Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1905-07-06
International Christian Endeavor
Convention Opened at Bal.
timore,
A CLARK MEMORIAL FUND
Proposed to Ask Each Member TO Con.
tribute ~ Cents and Make q Fund
Of c2,OOO,OOO for Erection Of
Headquarters building
Growth of SOcitHy.

Baltimore. July 5.-The formal open.
ing OF the twenty international
Christian Endcavor convention tool
place this afternoon in armory hail
with about 5000 delegates present ana
nearly all of the $1,000 seats in the
auditorium occupied.
In the absence of President Franck
T. Clarke. who is detained at home bl
illness. the Rev. Howard b. Grose Of
New York presided and opened thu
proceedings with brief and appropriate
remarks.
Treasurer Shaw Of the United so
ciety read a letter from President
| Roosevelt addressed to DR.. Clarke and
| saying:
Il am very sorry that it has hces
found impossible for me to accept
your invitation to address the Chris.
| tian Endeavor convention. But will
you permit me to send through you
word of greeting to those assembled
and to heartily wish them continued
success in the work in which they ara
engaged
"The work of your society during tht
quarter of a century of its existence hat
been far reaching in its effect for good
| 'Io make better citizens to lift up th(
standard of American manhood and WON.
anhood is to do the greatest service to
he country. The stability of this govern.
ment depends upon the individual charac,
ter of its citizenship. No more important
work can be done. important to tho
cause OF Christianity, as we'll as to oui
national life and greatness.
,Sgned)
"TH HEODORE ROOSEVELT"
! The letter evoked hearty applause and
the convention voted unanimously to seno
the following telegram to the President
at Cleveland:
"'rhnusands of Christian Endeavorcrs
from many lands honor with you the
memory of Secretary Hay. We thanL you
fer Your inspiring message. We beg you
| to stop at Baltimore on your way home
and let US hear your voice in plea for
| the noble citizenship YOU eNeinplify. Any
hour. day or night, will dc
After the singing OF the dcXolOsy and
Il prayer there were devotional exercises.
including a brief memorial service for the
late secretary OF state John Hay.
Governor Edwin Warfeld of Maryland
delivered an address OF welcome that
was enthusiastically applauded
The governor was followed by Mayor
L. Claytna in brief speech Of welcome
c. E STATISTICS.
The annual review of the Christian En-.
dcavur field was read by General Secre<
tary Won Ogden Vogt. he gave the fol.
lowing statistics:
There are to-day ee772 societies OF ChriS
tiar Endeavor, 4e.339 are ir the United
States and Canada, and l7433 in Other
lands The ten denominations in the Uni.
ted States which have the largest num>
bers in the order named are Preaby.
tcrian. Congregational Disciples Of
Christ. Baptist. Cumberland Fresby>
terlan, Methodist Protestant. Lutheran,
Dutch Reformed. Methodist Episcopal and
United Brethren. In Canada the Methods
ists lead, followed by the FresbyterianA
The Young Peoples societies number 49,
So. junior 17.sSs and intermediate l ooc
Af.er removing from the lists the many
societies In neglected districts that for
many cause have been disbanded or with-
drawn from our intcrdenominaticnal fel.
lowship. the net gain f,r the year has
been 2,G14.
Al Denver. after few months OF tho
increase campaign, eighteen States re-
more than 20 per cent in new societies.
After recognition morning. Monday ncxts
forty"six States or Territories and three
provinces will hold these 10 per cent. in-
crease banners.
A CLARKE MEMORIAL FUND.
proposal originating outside the Of.
, ticers OF the United society has been made
looking to the establishment OF a incmo-
, rial fund especially in honor of DR..
Francis T.. Clarke. tho founder OF this
world movement for the religious train.
ing of the young.
The suggestion is that the fund be
known as the quarter century memorial
fund and that it be mado up Of contribu-
tions to average Is cents. Zone cent for
each year of the life OF the society. reck.
, oning from next year) from each mcin-
. Der Of the organization. AS the member.
ship is in the neighborhood OF 5000. 900,
a fund OF about s. 100000 would be real
, ized. 1t is suggested that the best plan
for the investment of such fund would
be the erection Of building. part OF
which would be rented for the purpose
OF supplying the income, and part used
as International Christian Endcavor head.
quarters. At the meeting Of trustees to-
-, day this plan was by vote heartily ap-
proved and the executive committee was
requested to appoint an international
: committee to take charge OF the matter.
: No announcement will be made here
. as to whore tho convention of 1907
will be held. The matter has been re-
fcrred back to the executive commit
tee with instructions to secure furth.
er information and report to n meeting
of the full board. which will be held
at some time during the winter.