The Washington times., 1913-02-01
Cbristtan Enoeavor

BY Rexford l.. Holmes. president OF
the District of Columbia Christian En-
deavor Union. -..... .
Topic for SUNDAY, February Chris
tian Endeavor Principles and How 10
Uphold Them. John XIV: 6-l5. Chris
tian Endeavor Day.
How swiftly move the years in these
days of rush and hurry, when time
seems always ''of the essence, and
when the great moving. picture of lite
is run off the reel at lightning relocs-
tyl Nor are the Kaleidoscope changes
In men and nations necessarily TO DC
deplored. In this column last week We
discussed the remarkable changes In
the missionary status during the past
century, and the wonderful opportuni-
ties to Christian missions opening up
so quickly that We almost gasp with
the swiftness of il all, and. marvel
pace with swift-moving events. We
believe. though. that it can. for the
progress OF the Kingdom has been
tremendous In the last few decades
Consider. for instance, the great ad.
vance in China. until the new day"
Christianity. Dr. Headlaod says
What Confucianism and Taoism and
Mohemmedism have failed to do N
China in 5000 years, Christianity has
accomplished in a single century.
ward in double-quick time, and the
Cross will ever be far up at the head
of the march of civilization. that the
nations may look upon it and go for
ward unto peace and righteousness
through Jesus Christ.
Among the agencies in Gods for
ward work that have advanced with
precision and rapidity during recent
years. none can show faster or more
substantial growth than the institu-
ton of Christian Endeavor. Tomor,,
birthday OF Christian Endeavor, yet In
the third of a century of it's existence,
what great results have been accom-.
plished, And those results are not
merely to be measured an increase o,
numbers, but as growth In power and
efticiency of service for Christ
/ can not refrain from quoting some
parts of a n-Endeavor-
Message" written In 1888 by DIR. Fran
els E. Clark. on the occasion of the
seventh birthday of the great move
ment which he founded in 1881. How
applicable Il is to this endeavor BIRTH
day, and how well did he prophesy so
many years ago:
'It seems but yesterday since those
fifty young people of the Williston
Church came to see me in my study.
in Portland, to see II we should form
society of Christian Endeayor 1t
was a bitter cold, clustering night IN
February and l remember thinking
that the weather was about as unpro-
pitious as il well could be. The young
er ones came TO tea, and the older ones,
headed by our good friend, Mr.. Penneh,
with his large class of young men,
came later in the eNening.
THE constitution was brought out
from the pastors desk, where II was
placed after a good deal of labor ana
prayer had been expended upon II, ana
a. he
prised that so many Were willing TO
sign II as active members. even though
1t contained the lron-clad pledge l
was still more surprised and deuShted 10
find that they kept 1t. and yet more sur
prised to find that this plan was adapt
cd TO other churches, and that gen.
eral desire was developed to know
more about it. :.
Pleasant as it is, however, to dwell
upon the past. on this our birthday, 1t
is more important to think of the pres
ent The society has come, and come,
apparently. to stay. 1t has come. we
believe, not of the will of man, but be-
cause God has a use for 1t. II remains
for us to guard It from dangers, and
to keep II in its rightful place, as
humble helper of the church.
IF this were merely a man-made
agency We should have little hope or
its doing much permanent good. II,
as we all believe, and as It's history
proves, men have had very little to do
with starting IL. and God has used il az
one means, In modern days. for training
young Christians. we may believe that
we arc as yet only on the threshold OF
its history. On this account, IL there
are untold possibilities of good in the
future, II is all the more necessary that
We should be modest and cautious, and
yet aggressive and earnest to use every
which God gives us.
And so the great and beloved found
er's words ring down to us until the
present day. Surely he has set young
an example of being mod
est and cautious. and yet aggressive and
earnest" as he has gone about over
this land and other lands, spreading the
beautiful principles of Christian En-
deavor, and Through its powerful agen-
cy, winning thousands of souls, at home
and abroad, to Jesus Christ.
What are the principles of this great
that have possibly underlair
its wonderful success. that have given
impetus and direction To thousands of
young Christians lives. and that have
had so large a part in advancing the
kingdom in this swift-movinE age? We
may find them outlined In tn" iron