The Newtown bee., 1899-06-23
LOCAL AFFAIRS.
Christian Endeavor Rally.
LARGE CONGREGATION GATHERS AT
THE sTEPNEY METHODIST CHURCH.

THE sTEPNEY METHODIST CHURCH.
The weather Of last Monday evening,
when fellowship meeting of the Chris
tian Endeavorers of this vicinity was
held in Stepney, was all that could be
desired. When we say that, we of course
are not taking into account the drought
that has been so long prevailing, which
makes the eating of dust and the SMELL
ing Of dust every time one ventures from
his dooryard common, ,if not pleasant,
occupation. The moon rode full-orbed
in clear sky and made one Of the few
nights which artists paint and of which
poets dream. The gathering was large t;
although 7sg0, the hour announced for
opening the meeting, did not mean 7.3O
in the minds of good many, when all
hada finally gotten together they looked
about and saw themselves goodly COM
pany. Mr. Carey, president of the Bridge
port Union, was there, and he said he
had been talking to all his friends ever
since about the good time he had at the
last meeting at White Hills. II others
only knew what good time all always
have, without exception, who attend
these union meetings, any church in the
circuit would after q while hardly be
large enough to contain the throng.
Each meeting so far has been a feast of
fat things. The addresses have been up
to high mark, the singing has been in
spring, and the whole spirit shown by
those who participate or by those who
only listen has been such as to furnish a
real spiritual uplift that lasts for many
days. We need such uplifts often. Life
is so prosaic and we are given over for
so large share OF the time to providing
for the body that we are in danger, all
Of us. of forgetting that we have a soul.
Rev N. B. Prindle of White Hills open
ed the program with praise service and
by his earnestness got everyone singing.
whether before he ever realized he could
sing or not. Rev j. L. Rollins, pastor of
the church in which the meeting was
held, read from Matthew the passage
giving the foundation-truth on which
Christ founded His church, following
the reading with prayer. After Mr. Sim
clair of Monroe had sung fine solo, the
main topic Of the evening, the relation
ship of the Young Peoples society to the
church, was opened by Rev Mr. Aver of
Easton, who earnestly and eloquently
told how the society might help the
church. He spoke of the three things
that were emphasized by the Christian
EndeaYor pledge: loyalty, obedience
and personal responsibility. Col Roose-
velt told of instances where his Rough
Riders when wounded would insist on
going into the battle, not much like
three officers in a New York regiment
who, on the other hand, insisted on re-
naming in the rear. Gen Sheridan's
ride through the Shenandoah Valley had
become famous, and it strikingly Illus.
trated what loyalty to a great leader
could accomplish. We see the great
steamship ploughing its track of foam
through the watery main; it is sugges-
tion Of power. We see the steam engine
gliding swiftly over the land, pnlling its
heavy weight behind; it Is suggestion
of power. But the youngest member of
any Christian Endeavor society has more
power than steam vessel or steam en-
CINE. It gave Mr. Aver great delight at
Gimes to grasp the hand of some young
person who had clearly offered his testi-
mony in meeting and say to him that
nis words had been great help to him.
self and he knew that they had to others.
We are too chary OF our praise. Flat
terry no one wants, but sincere praise Is
a great encouragement to effort. Rev T.
D. Luddington handled the other aide of
the subject, how the church may help
the Young Peoples society. A man
without work, he said, is generally apt
to get into trouble. When Peter was
only hanging around the court Of the
high priest, doing nothing but warm
himself by the Are and listen to what
was going on, he was easily overcome
by little maid; but afterwards when he
was engaged in the great task of preach
ing the Resurrection OF Christ, all the
power of the Sanhedrim could not dis
may him. When Elijah was on Mount
Carmel he could taunt the priests of Basl
and his word brought fire from the skies ;
but when he had killed all the priests
and there seemed nothing more to do,
one woman caused him to run.
The Question Box was ably conducted
by Rev o. w. Barker of Newtown, who
seemed quite equal to the questions thai
were sent in to him. Miss Aver Of
Easton then sang sweet solo, and Re,
N. B. Prindle offered prayer.
AT the close of the program the an
nouncement was made that the room be
low offered some attractions, and
prompted, no doubt. by the motive o.
curiosity, which has ever been charac
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