The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1898-03-27
FLORIDA ENDEAVORERs.
Their Convention AdJourns After
Most Successful Daily Sessions.


Their Convention AdJourns After
Most Successful Daily Sessions.
Winter Park, Fla, March 26.-Last night
in the big tent the closing session of the
Christian EndeavoT Union was held aal
the universal verdict was that ii was
the best aud most successful convention
yet held, In December, 1886, at Jack
sonville. the Rev. $. f. Gale organized
the first local union in the state, but
it was not until February. 1882 that the
state union was formed at Ocala. The
next year it came to Winter Park, then
Orlando, Jacksonville, Gainesville. Tampa
Sanford. DeLand and palatka had Il, and
this year 1t came back TO Winter Park no
longer an infant organization, but strong
and jealous in greatly increased numbers
ripe experience and enlarged methods of
Christian work Financially, IL has come
to the close of its first ten years free
from debt, although It has been liberal
in every department of its work.
The opening session Tuesday night was
full Of enthusiasm, the big tent being
crowded In every part President George
stirring and cordial address of welcome
to which Rev. DR.. Francis e. Clark Of
Boston. the founder of the order and presi-
dent of the Worlds Christian Endeavor
Union made an appropriate response. He
then, In an eloquent manner, described his
visits TO the unions in foreign lands, near
ly all Of which have been formed since
the Florida union was organized For the
founder and leader of such a nights
movement, Rev DIR. Clark possesses u
modesty and devotion to humble detaii
work that surprises all who meet him In
his official capacity
OF the prominent figures in this conven-
ton, as workers and eloquent speakers
mention should be made of Bishop II. b.
Whipple of Minnesota. Rev. DR. Ira Ian
| birth of Nashville Rev. Dr. r. NJ Sprague
of Tampa, Rev. DR.. Il. =. Hooker of Win
ter Park, Rev. DR.. r. d. Hunt of San
ford, President w. f. Yocum of the State
College at Lake City Mrs. l.. r. Philips
Of Sanford, Mrs. C. II. Newell of Tavares,
Miss Minnie Neal of DeIand, Miss Mabel
Pepper of Punta NGorda.
The election resulted as follows: For
president, c. A. Lincoln of Auburndale;
vice president, Miss Mary b. Burril of
oxford; secretary, Miss Minnie e. Neal
of DeLand; treasurer, Mrs. W. r. Clay
ton of Haines City; superintendent junior
department, Miss Rebel Withers of Ocooe
superintendent of missionary department,
j. r. Swami OF Lake Kerr; superintendent
of Christian Citizen department, G. IL.
Newell of Tavares; editor the Florida
Good News. the state organ, Miss Minnie
Il. Neal of DeLand. Retiring President
willard Eliot of Winter Park was chosen
vice president for Florida for the Worlds
Christian Endeavor Union. The district
49, TIC A - .rsfl,
Gainesville, for Alachua and Levy; A.
Norwood of st. Petersburg, for Hillsboro
and Pasco; e. c. Totman of Palatka, for
Northeastern; Miss Marion Freeman OF
Homeland, for Polk and De Soto; Mrs.
d. A. Dodge Of Kissimmee, for Orange
and Osceola; w. II. Miller of Inverness,
for Marion and Sumter; j. X. McClelland
of Lisbon, for Lake and SUMTER Edward
b. Rood of Glenwood, for Volusia and
Brevard
The closing day was the most intensely
interesting one, as it embraced the insti-
tuition Of the newly elected officers and the
conservation service, both of which were
most impressively conducted by President
Clark. who stated that this was the first
state convention he had ever been able
to attend from start to finish" and he
heartily thanked God for this rare oppor-
tunity which enabled him TO witness the
entire work of live state organization
in the South. He was very deeply touched
by the mastery and eloquent address on
foreign mission this afternoon by Bishop
IT. b. Whipple of Minnesota, he having
visited come Of the mission stations re-
ferred to in the address At the close OF
Bishop Whipples grand effort, Maj SID
nev Herbert, In a few appropriate and
well-choseu words, moved a rising vote OF
thanks. which was given with the Char-
tauaua salute amid hearty and prolonged
applause.
Probably the most conspicuous OF the
lady workers and speakers was Miss
Rebel Withers of Ocoee, elected superin-
tendent Of the Junior department. the
Ocoee juniors winning the banner. Be
sides being the tallest lady present, she
bears a peculiar name and comes from
a remarkable Confederate family In Ken
lucky and Virginia Her father. the late
Gen. w. r. Withers, named her Rebel
In honor of the Lost Cause" just as his
brother, Gen. r. Y. Withers, OF Virginia
named his daughter Virginia Secession"
Despite Miss Rebel Withers' warlike
name. she, like her devoted Christian
mother is humble in spirit and jealous
in every good word and work for the pro-
motion of the cause Of Christ. To this
faithful mother and daughter the Disci-
pics or Cuilsildn tHuIcI, y idfBSiy III
debted for the strong foothold It has Sc
cured In Florida during the past few
years, and for the good record II has
made In the Christian Endeavor Union.
This years convention Of this denomina-
ton was held in the elegant Withers Me-
mortal Church at Ocoee, erected In mem
DRY Of Gen. w T. Withers.
President Clark went last night to Ala
bama for Sunday service; VIII be in Allan
Ia on Tuesday and Wednesday and thence
to South Carolina, where he will meet
with the state convention, after which he
goes direct to his Boston home. Christian
Endoavorers everywhere In the South
will be greatly blessed by his eloquence
and wise counsel. and favorably impressed
BY his rare humility He is the servant
of all and the most obscure Endeavorer
finds in him warm personal friend and
safe adviser.