The Lexington intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1901-1949, 1901-07-27
EpwOrth League.
Repnhlic. sundar Jnlr 2l.

1t+ AyAAo hCBuDAiCs Ouuudy, July 81
THIS years convention of the Ep-
worth Leage in San Francisco marks
an epoch In the history Of that organ
~izatiOn. Though only twelve years
old officially, an attendance of 0 1000
delegates is certainly large enough to
arouse all the enthusiasm that young
followers of the doctrines Of John
Wesley could reasonably hope to con-
tain.
Just as the Christian Endeavor
society is the chief medium through
which the work OF tine young people in
the Presbyterian, Christian, Congrega.
tional and other denominations is
done, so the Epworth League stands
in the same relation to the Methodist
church. As a matter Of fact, the
Epworth League has robbed the Chris
tian Endeayor movement of about a
million and a half members.
Many societies we're gathered into
the Epworth League. Perhaps the
chief Of these was that part of the
Christian Endeayor society which held
a mass of young Method!sts. The
Church Lyceum, founded in 1872, and
4 recognized by the general conference
four years later, was succeeded by the
Oxford League. The League was
t founded by Bishop Vincent and at the
birth OF the Epworth League contrib
uted 500 chapters,
Another OF the component societies
afterwards absorbed was the Young
Peoples Methodist Episcopal Alliance,
h which vas formed al the Desplaines
5 ILL.,, camp meeting 10 1883. Thi'
;. organization had for its chief tene. tht
Wesleyan doctriue Of entire sanct'aca
r tion. AT the time Of it's absorption
d 40 societies were enrolled. Thu
Young Peoples Christian League va
rs organlzed b the late Reverend Docto
ID j. II. Tvombty In 1887 in an effort Il
10 concenlrs,e the work Of the Methods
st young people. 1t quickly united a
the Methodist young peoples sociesie
Of the New England sts.es.
q The Methodist Young Peoples Unio
was organized in 1858 at the Detrol
&c conference, vlth the Reverend w. W
WEshburn as the first president an
J, the Reverend Doctor c. Z. Spencer, c
C. Kansas CITY. as the editor OF tn
Official organ, sour Young People
at The Epworth Leage afterward adopte
Ii most of the principles announced i
the consultation of the Union. Th
OF North Ohio conference Method;
o. Episcopal Alliance was organized
% year before its absorption.
re May IS, 1889, Is the birthday OF ii
d. EpWorth League, the Central Churc
LOT Cleveland, Ohio, having the hone
a and good fortune OF being the brit
iis place. The name Of Epworth Lesgr
was taken 10 commemorative OF Il
village Of that name, where the We
leys lived. Urged by the bishops an
leaders OF the church, Representative
Of all the Young peoples societi'
mentioned were present. The col
"A stitutiou of the oxford League vi
10 taken for temporary use. "0'
y, Young People" was transformed I'M
the "Epvorth Herald"
One year later the board Of cortr
elected Bishop james n. Fitzgera
is president aud Doctor w. H. W. Re,
an secretary. Two thousand chapte
10 aud 100, 900 members were enrolle'
IN The board Of control met in 81. Lou
May 81, 1891, and prepared a mer
lie. oiial to the general conference, Whit
,es accepted the League as q part Of ii
TO church machinery.
IS, "Intelligeut aud vital" piety is give
in as the chief object OF the Leagu
How much has been accomplished i
,ht this direction only those familiar wi,
on the work OF the Methodist Church cs
go. fully know.
yht -