The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1900-12-05


the Sunday schools more than three mil
| lions in the Christian Endeavor Societies,
more than two millions in the Epworth
League, more than 100000 in the B. Y. P.
IT,, and more than 100000 in the Y. NJ. c.
A. Counting in all of the young people,
societies and associations. there are
something like 30,00O,00O This must
mean something.
THAT was an interesting crusade at the
beginning of the thirteenth century, after
five crusades had gone forth, led by kings
and emperors, when youth in France
proclaimed Childrens Crusade, and So,
600 children marched to the Holy Land.
Thirty thousand persisted on the way, and
thousands more were sold into slavery in
the East We are engaged in crusade.
The word crusade means war OF the
cross Ours is not a carnal. but splr-
| itual war. What does this splendid move
ment mean? From the divine side it
| seems to me that it means God in history,
| God who lives and moves in this world.
cannot see that anyone is fitted for the
Masters service unless he sees God NOV
| ing in the world today. We must see the
whole earth full of the glory of the AL
mighty God This great movement means
| that Jesus Christ is in the midst of the
church today. / believe that as we re-
spond to one command of God. it leads
us on to another movement. and so on.
1t means, too the Holy Spirit in His
church, the fulfillment of the promise that
the Holy Spirit shall be given to guide
the church.
"In the second place, from the human
SIDE think the movement means recog-
milton. There is no question that the
church has neglected the training OF its
young people, and is just now beginning
to recognize the amount and value OF the
energy there stored up. 1T has been
said that nearly all the great things in
| the world have been done by young people.
Spurgeon at % was arousing Great Brit
ain and the whole world; Wesley was still
| student at oxford when he inaugurated
| his great movement Whitefeld at "a was
electrifying the English speaking world
with his sermons Napoleon Bonaparte was
| 25 when he had conquered Italy; Boiling
broke and Pitt were scarcely men when
| they led Parliament Raphael and Byron
died at 81: Keats died at 29. 1t means the
recognition that God has committed a
great work into the hands of the young
people The burning zeal, ardor and en-
thusiasm of youth ought to be conserved
and appropriated to the service of God.
This brings up the thought that in the
service Of Christ we should never grow
old.
''It means utilization, too. Ii there is
anything that stirs my soul, it is to think
of the energy that is wasted in this
world Noise, even, of all kinds is energy.
U,I,o Full IF
is just beginning to to know and to use
it. A great many young people join the
church, and that is the end of their &C
tivity This is largely the fault of the
church in not utilizing them.
1.-The third word the great movement
expresses from the human side is devel-
opment. In the way of social develop
ment it gathers the people together in the
churches and unite them in one band.
The development is intellectual also. [
rejoice in the educational features of the
Union, our periodical, the Baptist Union,
and our study of the Bible. The atmos-
phere is one of study There is develop
| ment denominationally also, stimulating
| a study of splendid achievements in the
past and strengthening the ties of the
| church.
cal. The very movement was born in a
spirit of revival, and will die when it
ceases to be evangelistic. 1t means 10y
atty to Christ, recognizing in Him our
common Savior Lord and Master. 1t is
an appeal to young people of all Christen-
dom to use all their powers for the glory
of God and of man. Here is the great
opportunity. Now is the time to seize
it,"
DR.. e. e. Chivers, of Chicago, was the
next speaker. He expressed his sense of
pleasure at visiting the State again. His
welcome in Asheville last year was so
cordial that then and there he registered
a vow to be in Raleigh this year, and
was thankful for the privilege of meet
ing representative North Carolina Bap-
lists once more. He stated that he would
dwell upon the work Of the Union in
relation to its development of Christian
character There is that" he said ''in
every man which adds to or detracts from
everything he says or does. This is char
acter, the secret of life. Although the
word is not mentioned often in the
Bible the Gospel aims consistently at the
development of strong. beautiful, Chris
tian character; Christianity is more than
a rapture of emotion, more than code
of morals, and more than a ceaseless
round of religious activities. Before and
above all else it is life, life derived
from God, sustained by fellowship with
God, swayed by the love of God. 1t finds
expression for itself inwardly in charac-
ter and outwardly in service. Character
not only determines destiny, but condi-
T G ho rh a or IF uhi oh
service is the expression that gives the
service it's distinctive quality and tone
in Gods sight 1t adds always a plus
value to its own acts. Every man, like
every planet. has his atmosphere, the ex-
halation of the mans inner being. Char
acter is in the deepest sense service.
Christ teaches us that we can best glorify
God by fruits. Fruit is the expression
of life. God requires of US a fruit bear
ing life of service. Religion might be
ed Oh