Daily Kennebec journal., 1906-01-10
THE Y. P. S. C. E.
Of kennebeC Co. in Semi
Annual Convention,
A Decidedly Interesting Meeting
Held at Gardiner.
The Exercises in Full, With The Speakers
and Their Subjects.

The scmi-annual convention of the
organization of Young Peoples Chris
tian Endeavor of kcnnebcc county
was held at the First Baptist church,
IAN. ., 1906. Those comprising the con-
vention were delegates from the vari-
GUS societies throughout the county.
There are now in Kcnnebec county 80
societies of Christian Endeavor. A fair
representation from these societies was
Ii attendance at the convention. The
assembly convened promptly at go p
NJ, according to program. From the
start the spirit Of those in attendance
seemed TO be that of q deep earnestness
20 accomplish the purposes of religious
%orh committed to the care OF young
2eOpIe i'll the church.
Mrs. l.. H. Clarke of Gardiner opened
the convention by a praise service. This
was followed by all informal welcome
by Pastor L. H. Clarke for the enter
tanning societies. Those societies of the
city which entertained We're the Y. =.
S. c. E. of the Congregational church.
the Free Baptist and First Baptist
1hurches Of the city, uniting these So
ieties decided to hold TIE convention
at the First Baptist church.
At 2.t5 the convention listened with
interest to an address. by 9. T.. Vogt of
Boston, secretary of the United Society
of Christian Endeavor. Mr. NoGt. hay
ing SO wide a connection with the work
i the society, his grasn of possibilities,
'olution of problems and direction I'm
he management of work is worthy of
he closest consideration. In the after
DGlrpSS nf Mr. Wort a rnndnct-
cd an informal conference bringing out
IN Il very practical and complete way
various methods by which societies
may strengthen their individual mem-
bers and also secure new ones. Speak
ing of methods he said i'll substance
that two main schemes are followed,
namely: Direct religious effort i'll the
simplest and most straightforward
Nay and indirect or superficial means
so-callcd. that is. by entertaining b.
secular means those who may not 9TH
2rwise be Interested. This latter he
characterized as bait In his analy-
is Of the two methods he urged the
1rst by all means but he did not con-
tiemn the second. For he admitted the
..cCeSsity and eXrediency of it in many
Instances. Speaking Of this latter he
urged that whatever form the bait"
york takes that it be- positively con-
nectcd or tied to the society so those
no were being "baited'' would un-
iCrstand that they were connected in
ON" way with the more positive form
)f Christian work.
one feature of Secy. Nogt'S speak
ng was that though he went into the
ulpit he did not stay there. In about
i've months he left the pulpit coming
.own to the floor. He said he did this
0 get near to the peaple. good
suggestion to some ministers whose
sparcely congregatcd listeners insist
n sitting in the back pews. During
lis address he worked the central
,islc of the church from one end to
he other. 1t gave to the service a
ipirt Of informaIity which brought
lome what the speaker said and also
made it easy for any one to ask a
question.
At $50 o'clock Rev. i. y. Davis one
Of the travelling missionaries of the
Maine Baptist Missionary Convention
spoke upon Keeping Our Christian
Endeavor Pledge"
Mr. Davis was an able speaker and
brought out the largencss of the con-
iitons of this pledge laying special
stress upon individual responsibility.
He enlarged the thought Of the trust
committed to the case of the Christian
graphically speaking of the work of
the Savior for us.
The afternoon session closed at Ais
when the company scattered in groups
about the church to enjoy Il social
hour.
At 80 the company Of delegates
and friends sat down to II bountiful
supper provided by tho entertaining
societies. a word is here in order in
connection with this provision. Sup
per was served in the supper room of
the First Baptist church This de
partment of the church was especial
Iy renovated for this occasion 50 with
tho cleanliness. new decorations and
happy arrangement of The tables the
company which aggregated nearly 100
made a scene most pleasing.