The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1899-07-07
YEARS WORK SATISFACTORY
United Society of Christian En-
deayor Chances Backward.
THE PRESIDENTS GREETING.
He Reviews the Movement Throughout
the Whole World Preliminary to the
Eighteenth Annual Convention-Thou
sands of Delegates at Detroit

Detroit, July 6.-The officers of the
United Society of Christian Endeavor
did not arrive to-day in time to hold
the annual business meeting at the hour
set-10a a. m.-and the meeting was late
In converting. The special train from
Boston was held back by temporary
congestion of railroad traffic. caused
by the large number of Christian En-
deavor special trains on the way to De-
troit. This made the leaders late in
! arriving.
Skies which gave promise of prob
able showers greeted the thousands OF
Endeavor delegates who flocked into
the city from every direction to-day,
but for July day the atmosphere was
reasonably cool. The earlier arrivals,
who had travelled all night, spent most
of the morning seeking temporary
homes and getting settled for the week.
Street cars and steamers carried thou
sands of young strangers, who employ
ed the preliminary day OF the conven-
ton in seeing the points Of interest in
and about the City Of the Straits. The
convention began tonight with grand
welcoming rally in Tent Endeavor.
Rev. DR.. Francis e. Clark, president,
urer William Shaw arrived at 10:S0.
At IL o'clock DR.. Clark called to order
the annual meeting of the United So
ciety in the Hotel Cadillac. He ad-
dressed the members of the organiza-
tion in part as follows:
1.-The last year of Christian Endeav-
or work has been one Of remarkable
prosperity, year signally marked by
the favor Of God. Christian BndeavoT
has now SO largely occupied the field
that the phenomenal growth recorded
In the early years Of the movement
cannot be expected. Nevertheless the
growth has been very considerable,
and the accession Of a hundred thous-
and to OAR ranks within the hast twelve
months Is no small addition.
81 recently made Journey to the
West Indies, which was full Of encour-
agement and hope. I found in the
island OF Jamaica very deep and In
telligent interest In the movement. In
Cuba, too, l found the beginnings Cd
Christian Endeavor and a very hopeful
spirit and outlook for the future. In
other lands Christian Endeavor seems
to be obtaining constantly a firmer
foothold. Our British fellow Endeav-
orers are looking forward with great
anticipation to next years exodus to
London. In Germany and France and
Scandinavia the work has made con-
siderable advance. In Spain, in spits
Of the distraction of the war and the
natural antipathy to things American,
the societies have all held their own
and have even increased In number.
Russia, which q year ago was the only
country without Christian Endeavor,
has been invaded by the movement.
and we hear Of our society almost
within the cars household.
"Our effort in behalf Of universal
peace and International arbitration has
been a great succesa II has received
the hearty approval Of many of the
greatest men in Europe as well a.
Affierica, and has called forth on two
or three occasions kilograms and let
tiers of appreciation and gratitude from
the American peace commissioners q
The Hague.
"The spirit Of brotherhood. of ma
ttonal and interdenominational fellow.
ship; of seeking after God. and not the
things that pertain to Office and sta
ton, will. believe, characterize this
eighteenth annual convention. and
pray God that His spirit may pervade
every future gathering Of Christian
Endeavorers and the whole movement
In all its phases and forms Of work tho
world over"