Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1902-11-25
EAST OXFORD LOCAL UNION.
INTERESTING AND PROFITABLE CHRIS
TIAN ENpEAvoR MEETING AT SOUTH
PARIS.

l INTERESTING AND PROFITABLE Chhls
TIAN ENpEAvoR MEETING AT souT
PARIS.
The annual meeting Of the East Oxfor
Local Union of Chistian Endeavor Sc
cieties was held in the Congregations
church at South Paris last Tuesday
with three sessions, forenoon, Afternoon
and evening. There was fairly goo'
attendance, and a well-filled and in
teresting programme. The meetings a
a whole were profitable and helpful t.
all who participated.
An excellent dinner and supper wer
served in the vestry, and such as remain
ed over night were entertained by mem
bers of the local societies.
The meeting was called to order at
few minutes after the hour set, by tn
president, Mrs. T. S. Barnes of Soutl
Paris, and devotional service was con
Quoted by Rev. Henry F. Burden o
Mechanic Falls, with Miss Susie NJ
Wheeler at the organ.
During short business session which
followed, routine matters were attended
to, records read and committees ap
pointed, and the roll-call of the societies
making up the Union was made, will
abstracts of the returns from the severa
societies given by the secretary, Mis-
Olive n. Stuart.
The fact that large portion of th'
societies reporting had no junior society
according to the returns, was comment
ed upon by the president, who urged thu
Importance of maintaining the junior a!
feeder for the senior society.
An open parliament on practical plans
and methods followed. The first speak
er was Rev. W. E. Brooks, D. D., on the
topic, "For a campaign for new mem
bers." DR.. Brooks also brought for
ward the importance of the junior body
and urged work with the young as the
efficient means by which the membership
of the Endeavor Society is to be main
tanned and increased. He suggested the
hour following the afternoon session OF
public school as good time for meeting
and one with which he had elsewhere
had practical experience and good sue
cess.
The second topic was For officers to
keep things moving" by Rev. F. E.
Newport of Oxford. Mr. Newport open
ed by saying that that important officer,
the president, should not be chosen be-
cause the society wanted to honor some
body, but for ability and efficiency. The
way in which the officers NAV keep
things moving may be summed up in
three words, Power. Plan, Push. They
should have the power of the Christian
Endeavor idea, and be impressed with
the Importance of the work; the power
which comes through faith in Christ and
confidence in the church and other
means of Christian work; the power ac-
quired through specialization and con.
centration of effort; and the power of
enthusiasm, which can hardly be lacking
if the rest is fulfilled.
Next, plan. By anticipation: don't
wait till Saturday night to find out what
the topic is for the next meeting, but
study it up. By reading, especially of
Christian Endeavor literature, because
you will get so many ideas from it. BY
consultation. The officers should meet
frequently to consult how the work may
be improved and extended.
Finally, push. Push the committees.
not arbitrarily or harshly, but kindly.
Push the leaders. Speak word of COM
mendation to them. And push the
meeting.
Rev. Henry F. Burden spoke on the
topic, ITO get committees to work, -
which he said is the hardest problem he
has met. He referred to Paul's descrip-
ton of the members as having not the
same office. but constituting one body,
and compared this with the Christian
Endeavor Society. The first thing nee
essary to get committees to work is life.
A dead society can not make its COM
mittees work. There must also be a
motive power behind the worker; choose
on committees those who have that.
Make each member of each committee
feel sense of individual responsibility
for the success of the society. Have
your committees meet frequently for
consultation. Keep before the commit
tees the larger thought of the wide e1-
tent Of the work of Christ in the world.
Make the member strong and vigorous
by setting it to set others to work.
Rev. q. H. Bishop of Paris Hill spoke
on the topic, ITO make prayer meetings
more helpful" which, he said, was just
what he wanted to learn. There are
several ways of stimulating interest. A
department of hints and questions may
do some good. A leaderless meeting
helps occasionally, by increasing the
sense of individual responsibility. Other
methods are referred to in the Christian
Endeavor World. But our present need
is not more plans, methods, schemes.
We need earnestness. If you have six
earnest people, you can have a better
prayer meeting than with six hundred
who are Indifferent. Let US have more
downright Christian living and Christian
zeal, and we can be sure of helpful
prayer meetings.
The afternoon service was opened
with praise and devotional service, led
by Rev. F. E. Newport of Oxford. An
address was then given by Rev. Fl. S.
Pinkham of South Paris, on the topic,
''How to Increase the Missionary Spirit
in Our Young People," He advised all
possible spread of knowledge regarding
the missionary work that is being done.
Then, give for the support of the work.
Give, even if the money comes out OF
your pocket hard, and you will find your
interest in the work increasing. Finally,
pray, and as you pray for your los,
brother you will find your love for him
and your interest in his spiritual welfare
increasing. Mr.. Pinkham's closing was
an eloquent appeal for the support OF
the missionary cause.
The second address of the afternoon
was by Rev. B. S. Rideout of Norway,
on "Our Pledge" The Christian En-
deavor pledge is the most importan,
thing about the organization. Without
pledges or covenants of some kind, nc
organization and no government is posi-
BILE. He referred for illustration to the
covenant of God with Israel, the pledges
of Daniel and others in Bible history
the covenant of church membership, and
marriage vows. The act of subscribing
to this pledge should be made more
serious act than it frequently is, even
perhaps to the extent of requiring the
new member to assent to it clause by
clause. The several clauses of tn,
pledge were discussed one by one, ant
the advantages derived from it, in cult
waiting Christian character, were well Sc
forth.
A round table occupied some three
quarters of an hour following this ad
dress. 1t was conducted by the presi
dent, Mrs. Barnes, and variety of prac
teal topics were briefly discussed. TIL
afternoon session closed with quie
hour.
The praise service which opened tn
evening session was led by Rev. F. E
Il Nawnnrt