Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-07-13
Opening Of Convention al
Portland for Five Days.
Striking Address by President
BIckneII Who VIII Preside.
Advocates Changing Of Sphere II
Social Service Is Outside.

Portland, Me-, july L. A rev per-
sons have intimated to me that social
service work is outside our sphere. If
A. Ingram Bicknen of Boston in his
address as national president at the
opening tonight of the National Con-
vention of the Young Peoples Chris
tian Union of the Uniyersalist church.
President Bicknell viii preside over the
convention which will continue
through until Sunday night. He re-
sponded to addresses of welcome TO
the 500 more delegates and gave his
annual address.
Il hope this organization will never
be SO narrow" he continued, that IL
will fail to support any movement
tending toward the Improvement and
betterment Of social conditions wheth-
er they be within the church or among
the large unchurched population.
hope this convention win adopt strong
and favorable recommendations upon
this subject and authorize your incom-
ing board TO spend a reasonable sum
of money TO enlarge and carry on the
work.
For us as Christian workers to ig-
more its possibilities and to fail to
recognize that 1t is something that is
taking hold of thousands of young
people would almost be suicidal.
believe absolutely that social service
work, teaching young people to do
more for those poorer than themselves
showing the masses of people that the
church is in existence to help them
and not merely to help those within
Its own fold is here to stay and unless
religious organizations awaken to this
fact and make the most of their OBJ
portunity in this line, they will make
a mighty mistake
consider this one of the most i'm
poftant matters that has ever come
before US for consideration and | do
not hesitate in saying that il seems
TO me very likely that large part of
Inc future success of our organizat ton
VIII depend upon the ability with
which we handle this problem.
ioday the reason for forming a union
Is that the young people of the parish
may get together and as a body do some
thing for their church. The old slogan
of Organize for devotion has been
changed TO Organize for service for by
our service we shall show our devotion. -
National Secretary Robert F.. Etz of
Boston in presenting his annual report
discussed the problem of how TO interest
more OF the best young people in the
work of the Union Much as we do not
like TO say it," he said, 'it is a fact that
IN many unions not the strongest young
people are the leaders and workers in
our organization. The great lack of lead
ership in some of our local unions and the
difficulty of getting live officers in some
state unions show this lack of capable
and active young people. We cannot ad-
init for one moment that there are not
as many bright young people in our par
ishes now as formerly, because we know
that IL is not a fact We must there
fore, conclude that we are not reaching
many OF these people with our work"
The largest convention in the history
of the organization thus far was held in
Portland in 1902. and it is expected this
session will be record breaker. Eight
hundred or 1000 delegates and visitors are
expected. the majority coming from New
England states, with single delegates
from many churches further away The
convention win be preceded by service
OF song, Rev. e. Dean Fleetwood of Geor-
gia presiding. President A Ingham Bick-
nell OF Boston will preside over the ses-
sions which will continue until Sunday
night and be followed by three days OF
excursions.