The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-01

Terse Comments on the Topic for Feb
t sSary q Req Col Hs sI Of faa5
4:1-e. christian Endeavor Day
Meeting.)
BY WILLIAM T. ELLIS.
This meeting marks the twenty-s1xth
anniversary of the formation OF tho
first Christian Endeavor society. The
occasion may even be cal4eo one OF
general public interest, for this young
peoples movement in the church has
been undoubtedly one of the vital fac
tors in the life of the present genera
ton. The real power and manfesta-
ton of Christian EndeaVor has been
within the local church, and within tho
sphere of the Individual life. Yet there
have been expressions Of the Christian
Endeavor spirit and discipline which
have affected the world at large
The world has no scales in which to
weigh spiritual forces.
Admittedly. results Of q dehnits
movement like this can not be definite
ly tabulated- The best that can be
done is to trace the broad markings Of
its outreaching influence. And what
ever Held of moral progress in the
world today we may traverse. We there
find signs OF the presence OF this mod
ern uprising OF Christian young peo-
pie Many Of the political reformers
who are to the fore today received
was amazed at the large proportion of
younger missionaries whom I met on
tha foreign field who attributed their
presence IN that nlace to the influence
Of Christian Endeavor upon them. Go
over the roll Of Sunday school workers.
Chautauqua leaders, mission study
teachers, and the percentage Of them
who have come from the ranks Of
Christian Endeavor and kindred or
ganizations Ii really astonishing. Find
what fault we may with methods or
management. the success of the move
ment Is proved by It's fruits
Because Christian Endeavor Is For
Christ and the church, 1t Is most ef
fectively for the world:
For Christ through the church" L.
g. true Interpretation Of the Christian
Endeavor motto.
Thou hast rewarded this band of
earnest youth.
And hast sustained them till this
very hour.
Enlarged their vision of eternal truth,
Increased their wisdom and endued
with power
The plans which they have brought In
faith to Thee.
And honored them in loving ministry
o for more conservation. that In future
A larger work may rise on every
hand,
That millions more may learn Thy
name to praise.
And Calvary's Cross illumine every
That ali the youth in all the world may
know
The secret of the love that stirs M sol
cause is like a tree: that one lives
longest which strikes its roots deepest.
Christian Endeavor continues to be an
abiding power because 1t does not
hesitate to appeal to the profoundest
sentiments of the human heart. 1t
summons youth to a full. unreserved
and active allegiance to Jesus Christ.
Nor does 1t shrink from bringing that
greatest of love and greatest of loyal
ties to bear upon even the slightest
actions. That life may be lived. even
down to its minor details '+for Christ,
Is its splendid assumption. So it sum-
mons youth into the service Of the
Saviour, and trains him in that service.
It pledges him to do whatever he
would like to have me do" With that
shining purpose Is 1t any wonder that
the members of these young peoples
human ministry, in the Name which il
their watehword7
Whatever It is promised to do. It Is
proper to promise to do.
with wholesome. normal youthful life
is not true religion Or to express tn 9
more practical side of the proposition.
the youthfulness that is not In eonso-
nance with sane and genuine religion
needs to mend its ways.
The best life is the life lived for the
best ends. Christian Endeavor has
contributed greatly to the sxaltation
of the Ideals Of the world and Of the
church.
A warm. intense and sufficient mo-
tive has been impaired to the lives Of
Inyriads Of otherwise careless, heed
less. drifting youth by this move
ment which has often been designated
aptly as 1.-THE New Crusade" vista
of Hfe's fargeneSs and worthwhileness
has been impaired to them. They have
been swept into the stream Of ardent
spirits in pursuit Of noble goals. Their
effectiveness have been greatly en-
HANGED. They are more and they do
more, because OF Christian Endeavor.
.
Without deep. personal love for
Christ, on the part Of its members
Christian Endeavor possesses the form
OF goodness. but denies the power
thereof
A few days ago I was talking with
the young man In whose brain was
born the idea of that tremendous force
in present-day Christianity, the Lay
mems missionary movement. Not only
is it's conception ana It's organization
due to him. but also. to an unsus-
pected degree, responsibility for Its
progress. He has never allowed his
real relation to the Laymen's mis-
sionary movement to become public.
In this conversation he recalled our
earliest association in Christian En-
deavor work, and frankly avowed that
If 1t had not been for Christian En-
deavor he probably would not be ac-
tive in Christian work today. Thus
the Laymen's movement Is seen to be