The Portland daily press., 1899-09-08

Yesterday was the third aud last day
of the state convention OF the Christian
Enaeavor society 1t was day crowded
full of interesting events and addresses.
The attendance was extremely large and
equals If 1t does not go beyond the records
OF attendance ct any other state oonven-
tlon. President Purdy announced from
the platform yesterday afternoon that
there were 4l3 visiting delegates register :
ed up to that time and 459 Portland mem
bers of the society who had placed their
names with the registration committee.
There have bssn great many visiting
Endeavorers who have not registered and
when the returns are finally made up 1t
will undoubtedly be found that thare
were nearly 500 visiting Endeavorers IL
Portland during these three memorable
days.
Yesterdays session was ushered in
with the morning prayer meetings which
were largely attended. In the forenoon
a iargs number of the delegates took
delightful sail down the bay and In and
out among its many islands ON one of the
Harpswell steamers. 1t was by all odds
ons of the most pleasing events OF this
convention and the visitors enjoyed the
trip immensely.
THE AFTERNOON SESSION.
An earnestneEs characteristic OF the
closing day of the big convention
marked the proceedings yesterday after
noon and evening. After the praise SER
vice which was conducted by DIR. H. III.
Nickerson the convention listened to sew
eral add ressss from eloquent speakers.
The first was by Prof. &c. K. Chandler,
d. D., OF Bishop college, Marshall,
Texas. He spoke upon Extension of In
tention." and the theme OF his address
was that with the great expansion of our
country the Christian workers should be
moro vigiiant than ever and labor harder
to bring within the fold those who are
now outside Of IL. He said that our en-
pire now extends half way around the
world. Our population has been increased
from ten to fifteen millions and the ques-
tion which now confronts the Christian
young men ana women is what are we
going to do to keep up with the expansion
of empire. Is the progress of Christianity
commensurate with the progress of the
empiref The speaker said that he would
not fear an army Of ten millions of inf
died his doctrines but he did fear for
the army of God unless the Christian En-
deavorers maintained the spirit of the
church In carrying on their work.
We ara living in tifues OF great pros
perity and our wealth Is piling up at the
rate OF seven millions of dollars day.
Never did any nation of history pile up
the wealth that we have in the past few
years. What is the influences of this pros
perity on the church? The speaker
seemed to think that with all of this
wealth the church was not making suita-
BILE progress. The Christian spirit Is luke
warm in many places. It needs to be
awakened. al the close OF the 10th CEN
tury there were fifteen millions OF Chris
tains and at the CLOSE Of the 18th century
they had increased 20 per cent. At the
beginning of the 10th century there were
two hundred millions Of Christians and
at the Gloss of the present century there
should be at least 50l, o00, GOO of Christian
people In the world ah addition Of over
three hundred million In one century. A
noted divine was asked II he thought the
Christian Endeavor movement would
continue to grow. He replied that 1t was
not the growth in numbers but In spirit
which countsd. The speaker seemed to
think that there we're altogether too
many passive Christians who while
within the church did not labor In the
vineyard.
The speaker seemed to think that there
is too much worldliness among the Chris
tian people of today. Young people now
think that they must have good time
AMI even endeavor to make their college
courses four years of pleasure. He said
that the Christian work was not Sun
tiay school picnic and the church should
not be made into social club as has been
done in many places in the West Mater
ial prosperity means the increase of self
indulgence and consequent departure
from the teachings anu example OF
Christ
The speaker referred to Sheldon, the
author OF that wonderfully popular book.
sin His steps,. He said that he had Wis
tied Topeka, the home of Sheldon and
had there learned that the author OF this
book was iiving up to his teachings and
TO ewing the example and lessons of
Christ in his daily life. Endeavoreys can
find similar work to that Sheldon Is do
ing at home. He urged upon them the
necessity OF doing something for the for
ei 90 c5sssion Geld and also some thing for
the settlement Of the race problsm in the
South. He thought that the present day
" he best In watch to live and d !
more good could be aos emphasized In this
age than at any other time In the world' 4
history.