Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-07-08

tiic SOCIety VI SHTlStIdH LuOcdNOi Iuet
for their first general session in the
Coliseum tonight with a program be-
fore them which calls for considera-
ton Of Christian work in almost every
country Of the world.
Tonight was the first time in six
years that many of the society's lead
ers had come together. the last world
convention which had been arranged
for Australia, having been cancelled in
1913. because of the outbreak Of small
pox.
In response to an address Of well
come. delivered tonight by Henry H.
Marcusson. the chairman, greetings
were given from a number Of remote
countries in which the Christian En-
deavor workers reported progress not
| outstanding the abnormal conditions
under which many Of them had
! worked. as result Of the war.
| The chairman's welcome to the
delegates touchingly referred to the
founder Of the Endeavor. DR.. Francis
E. Clark. whose illness prevents him
from being present and who. it was
planned, was to have an important
part in the program. The chairman
also said
Little did you realize how ar-reach-
| ing would be the outcome of Your
planning, when thirty -four years ago
! you sat in your study in the Williston
Church of Portland. Maine, and wrote
these memorable words Of our Chris
tan Endeavor pledge-a pledge which
| a hoc of
in the demonstrating in the Lord
Jesus Christ for strength WILL
The seed which you thus planted in the
little Christian Endeavor Society in
Portland. Maine, has developed and
expanded under your care and cultiva-
ton to the fruitage which you have a
right to view with the most devout
gratitude. for 100000 societies are now
found in more than eighty different
denominations, in every civilized coun-
try in the world-North and South
America. Asia, Europe. Africa, Aus
tralia. and the Islands of the Sea. a
Christian Endeavor Host. numbering
! five million. all merged into one great
/ mathematician brotherhood"
The greetings presented by dele
gates from foreign countries were
from India, China, Japan. Germany,
Hungary, Spain, Jamaica. Persia.
Mexico and Africa.
! The message from Persia. brought
by John B. keena who was converted
from Mohammedanism by Christian
Endeavor missionaries, was one of the
most interesting. He said:
! Il believe no foreign country repre-
sented here tonight has more right to
thank this great audience and through
t this gathering the great American
Christian forces, than has Persia. For
! the last twenty five years America has
! been helpful haven for Persian Chris
! tians. This great city of Chicago
alone is the home of nearly two thou
! sand Persians.
! Moreover, America has been the
greatest source Of missionary supply
for Persia. We owe a special debt to
Christian Endeavor. which has trained
more than four thousand of our peo-
pie for Christian service.
! Yet the greatest service that
America has rendered Persia was per-
| formed during the last winter. In
vaded by the terrible kurds and every
where surrounded by the hostile Mos
lens, the Christians were left to the
mercies of the murderers. 1t became
the duty of the American missionaries
to undertake the tremendous task Of
caring for nearly $4,000 refugees. The
mission compounds were the only shell
ter for the natives in their hour of des-
| peration: and the Persian War Relief
| Committee. headed by DR.. Robert E.
| Speer has been and is still doing all in
| its power to allay the indescribable
suffering Of those innocent neutral
| Christians. On the fourth of last
January. an American medical mis-
sionary from Denver. seeing that near
! ly 5000 native Christians we're about
to be massacred in the village of
Googtapa by the onrushing Kurds,
flung an American flag high in the
air and rode between the battle lines
until he reached the quarters of the
kurdish chief. The doctor begged this
| leader Of the Moslems to grant him the
| lives Of the innocent Christians. On
that day alone, DR.. H. P. Packard Of
Urmia, Persia, saved 5000 lives!"
Rev. L. B. Chamberlain who re-
sponded for India said: Il bring you
greetings from 1900 societies and $4,000
Christian Endeavorers. in far. old.
seeking India-the largest Christian
Endeavor host in any non Christian
land.
Il bring you the gratitude Of this
Christian Endeavor host in India, for
the generous gifts Of American En-
deavorers to the extension of the work.
Christian Endeavor has been a great
blessing to the youth OF India. 1t has
awakened spiritual life. given expert
ence. taught service, created initiative.
and added Joy and song and hope"
More than 800 Endeavor societies
in China, with $4,000 members, sent
greetings through Mr.. and Mrs. Edgar
E. Strother. general secretaries for
China. In one district there has been
an increase Of so per cent in the num-
Der Of Christian Endeavor societies
during the past two years. with 81 So
cieties now reported in that district.
At a recent rally in this district testi-
mony was given by the missionaries
and native leaders as to the immense
value Of Christian Endeavor in all the
mission out stations. Encouraging re-
ports were given regarding the evan
gelistic work being carried on by En-
deavorers in many Of the provinces.
and the organization Of many new So