The farmer and mechanic. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 18??-19??, 1913-07-08
THE C.. E. SOCIETY
AND NATtONAllSM
Extraordinary Part Christian
Endeavor Has Played In
Reform and Missionary
Moyements--New Teaching
Of Efficiency,
(B, THE RELIGIOUS RAMBLER

(B, TIE RELIGIOUS RAMBLER.)
within a quarter of a century
great national religious conventions
have become so commonplace that
the average newspaper reader forgets
that IT. this new form of religious
propaganda and activity practically
originated with the Christian En-
deayor Society, which opens It's
~twenty-sixth international convention
At Los Angeles on Wednesday,, July 3.
The idea of masSing the representa-
tive workers by thousands and tens
Of thousands at one spot, and that IN
the summer, has been one of the
varied contributions of the Young
Peoples Movement to modern reliSl-
Gus work. These conventions have
totalied staggering multitudes, in one
ease. that Of the Boston convention
in 1895, reaching the phenomanel fig
ure o. fifty-six thousand persons
present. Usually no one auditorium,
not even one OF the great special
tents such as will be used at Los
Angeles, is adequate to hold the host
Of delegates.
Special Christian Endeavor excur-
sions, asgregating thousands Of per-
sons, are now en- route to Los Angeles.
Tho "see America first" idea, other
wise phrased as the educational value
OF travel in ones own country, ng-
ures in tho increase Of the convention
crowds
The railroads have much to thank
Christian Endeavor for, since 1t has
popularized convention going. While
conservative folks hav sometimes
dubbed these trips of thousands OF
miles as "junkets." they undoubtedly
travellers, and since perhaps a fair
majority Of the delegates are public
school teachers, they have contributed
greatly to h education OF young
America. The conventions are un.
Q~uestionabW events In the life Of i'm
tudes now in active service date theil
dedication to their present mission:
from one or another Christian En-
deayOr conventions.
New Ideas In Religion.
No other conventions of m sor
Nre SO widely reported after their ad
journment as these Christian En-
deayor gatherings, echo meetings
are a regular part Of the Christian
Endeavor program, and the societ
his report upon his return and get
the benefit Of his new leadership i
the local work. but the common usag
Is for delegates to visit around anon
other societies and Christian Ell
deavor Unions: The reporting 9
unique opportunity for the propaga
ton Of Christian Endeavor ideal
The speakers who have somethin
distinctive to say to the Los Angelo
crowd, will be assured that the
message will be repeated ten thousan
times to audiences vaSter far tina
ever wore gathered In one place.
This genius for self-propagation
ono OF the remarkable phases
Christian Endeayor. Each organic:
tion come q focus for the dissem
nation OF its distinctive ideas Of ser,
fCp Tho enthusiasm Of youth Is @,
listed. and the passionate zeal for r
ligion and reform Is given an EXPIRE
sion.
\ Trio " Great Leaders.
In putting into operation the Chri
tian E;ndeavor idea, which thus mu
Uplies it's OWL activity, Rev. Z
Francis +. Clark has shown a gent
for rare leadership. He has kept Il
societies vitalized with great obje
tives. His annual messages ha
usually stressed some distinct line
religious or patriotic service whi'
has straightway made it's appeal
the Christian Endeavor millions.
Nobody could tell exactly how lar
Christian Endeavor is The three
fOur million persons on the books
not adequately represent the first a
second crop OF endeavorers who ha
graduated from the young peopl
ranks and are now in many kinds
active religious service. while 81
maintaining their touch with Chr
tian Endeavor.
DIR. Clark a. carried the Christi
E~ndcavor idea all over the world.
has CircumnaviEated the globe s,
eral times. Perhaps he is the m
widely travelled man alive today. sill
he has penetrated far of the bea'
tracks. Christian Endeavor Unit
exist in all continents. and in the
ands Of the sea. The story used
be current at Headquarters that