The Washington herald., 1909-06-06
Founder of Christian
By JAMES d. MoRROw.

nghting in the world Nor are they the /
only strategists. Neither is all the con-
structive genius OF the time employed IN
regulating nations or IN managing rail-
roads, mills. factories. and banks Some
OF the best generalshlp and statesman
snip OF the age are engaged in the world
WIDE war against the devil. as brilliant IN /
sagacity and invention as ever hereto /
fore. and his tremendous hosts Of silent /
ana dependable veterans, and noisy, but I
uncertain. volunteers.
Thus the work OF Francis Edward /
Clark. simply estimated as a matter OF 4
intellectual mechanics in creation and |
execution. equals in pure achievement the /
organization and evolution OF the stand 4
ard OIL Company or the United States /
steel Corporation. Bismarck unified one /
country and one language. DR.. Clark, with |
his Christian Endeavor Societies and their |
two watchwOrcs, fidelity and fellowship" |
has centralized the Arab. the Chinese. the |
Indian. the Fiji Islander, the European,
and the American into a common, CO
hesiye and efficient brotherhood. he
combines all the temperaments and races
Of the world, pledglng them by the same
brief promise to single purpose
In the skin Of his statesmanship. Dr.
Clark has overcome the caution. satisfied
the self-interest. swept away the pTeju-
dices. and reconciled the politics Of many
dissimilar. watchful. and dogmatic de-
nominations. In a word. he IS a very
great mana George Washington in re-
hgion. or a J. Pierpont Morgan. OF a
John d. Rockefeller. or an Edward II
Hartman in the activities and aggrega-
tons OF the spirit
VIII Meet in st. Paul
Early next month tens OF thousands Of
young men and women. the flower Of
American and Canadian life. character.
and blood. viii meet in St Paul and hold
The twenty-fourth international Christian
Endeavor convention. In November mem
bers Of the organization from all parts
of the world viii assemble in Agra. Brit
ish India. the famous market for sugar.
indigo, and raw silk. with its palaces OF
red sandstone and white marble and its
beautiful mosques and tombs. Recently
land was bought IN Boston for a building
which Is 90 cost $4,000. and which here
after is 10 be the permanent center of a
movement that has been translated into
forty languages and whose adherents live
in tents AZ the edge Of remote deserts, in
huts at the very rim Of the arctic circle,
and in practically every habitable place
on the glObe-a movement TOO. that is
growing al the rate Of seventy societies 4
week
In the honest and natural side which
he gives 20 the public Or. Clark, OF me
dunn stature. with gray eyes and hair IS
grave, modest, and benevolent, But his
nose IS large. and so is his chin When
he talked 20 me he wore a frock coat and
low-cut shoes His voice was full.abut
gentle. and there was not a particle OF
pride or JUNCTION IN his conversation or
his m nner I saw no movable or adjust
able signs Of sanctihcation IN his face; 7
heard no ecclesiastical Notwithstanding
but plain and manly business from this
simple. sensible. and driving crusader OF
the cross. II he were a real soldier I am
sure he would go into battle Ike Gen.
Grant-with his trousers in his boots and
q pistol in his belt instead Of \ sword.
Helping individuals.
''WTI you give me some vital Instances,
I asked. showing what the Christian
Endeavor Society has done for individ-
uals?''
'DuriEg a recent tour through the
States OF the South" DIT. Clark an
swered. II found that hundreds OF young
men and women Of power and influence
are now actively engaged in our work.
met dozen clergymen who said they
had never thought Of entering the minis
try until after they had Joined our So
ciety and had learned TO stand up IN our
meetings and TO read a verse from the
RihIe or 10 give a few words out OF their
own experience. A remarkable field sec
retary sent from one OF the Western
States. told me his strange personal story,
and II viii serve as an answer 10 your
question BE is q strong and eloquent
young man. and is getting extraordinary
results IN a part Of the country where We
have heretofore been particularly weak
Il have no right 10 mention the young
fellows name. and so 7 shall not call him
ANYTHING. He said that mis- father used
10 get him drunk when he was a child
Just to see how he would act The father.
who had been brought up in the Lutheran
denomination. had no objection TO the
baptism Of his little son, but ne started
a fist fight during the ceremony. and was
elected from the church. At the age o.
eighteen the boy was converted at q
meeting Of one Of our societies. His
father called him a fool and ridiculed
him whenever they met.
''On the morning when the young man
was to join the church hts father caught
him by the throat. and. holding him
against the wall blacked both Of his
eyes. and pounded him on the nose until
hls shirt coat. vest. trousers and even
his shoes were bloody. Then the father
left the house. feeling certain that his
son would be ashamed 10 show himself
in the street But the boy changed his
clothing and. with his eyes almost shut
hurried away 70 the church. The father
finally ran of with another woman, and
the son has supported his mother and
sister ever since
Work I'm the Prisons.
TN your opinion" I asked, which
Christian Endeavor Society is the most
remarkable IN the world?"
"Oh, wouldn't attempt to answer such
a question. We have three societies al
She penitentiary in Nashville. Tenn.-one
Cor white men. one for white women. and
one for coIored prisoners. There is a so
cfety- 18th 80 members at the Federal
penitentiary IN Atlanta. Ga The man.
ayers OF both penitentiaries viii tell you
that they rarely have any trouble with
prisoners who take the Christian En-
deavor pledge. Then there is a large
and aggressive society II Scotland. the
meubers Of which are deaf and dumb
There were societies on a number OF
American battle ships which returned
early this year from their famous trip
around tho world Our sailors are fne
young men. Most Of them are from the
country. Whenever their vessels come TO
anchor they go ashore and hold Christian
Fndeavor meetings There was q So
cicty on Dewey's ship at the battle OF
Manila EudeavOrers went down with
the Maine Ia the harbor OF Havana, and
fought with Sampson at Santiago
Eve have fourteen societies at Russell