m bers? How could they
be brought nearer to God? How be made
TO take an in terest in spiritual affairs and
induce others to do the same2
Numerous plans were suggested and
given consideration. DR.. Clark was sur
prised at the number of ideas brought for
ward, and still more surprised to know
how well posted the younger mem bers OF
his flock were in regard to church affairs.
When all the ideas had been sifted down
so that the object of the discussion could
be di- cerned it evolved itself into 'help"-
Christian help.
Then began a discussion as to how to
render this help SO that it would be ap-
preciated and understood in the way it
was intended.
1t was first decided to get better &C.
quainted with the young people whom it
was decided to make better Christians.
To this end socials would be given. There
would be literary exercises and good
music, and any feature calculated to
create good-fellowshi would be given the
greatest consideration. First get &C.
quainted, and then the rest would be
easy.
When 1t had been decided to do these
things some one suggested, "Why not
form ourselves into society for this pur-
pose?"
"CertainlyW came from all present
But what should the society be called
That one word Help" was all that was
needed Out of that suggestion came the
word "Endeavor," then christian Endea-
vor." The Society of Christian Endeavor
was soon decided upon as the name
of the new organization, and that same
evening a constitution was drawn 40. To
be sure, this constitution was short, but
its first clause contained the words, make
themselves more useful in the service of
God" And that has en- the aim ever
since. The society has been distinctivsly
religious society. Its work has been to
induce others TO become Christians ior
purely spiritual reasons. There have been
no charitable nor philanthropic induce
ments. The mem bers' work has been as