The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-08-05
A WONDERFUL SOCIETY.


Something more than IS years ago,
in the city of Portland, Me, a pastor
had become anxious concerning the
practical work of the young people in
his church. He felt that they ought
to pray more and do more, and make
the latent power of their young life
more effective in the church life. Much
thought and prayer were given to the
subject, and at last a simple organiza-
ton called the Young Peoples Society
of Christian Endeavor of the Williston
Church of Portland was the result It
was on the second day of February
that this organization was effected and
that the first Society of Christian En-
deavoF was launched.
It was naturally a small organization
and it made but little stir. The papers
of Portland did not record the event the
next morning, nor were the people of
the Williston church itself very much
impressed with the new organization
Still this little society had within 1t the
germ of the great Christian Endeavor
movement.
In fact, within it were all the essen
tial features of the present day society.
It had the pledge, almost III the exact
form that is today used The two class
es of mem bers, active and associate,
were also provided for, and defined as
today. The conservation meeting was
a feature of that first society, and sew
eral of the more important committees,
without which an Endeavor society
cannot do it's work, belonged to the first
society in WillistOn church.
The missionaries Of the different de-
nominate took the seed across the
sea and planted it in China, in India,
in Japan, and in the South Sea Islands.
Germany in time found a use for Chris
tfan Endeavor. Scandinavia soon con-
c1uded there was something in it for her
churches.
Switzerland and France have given
it a welcome, though as yet the num-
Der of societies is small. Even Spain
did not turn it's back upon this Aneri-
can idea.
1t is a fact worth noting that even
during our late unpleasantness with
Spain, though the movement had been
largely associated with America and
American missionaries, yet not sin
gle society was given up, and there are
today several more societies in the
Peninsula than there were a year ago.
Moreover, some of the enthusiastic
Endeavorers Of Spain are eagerly ask
ing if a convention for the CastilianS
cannot be held on Spanish soil in the
year 1900, Immediately after the world 3
great convention in London, a supple
mentary convention which they hope
will be attended by many Arnerics MS
In all these countries the same pledge
is used: the constitution in all it's essen
tial features is the same, and the meth
DDS of work, though flexible and adapt
able, are still substantially the same IN
every Cline This is a seed that -four
ishes in every soil. This is a. plant that
has borne transplanting to every quar-
ter of the globe. More than five million
copies of the constitution have been
printed in forty different languages, and
more than twenty million copies of the
pledge.
The meetings and conventions that
have attended in foreign lands have
been pathetic in their interest Dark
skinned young Hindoos, young China
men with almond eyes and long queues
alert japanese, black Zulus with kinlxy
hair, stalwart Hawaiians and Samoans
1 have seen gathered together for these
purely religious gatherings with a depth
of earnestness and joy in the service of
God which has been inspiring in the esz-
trerne-Rev. Francis Z. Clark, Presi-
dent L. s. c. E, ia Golfers Weekly.