The Savannah morning news., 1902-07-21
JOHN WILLIS BAER RESIGNS.
Famous General Secretary of Chris
tian Endeavor Society to Go With
Presbytertnn Home Mission Board.

New York, July 2o.-John Willis
Baer. who is known throughout the
length and breadth of the United
United Christian Endeavor Society,
has resigned his position to become
one OF the assistant secretaries of the
Presbyterian board of Home Missions,
Since 1S90-that is, during all the
years of Christian Endeavor's enor-
nous growth-the important post OF
general SECRETARY has been held by
one young man, John Willis Baer. He
was born March 2, 1861, in log cabin.
on a farm near Rochester, Mimi, but
spent his boyhood in Cleveland, o.
Later, for two years he was engaged
in the newspaper business in Cedar
Rapids, To-, and for five years held
responsible position with the Van Du
sen Elevator Company. Minneapolis.
He was a successful young business
man, therefore, when he was called to
the Christian Endeayor work; but at
tention had been directed to him be-
cause he was far more than a bust
ness man. His eloquent tongue, his
inlpassioned earnestness, his ready wit,
and his genial unfailing courtesy, ex-
hibited in Christian Endeavor work in
Minnesota, marked him as fit per-
son for the wider field.
Keen and incisive in everything he
does, Mr.. Baer brought the best BUSH
ness methods into the secretaryship,
and these are needed in keeping the
records of more than $4,000 societies
and carrying on correspondence with
workers all over the world. His coun-
sci has often been sought by the OH
GERS of state and local unions, and
his advice is always full of practical
wisdom, the fruit of his wide expert
ence. He has frequently visited all
parts of the United States and Cam
ada, and has crossed the Atlantic sew
eral times in the interests of the move
ment, receiving a most hearty welcome
in England and ireland. His ability
as public speaker brings him before
many important gatherings of temper
ance and other reform bodies the great
missionary assemblies, the conferences
of the various denominations, and es-
pecially into eVangelistic mass meet
ings, where he is notably used of God.
He has been an elder in the First
Presbyterian Church, Boston, and has
several times been chosen as a COM
missioner to the General Assembly.
For the past two years he' has been
DDS Committee on Home Missions, and
he has also served his denomination
as a member of the assembly's COM
mittees on Young Peoples Societies
and on evangelistic work.
The following resolutions relative to
Mr.. Baer's resignation We're adopted by
the Board of Trustees of the Christian
Endeayor Society: In accepting the
resignation of John Willis Baer as gem
eral secretary of the United Society of
Christian Endeavor, the board of trus-
tees desire to place on record an ex-
preston of their unanimous and heart
| felt regret at the necessity for such ac-
| ton. The severance of these relations
| that have existed for the past twelve
| years is one of the most painful duties
ever imposed upon the board. Yet we
| dare not question the decision of the
| general secretary, knowing that it has
been reached prayerfully and conseien-
( tiousiy under the same divine guidance
| that, as we believe led him into, and
has so graciously developed him in, the
work of Christian Eindeavor. We bow
to his conviction Of duty, and accept
| the resignation in, the same spirit in
| which it is offered"