St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1897-07-23
SECRETARY BAER'S REPORT.
Presented at the Sixteenth International Con-
Yention at San FRANCISCO.

Baer's report presented at the morning SEES.
sion July 8;
Christian Endeavor-A River.
"There Is river, the streams whereof shall
make glad the city of God"-Ps. 40: 4
"And by the river upon the bank thereof,
on this side and on that side, shall grow all
trees for meat, whose leaf shall not fade,
neither shall the fruit thereof be consumed
it shall bring forth new fruit according to his
months. because their waters, they issued out
of the sanctuary."-E 47:12.
And Christian Endeavor is such a
river. Reverently the figure is borrowed
from Gods word, to make palmer to you
and to me what God really intends to
do with the river which he caused to
spring upin Portland, Me-, sixteen years
ago, and the overflow OF which he has
directed, until its waters now extend
through the uttermost parts OF the earth.
Careful observers OF the onward sweep
OF this river of Christian Endeavor have
noted that it has widened during the
past year. Since last we met, this great
current has been sweled by 5000 new
societies. Rejoice with exceeding joy, for
the world wide enrolment is now so, TAI
local societies. What swift and mighty
flood In 1881, one society and fifty
seven members. In 1897, 50,7S0 socie-
ties and total mem ership oi3 100000
Gifts large tributary state and provin.
clal streams in this country that have
over one thousand local societies, Penn.
sylvania still leads with 3,443; New
York, 3,049; Ohio, 1888; Illinois has
how passed to the fourth place, with
2,013; Ontario, 1.7S3; Indiana, 1887;
Iowa, 1886; and Michigan, with 1,071,
for the first time is entitled to place in
this class. These figures do not include
the Junior societies, with their boys and
girls, the intermediate societies, with
their lads and lasses, the Senior and
Mothers societies for the fathers and
mothers and those who in years are no
longer considered young.
Now we are reminded that Christian
Endeavor has flowed into many and un.
looked.for fields, for there are Christian
Endeavor societies in colleges, in public
institutions Of various kinds, in prisons
and schools Of reforms, in almshouses,
asylums, institutions for the blind, ETC.,
on board ships, men-ofwar, at navy
yards, in life stations and among life
savers, among the boys in blue in the
United States army and navy, in large
factories, among car-drivers and police
men, in the Travellers Union, etc, to the
total number of 231.
The Juniors now claim our attention.
the streams that feed this mighty river.
The Keystone state, Pennsylvania, still
leads with 1897. The Junior badge
banner, given to the state that has made
the largest gain in Junior societies DUR
ing the year, was first presented at Mon
treal to New York, and at the three an
nual conventions since that time Penn
sylvania has proudly carried it away;
but this year the "pig iron" friends must
pass that banner over to the buckeyes"
of Ohio.
The other Junior badge banner, first
given to the District ofC Columbia at Mon
treal for the greatest proportionate
increase in number OF Junior societies,
and held successfully by Delaware, ASSN
iboia, and Mexico, must now pass from
Mexico to Spain. A Christian Endeavor
banner to travel from Mexico to Spain |!
Strange history we are writing! O that
it might be carried by the shortest route,
by way OF Cuba, and that to bleeding
Cuba it might be an emblem of liberty,
peace and prosperity
The Intermediate societies next claim
attention. The first society was organ
lied few years ago by Rev. A. Z. Conrad,
D. D.. of Worcester Mass. There are
now 366 intermediate societies enrolled
Already the Mothers societies number
70, Illinois having 80; Pennsylvania, 20
Kansas, IL; and the rest scattered here
and there.
California, New Hampshire, and Penn
sylvana each have three and Connect
cut two Senior societies.
England has 3, 925 societies; Australia,
2,124; Scotland, 433; Wales, 311 India,
$50; Ireland, 1859; Madagascar, 90;
France, 6s; Mexico, 100; Japan, &c;
West Indies, 60; Turkey, Al; China, So;
Africa, So Germany, 80; and so on
through long list, with total Oft ,919
societies. In addition, all Canada has
1890 societies.
The badge banner for the greatest pro
portionate increase in number of ,socie.
ties, which Oklahoma first secured at the
Minneapolis convention, which then was
captured by Manitoba, New Mexico
West Virginia, Assiniboia, and which is
now held by Scotland, will fall into the
hands of the loyal Endeavorers on the
Emerald Isle. The shamrock is ahead Of
the thistle this time India, with her
splendid advance, was very little behind
Ireland. And the other banner, the
one given for the largest absolute gain
in total number of societies, is for the
fourth consecutive year held by England