Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1918-06-01
HOOL ANNEX OF STEVENS MEMORIAL VI
RECORD YEAR FOR BIG
c. E. UNION AT PHILA

Philadelphia Christian Endeavor
Union, one of the largest organiza-
tions in the Endeavor movement,
closes a record-breaker year and re-
markable success has been achieved
by the nine branches during the
term. President William ]. Parks,
Jr., and the following branch presi-
dents, Delaware, Albert Handschu-
macker; Germantown, Charles A.
Besckett; Northeast, Raymond w.
Old York road Adam E. Hechler;
Schuylkill. A. T. Mendenhall; South,
Harvey Bennett; West, Joseph S.
Pennypacker; junior, Horace Lyman,
are putting first things first" The
joy of service has been sweet and a
faith in an infinite power has be-
come a precious realization. To the
Endeavorer who walks with the King
there's no doubt of the reality of His
power. The crying need of the
Church to-day is not more power,
but more lives willing to use the
power at the command of the church
of Jesus Christ.
President Parks says: I'm these
critical times, the call comes clearly
to each one of us to connect our lives
with the source of all power, and in
His name sing 1 can do all things
through Christ, who strengthens
me-"
Revive Thy work, o Lord,
Give pentecostal showers:
The glory shall be all Thine own,
The blessing, Lord, be ours.
The largest rally held by any of
the eight branch unions was con-
Quoted by the South Brench and
1 I@I
Philadelphia came very close to this
with 1904 present, while the North
east branch had 1,011. The lookout
committee made canvass of all the
Protestant churches in the city and
number of new societies were or
ganiZed
The total attendance at all Chris
tan Endeavor union rallies held in
Philadelphia last year is estimated at
about $4,000.
The missionary committee has
carried on reading contests the pop
ularity of which may be seen in the
fact that the prize winner read
twenty-three books on missions. The
total number of books reported read
during the contest is 1,133. The
committee held conferences, organ
lied study classes, printed mission
airy helps, stimulated missionary CIV
ing and did much other work be-
sides
The citizenship committee wrote
letters which resulted in the super
intendent of police sending out an
order to the police to enforce the
Sunday closing law. The committee
led the societies in temperance work,
closed a "speakeasy," killed off crap
games and got the proprietors of
several stores to close on Sunday.
The evangelistic committee through
the various branches has done splen-
did work, as also the social COM
mittee. 'rhe quiet hour committee
has held rallies, Sunday morning
services, open-air services and has
printed list of one hundred books
for Endeavorers to use in devotional
reading.
In war work the societies, led by
special committee, have worked to
encourage Endeavorers in the serv-
ice to get in touch with Edeavorers
coming to the city and to entertain
the men at the navy yard, not in
spurts. but Systematically. This has
been the policy and it is now being
carried out.
In the past year the floating COM
mittee visited S54 ships, 103 barges,
sailors. They distributed 28,145 pa
pers and magazines, 1,400 tracts,
1881 comfort bags, held 81 sociGls
for men, distributed $50 Testaments.
got 1880 men to go to church and
received so requests for prayer. In
this work So societies took part. Sew
enty nine song services were also
held for watchmen.
Besides this 152 visits were paid
to hospitals, where 2,337 papers were
distributed together with 5,0S1
tracts, 80 Testaments, Bibles, "a
calendars, s2,100 cards, 20 Gospels,
1872 oranges and $50 pounds of
candy. The committee spent $S2S.53
in this work during the year.
The Endeavorers also distributed
$50 colportage books, 500 empha-
sized Gospels of John and $50 pocket
treasures to the men of the navy
yard, the naval Y. NJ. c. A. and the
recreation center. These gifts came
from the Moody Colportage Associa-
ton.
The work, the members report, has
been one Of continuous joy, the men
manifesting warm appreciation of
what the young people are trying
to do.