The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-06-09
Reports Of Officers Show Progress
Has Been Made.
A HOT Fight FOR NEXT MEETING.
short History of the society, Es-
pcciaiiy of the work Done
In Texas.

cisos Is very large
The reports OF the various officers occu-
pied today. All were rcplote with news OF
progress and all brcathed hope OF greater
success in the future
Dr. u. h. Tyler OF New York, Rev. h. G.
Mclean OF San Antonio ana Rev. |. Frank
Smith OF Dallas delivered the principal adj
dresses Of the day. A hot fight is on over
the location OF the next convention. Waco
seems to be in the lead.
Mr. Arthur n. Ey,rts of Dallas, press
committeeman of 'aS, has prepared the fol-
lowing history OF tho Christian Endeeiyor
society. particularly OF the Texas branch
THAT viii be read With Interest by Endcav-
orors
christian Endeavor" Is familiar ex-
precision to the reading public OF the pres
ent day. and yet the question must often
arise In the public mind. What is Chris
tinn Endcayor, anyhow What does Il
menn9 How did 1t originate What does
II stand for?
It Is to give a little enlghtcnment along
thee lines that these words are writtcn.
"Christian Endeavor" Is short for Young
Peoples Society of Christian Lndoavor. ;"
and 80 the latter is often represented by
the letters, ~. p. s. q. E.
HOW 1T CAME
A young pastor In Congrogatiopallot
church In Portland, Me-, had had a glo-
rious revival In his church during the win
ter OF lSS0-Si. A great many young people
had been garncred into his church He
thought long md prayed much, and IN low
INK consultation with his faithful wife
finally drew up q constitution for u society
for these young folks which wac in many
OF its features radical departure from all
previously tried methods. The young pco-
plo were called TO meet Mt the pastors
house on the night of February j, 1881.
And there was bern IN Williston church,
that stormy winter night the first Chris
tinii Endcavor society---tho child Of the ten
der love and earnest thought of the young
pastor, Francis u. Clark.
1T SPREAD.
No effort whatever was made to push
the society; they sprung up spontaneously
In different denominations az pastors be-
came acquainted with the plan, The task
of answering inquiries proved heavy ono
for Or. Clark, and expensive as we'll 1T
lie book written by him on the subject.
"The children and the Church proved
very popular and gave "A great impulse 10
the organizing of societies Of Christian En-
deayof.
IT'S RULING IDEAS.
A number OF the ruling ideas OF Christian
ceiyed their first Impulse in these National
gatherings aud as DR.. Clark was the in-
srument In Gods hands of originating the
organization, 20 He stu seems 10 select
hin as His chosen medium to project these
Lew lines of thought and activity, Thus
I,r Clark was the first 10 see tho great pos
s!bilites in Christian Endeayor for promote
lug L oloser fellowship amcng Christians OF
the various denominations. II Is safe TO
say that no one agency has ever done D.
much to bind together Christian hearts Ia
that spiritual unit for which their Savior
prayed,
HOW 1T WORKS.
The constitution of the society Is very
simple. lite object Is to Increase the mutual
acquaintance of the members, and to de-
ve,op them in their Christian life and ac-
tiyities. The membership Ia divided into the
active, associate and honorary. Active
members must be protesting Christians,
and they ought to be members OF tho
church. Associate members needs not De
protesting Christians, but must be OF good
character. Honorary members or Officers
who are in sympathy With the work.
Ono remarkable result OF this arrange
mcnt of membership is that many thous-
ands Of associate members have been led
to become active, protesting Christians
and to Join the church. At the Cleveland
convention, 1885, 100000 were thus re-
ported. This has helped TO solve the prob
lem of how to get the young people into
the church.
IN TEXAS.
At the stimulating convention in st.
Louis, in 1883, the few Texas Endeayoreis
found their nrst opportunity to attend
National convention. Those who knew BY
experience the contagious eject OIL one
OF these enthusiastic meetings VIII not be
surprised that fifteen or twenty Texans
got together at once and organized stale
union and determined TO spread the blessed
work In their own State. a state conven-
ton was called To meet at Fort Worth In
the fall OF that year. This was held in due
time and the bark was launched.
AS with all Infants life Il struggled for
a year or two. Then skillful nurse was
found In the person OF Miss sallle Ander-
son OF Gainesville. Miss Anderson. by her
originality. quaint humor and industry,
performed valuable service for several
years In stimulating the formation OF new
societies IN better organizing old ones.
II was not until the Austin convention
In 1899, that the State work received It's
real impetus. A fine delegation attended,
the papers and interest were fully up In
Christian Endeayor ideals and new start
was made
Owing to the railroad troubles and the
Worlds Fair in that year. the 1888 conyen-
tlon at Palestine did not accentuate the
progress that had been anticipated. Mean
while, too. the organization OF the de-
nomlnational societies In the Methodist
and Baptist churches drew out many SPLEEN
did societies and able workers. Neyerthe-
lees. under the earnest direction OF the
devoted Endeavorers. Miss Shirley X.
Green Of Palestine. who was acting presl.
dent that year. the work moved on and In
1894 n great throng came up to the Waco
convention. The convention In 1895 marked
distinct progress upon the Waco meeting.
and In 1896 In San Antonio the convention
was numbered among tho most prominent
held by the several States that year. Aut
last year In Galveston the high water
mark In the history OF Christian Endeavor
conventions In Texas was reached. II.
however. part history is 70 be taken 10 mn
indication. Dallas. this year will have tho
honor OF entertaining the largest conyen-
tion OF the State Christian Endeayor So
ciety ever held
Christian Church Convention.
Mckinney. Texas. June 7. What wns
"