The daily morning journal and courier., 1898-10-06
'. P. s. c. E. ooNKENrToN.
The Election of Officers and Address by
 Rev. Dr. Clark.

Christian Endeavor union brought It's two days annual convention to a close with most enthusiastic mass meeting at the Auditorium tonight. Rev Fran cis D. Clark of Boston, president of the United Society of Christian Endeavor, was the principal speaker, and his pop ularity Is so great that, despite the un- favorable weather there was scarcely an unoccupied seat in the spacious building.
 The meeting opened with a service of song led by A J. Blakesley of this city. after which brief business session was held and the following officers were elected:
 Presidential. II. Spooner of Bulls Bridge.
 Vice presidents-Rev. D. B. Jones of Ellington, Rev. F. A. Johnson of New Milford, Hon. H. A. Hull of New Lon don.
 Secretary and treasurer-A. F. Bron- ley of New Britain.
 Auditor-A. E. Kilbourne of East Hartford.
 Railroad manager--J. H. Mansfield of New Haven.
 Directors for two years-Rev. Asher Anderson of Meriden, J. A. Edmondson of Waterbury and w. F. Waterbury of Stamford
 President Francis E. Clark then de- lvered the annual sermon and made a deep impression. It is as follows:
 OUR CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR
 BIRTHRIGHT.
 One of the most interesting features Of Jewish family and social life was the birthright that belonged to the eldest brother. It affected the national life of the Jews in innumerable ways, and was a thought that was present with them from the cradle to the grave. If you will turn to your Bible you will find in the twenty-first chapter of Deuterono- my that the essential feature of the birthright was that it was double por- tlon The first born son received twice as much as any other son. Moreover, it was his by right of birth. He might be cripple, or weakling, he might be a spendthrift or a miser, but the birth right was his simply because he was the Hrst-born. No one could filch it from him; no one could dispute his right, for 1t was absolutely inalienable except by his own perverse act By his own wicked act could he dispose of it, but in no other way could he lose it.
 Moreover, we learn that it was a dreadful thing to sell ones birthright In the twelfth chapter of Hebrews Esau is spoken of as "that profane person. who for one morsel of meat sold his birthrfght. There are many other peo- pie whose names are recorded in the preceding chapter of the same book who would seem meaner man than his brother, but he is praised for his faith, while Esau is held up to contempt as a birthrfght seller Even Rahab, the har- lot, receives her need of praise but Esau is that profane person. who sold his birthright.
 But Esau is not the only person who has birthright to sell or save. Every Christian Endeavorer by virtue of the fact that he is Christian Endeavorer has peculiar birthright of his own for which he is responsible. This birth right, like that of old, is double por- tion.
 1st. Tn the first place, our birthright is a double portion of service. If you will call to mind the history of the begin ming of Christian Endeavor you will re- member that it's one purpose was to serve and that the first society was not organized simply to do what young peo- pie had always done for the church be- fore, which often had been little or nothing, but it's object was to obtain from them far more service than ever, double faithfulness to the prayer meet ing, double, treble, quadruple, the par ticipation of former years; double por- rvF hu bn for tio,, of tIo lookout committee, the social committee and all the others.
 The society would never have been organized to do the old things in the old way, but was inspired by the crying, dying need of the young people to per form larger service for the church, that their Christian characters might be de- veloped
 This society was constantly saying tC all it's members as every society since has said, Endure hardness as good sol diers of Jesus Christi It did not pro- pose to furnish them with easy seats ir the sanctuary and soft cushions, and a pleasant entertainment, but said here is work for you to do, a double portion ot work, birthright of service. That is the meaning of the pledge.
 0OIlSLlIlSS LllG COIIi ipldllll llcto ItciCllGt my ears that the pledge is too strict that it ought to be modied, but it's very purpose and abject was to be strict, tC bear hard upon the young souls, to pre-. sent obligations and duties which were not altogether easy, and this has beer the great secret of it's success and pow. CT.
 It insured to every Endeavorer who took it and kept it birthright of ser vice, double portion, not service tha any one could do without determination and genuine devotion, but service tha counted in the formation of character because it was hard, and service tha counted Tn the upbuilding of the churcl because it was double portion.
 He who weakens the obligations O the pledge by word or example, by care lessness or thoughtlessness, does { grievous wrong not only to his owl soul, but to all his brethren, for he i selling the Christian Endeavor birth right for a mean mess of pottage o ease and selshness and personal com fort.
 2nd But again, a double portion o loyalty is the Christian Endeavorer' birthright. Once more let us look a the subject historically. The first socie