The Portland daily press., 1901-02-04

history, or the first or rough drafts OF
history" The simple and yet onmpre-
hensive inscription on this memorial,
outlines twentv Of the most fruitful and
progressive years In the history Of the
church OF Jesus Christ. That past his
tory. however Interesting and inspiring,
Is only the first or rough draft Of his
tory that Is Jet to be written. These are
no idle words, but o most thoughtful,
serious, end sinoere prophecy. Know
something OF what God has wrought IN
these twenty years Of Christian Endeav.
or. / contrast the early days OF small
things, with the larger things Of today. l
am thinking OF the 40 denominations In
all iaoes and In all lands, Of the thou
| sands upon thousands of dollars given by
these young people 70 the oaues OF mis-
sions; OF the more than million young
| hers from the ranks Of the society; OF the
/ splendid achievements for Chris.
tianity; of the loyalty to their own
church inspired in tine hearts OF young
disciples; of the open hostility TO sectar-
ianisIn, sabbath dissertation, and the ga
loon. ! rejoice In the progress that has
been made In binding together denomi-
nations, races and nations. In fellow
ship that 10 helping to answer our Lord 5
prayer THAT they all may be one" and
though our past history reads like mir
aoie, near Ipe when l say again, Chris
tian Endeavor Is yet to see Its best days.
We are all glad that the 70 OF
| Christian Endeavor, the first pastor OF
this historic church, Is today with us,
and was never In better health and vigor.
| Christian Endeavorers have always loved
| Francis n, Clark for his very worth's Q
sake and that love today Is deeper ana
stronger than ev er.
A firm believer In the deep, powerful
religious life expressed In the church OF
Jesus Christ, he is now as be always nas
been, an enthusiastic champion OF tne
young people and their ability TO DO
! Christian work, appealing to the heroic
and devout In their lives. A man OF SIM
cere simplicity and at the came time res
oluts strength. quiet, unassuming, al
ways persistent never obstinate, always
aggressive, never pugnacious, Away
courteous, never punctilious, always re-
| ligious, never sanotimonious, friend OF
self Prospecting INSTRUMENTATION
an enemy of marrow sectarianism, Fran
els E. Clark is an ideal Christian En-
davor. What Tennyson said OF his per-
sonsl friend after death had claimed him,
/ borrow to express the estimate that all
| Christian Endeayorers have of their leader
who lives today
81 ind no place that does not breathe
Some gracious memory of my friend.
wiliiston church would never forgive
me nor would the Endeavorers whose
| EnOutuDitCc dtn bpdbgt ~ NAN
press affectonate appreciation OF Dr.
| Ciark's good wife, who from the earliest
DAYS until this day has bean OF inestima-
BILE assistance to DIR. Clark and the cause
at large. Mrs. Clark Is beloved py an
ever increasing number OF people IN nve
continents, and has at untold SACRIFICE
| been the travelling companion OF her nus
band upon many OF his pilgrimages IN
| this and OF her lands. Williston church
knows we'll, as we all do, that she has
much OF DR.. Clark's executive abilitys
and Is the originator OF many me,hous
of Christian Endesvor and other church
work. She is especially qualified In eve
ry way to be the wife OF the leader OF
nearly four millions of young people
| Let me say OF her what Kew. Charles
Perry Mills, the pastor who organized the
second Christian Endeavor society, once
| said OF DR., CLARK: "Some ara gentle
| without strength some strong without
gentleness; be has both gentleness and
| strength" All who know Mrs. CLARK
will agree with me that she has both
| gentleness and strength.
Dr. Baker, please accept for winston
church, this tablet and this faulty ex-
preston OF our love for this church, for
| DIR. and Mrs CLARK, and for the great
cause OF Christian Enueavor, our leader
and Individual members OF our great
army around the world, and give us a
spirit of conservation adequate for the
Some one has said. $40 be twenty years
of age in 1901 with the prospect OF gee
| ing 1850, is to be heir &c an Inheritance
better ana greater than the richest mil
IionairecAn leave behind" Christian En-
deayor is 20 yesrs old today and is going
to see 1850 and more than that, please
| God, IL is going to sec ali the years there
are to see. 1t is with this bope we mark
this eventful day, and with this spirit
that we ask you TO accept this tablet.
The idea to place upon Williston
church on the twentieth birthday OF
Christian EndeAvor a bronze memorial
tablet, was original with Prof Amos X.
| Wells managing editor OF the Christian
Endeavor World The suggestion was
made about year ago, and was acted
upon at once. Ii now comes as a gift
from the Christian Endeavorers of Ameri-
ca, Europe, Asia, Africa and Australia.
The tablet was designed by IL. b. Pen
nell, OF Boston, who, when boy, lived
| in Portland and was one OF the tirst lead
ers nf the Christian Endeavor mestl ngs
in Williston church. 1t weighs lbOO
pounds, and b5ars the following insorip-
lion:
"In connection with this church, Rev.
| Francis t. Clark, at that time its pas-
tor. established on February second,
1881, THE FIRST SOCIETY OF
| CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOR. From this
spot the society has spread with marvel
1 =
GOD, and now blessss the church In eve
ry land. Christian Endeayorers of Amer
lea, Europe, Africa, Asia, ana Australia,
on the twentieth anniversary OF the
| founding OF the society, February second
1901. have joined to erect this tablet In
honor of Christian Endeavor and in 10y
atty 20 their motto, FOR CHRIST
AND THE CHURCH"
When he had concluded his elouqent
remarks Dr. Baker accepted the gift in
behalf OF the church and said:
DIR. BAKER s ADDRESS.
| It is not an uncommon thing in the
| humble homes or Maine, for the plain
| country mother to welcome BACK ner
sons who have gone out into the world
| to advanoa commerce., lead armies, con-
troll Senates, and preach the Gospel round
the world Thus today Mother Wiliiston
welcomes to her humbls home her child
Endeavor. whom Cod gave to her twenty
years ago. IL Is hard for her 10 realz
that 1t has become such great bouncing
giant as It is walking all over the cart u,