The Norfolk Virginian. [volume] (Norfolk, Va.) 186?-189?, 1897-07-09
The Christian Endeayor Society FIourlshes
in Every Land Under the Sun.
NOW IN SESSION IN SAN FRANCISCO
Twenty Thousand Delegates In At,
tendance ana More Expectcd-so-
ctettcs Einbrnce "a 1fembersl,tp OF
p'hrce MiilfOns-Paints From the
Annual Reports.
San Francisco. July S, 1897.


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 occupied. women
predominating.
Promptly at 9:30 the great gathering
was called to order by Rev. L. r.. Wilke
or this city, and after a musical wei
come by the choir, brief devotional cX-
ercses We're conducted by Rev. Philip
f. King, Of Benton, Texas Then the
welcome of the Committee of 81 was de
Eifered by Rolla " Watt.
After the applause which followed the
remarks Of Mr. Watt had subsidcd, the
welcome Of the Golden Gate pastors was
given by Rev. John HcmDhill
DR.. Hemphill's address was eloouentl,,
,aellVered and evoked much enthusiasm.
lieutenant Governor Jeter then as
cenaed the platform and in a brief but
Wcll-eXpresscd speech welcomed the del
caates ana their friends on behalf Of the
2ta'e vi California. An anthem was rem
dered by the choir and in behalf of the
Vlcltlhg Endeavorera Rev Ira Landreth
ol NasnVlilc. Tenn, responded to the va
rlouS addresses of welcome
me annual address Ct President Clark
was listened to with close attention. T.
was as follows:
PRESIDENT CLARK'S MESSAGE
Ihe subject of the annual message q,
me president, tht Rev. Francis j., f;tarl,
-. -, was ~ World Encircinr Poli
StouS MoNement-How Shall it Fulfil
zoos Design?' He said in part:
nave attended conventions since last
met you In the metropolitan Taber-
nacle. of London, and in the Bcols of
1aengal, IN st. Andrews Hail. of Glas-
Cow, ana in the ancient capital of the
i,unJao, among our Irish Endeayorcrs
IN 6el1ast, and on the sun'burnt plains
| Iy,1 Il,
ana on the lonely table lands OF the
lfansvaal; among the Alps Of Switzer-
land and on the vast veldt Of the Oranr,
gree state, In sea -girt Stockholm anu in
the karoo Of South Africa, In ]ordly
Ehris ana III quiet Wellington. in the
amid all these dlversities Of customs
ana costumes, OF manner and methods,
OF language and laws, have found that
the Christian Endeavor Ideals are sub
stantially the same
Moreover, the people whom have
seen have been Of diverse creeds and
views Of religious truth; all, to be sure.
nave acknowledged the supremacy OF
Jesus Christ as the very Son of God
and the only Savior of lost sinners: ali
nave accepted the Bible as the Word OF
God and the Holy Spirit as the sancti(ier,
comforter and guide. In such soil only
can Christian Endeavor flourish But
IN minor particulars the creeds and
rorms OF church government of these
hosDttable hosts of our society differ as
widely as their complexions. The shade
OF tan OF a mans cheek does not make or
unmake his manhood; the shade Of his
creed does not make or unmake his
Christianity. BY Mcthodists and Bap-
lists. by PreSbyterians and Congrega-
ttonallsts, by Friends and Disciples Of
Christ, by Episcopalians and Lutherans,
by adhe:ents Of the State Churches; of
(Th-m2nV J,l1, \
Scotland and England, as we'll as by
representatives Of every free church.
have been kindly treated in the name
Of Christian Endeavor, and by every
missionary Society at work In India OF.
Africa. Why? Because Of the eloouen,
endorsement which Il cone,non and uni
Nersal method of Christian service rem
ders to Its advocates.
Only one denomination still seeks to
prevent the increase of Christian En-
deaVor societies and that has introduced
christian Endeavor principles. and,
though we regret the absence OF full
fellowship. we are glad Of the extension
of the ideas for which we s.and--in that
we rejoice, yea and will rejoice.
Our society. then, has these signs Of
d unlVersal movement. 1t was born In
obSecurity and weakness. 1T has not
owed its extension to human advocacy
or ecclesiastical authority. 1T has
spread to every land. 1t has been found
adapted to every evangelical creed, to
every form of church government ana
TO every race and class and language
and condition Of people. Ii has failed
only where the principles involved In
our covenant pledge have been ignored
or whore it has been crushed out by
denominational authority.
In answering the question OF the text,
he said the movement must be true to il 8
fundamental idea; must necessarily be
unifyinE; must be a pervasive force
must be sacrificial. and must listen to
Gods voice and continually obey It.
Continuing. he said:
This Is a world movement. thank
God, away from naterialisn, flrmalism
and q barren ecclesias;icis1n back TO
God himself. Entieavors. let this be the
motto, the purpose, the prayer Of this
our coming seventeenth ycar--To abide
in Christ. to surrender ourselves to HilG,
70 let Him use us, TO think less OF our
efforts and more of His fulness. to seek
larger infilling from above. deeper
tlraughas OF His life. more emptiness 81
self. more fulness Of Christ Thus only
vii! Christian Endcavor and all for
which II has come TO Standardization
cltiHenship, Christian n!issons ana a
thousand forms OF beiievolence--raceiv
afresh life and vigOr
Secretary Racr's address was next on
the programme. 2s follows:
SIICRlaTARY'S REPORT.
The report Of John Willis Baer gene
raj secretary. contained the following:
In 1881 there was society and 81 mem
bers; In 1891 there arc so, $50 societies
and total membership Of 5000 900. OF
the States having more than 900 local
yf.fJ n la D.