Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1899-1903, 1900-09-27
winning the whole world for the sa-

Mr.. Holt then referred to the bene-
fits that the older members of the So
ciety derive in sitting by and watch
ing the work of the younger delegates.
He told of the great possibilities of the
society in the present century, refer
ring to the need of work along the line
of that in which the Endeavorers are
engaged in the new countries which
have been wrested from barbarism.
He spoke of China, and the need of
more enlightenment among the heath
en- population, and referred to the fact
that Endeavorers can look with pride
on what they have accomplished in
this direction in the past.
Mr.. Holt closed his address by eX-
tending most cordial welcome to OF
tumwa's guests.
President orr's Address.
Mr.. Orr, of Clarinda, president of
the society in Iowa, was then intro
duced by Chairman Evans and said in
part as follows
Christian Enueavor lives, says Sec
rotary Baer in one of his annual mes
sages. Christian Endeavor" lives
replies DR.. Clark as he re-
turns from his journey around
the world, Christian Endeavor lives
declares dozen cities where great in
ternational conventions have been
held. Christian Endeavor lives thun-
ders London still quivering from the
mighty gathering of the clans of 1900.
Christian Endeavor lives whispers
thousands of churches that have been
blessed with young peoples societies
possessed with the true Christian En-
deavor principles. Christian Endeav-
or lives proclaims score of reforms
inaugurated or promoted by this move
ment. Christian Endeavor lives testi-
fly many evils that have felt the
weight of the hand of this mighty
youth. Christian Endeavor lives pray
erfully breathes countless throng of
unfortunates whose burdens have been
lightened by the Christ-like service of
the Christian Endeavor hosts The
testimony on all sides is that Chris
tian Endeavor lives. In my message
to you tonight, l wish to apply one
great law of life in order that we may
measure the vitality of Christian En-
deavor, get its pulse, take its tempera-
ture, determine the physical condition
of our beloved society. To thoroly di-
agnose it's case SO far as this one law
is concerned so that the dear child
can study the future, and strengthen
the things that are wanted.
This law of life is double header,
where there is life there is growth;
that which ceases to grow, dies"
This is true of vegetable, organ
lied, animal, mental and spiritual
life; is of universal applica-
ton, both as to time and territory
When the grass ceases to grow it be-
gins to ripen for it's reaper death, as
and leaves, it lives, but when it ceases
it dies. Your house plants as long as
you keep them growing, putting forth
new leaves and shoots, live and are a
JOY forever, but as soon as they cease
to grow they die. You mourn and re-
fuse to be comforted because they are
dead. But you ask, must that mighty
oak, the monarch of the forest, whose
age is a thousand years, that has
withstood the heat of summers and
the fronts of winter; that has barred
it's head to the cyclone and withstood
the rush of the torrent, grow? Yes,
the law is universal, even the oak must
grow or 1t viii die.
The same law holds good in organi-
cations. They must grow or die. Many
realized this in mutual life. Insurance
companies, as long as we can keep a
stream of young, vigorous life coming
into the organization, lives, and ap
pears as substantial as adamant itself,
but cut off that source of growth, and
it's days are numbered. So in the
church, if it ceases to secure additions
from any source it's days will be few
and full of trouble. 1t will never live
to reaize Pats wish That he might
live to eat the chicken that scratched
his grave" So in government and |
do not express an opinion on the domi-
nant issue. 1t must grow or it will
die. | do not mean that it must grow
in territory or in power. That it must
increase it's army or navy. These do
not make nation great. But in all
things that tend to national greatness
it must grow or die. | am aware that
many persons measure greatness by a
false standard, misunderstood the
true object of government; that |
am travelling on dangerous ground,
when question their conclusions. You
ty and business methods, question his
personal courage and even talk about
his family with impunity, but when
you differ with him in politics or criti-
else his party you at once become dis
honest and idiotic, yet affirm in the
face of all that, that national great
ness does not consist in mighty armies,
great navies, in great possessions or
brilliant statesmen, not in its influence
among the nations of the word, or it's
ability to settle international difficult
ties, but in its men and women. That
the true end of governments is not to
build great nations, but to develop great
men and women. That government is
not a great centralized power to pro-
tect us from attacks from without and
punish crime within or even to redress
the wrongs of our neighbors, but gov
eminent is organized in order to pro-
vide conditions favorable to the de-
velopment of true manhood and wom-
anhood. This is called Sunday school
politics and we are told that the Ten
Commandments and the Golden Rule
have no place in politics. We can
not SETTLE such questions by law and