Evening star., 1937-11-07
ENDEAV0R I ALUMNI
TO HEAR OF WORK
Mrs. Polling, Wife Of Head of
Interdenomination Group,
to Be Guests.

Mrs. Daniel A. Polling, wife of the
president of the International Society
of Christian Endeavor, will address
the District Alumni Fellowship of
Christian Endeavor at its annual fall
meeting on November 16 at the home
of the Washington Federation of
Churches, ISL N street NV.
The alumni organization was formed
here 30 years ago to maintain fell
lowship among older men and women
who formerly were active members
Of the Christian Endeavor societies
for young people. Its membership
includes several persons who we're
leaders in the society when it's fifteenth
international convention was held
here in 1896.
The meeting on the evening of
November Is will take the form of
a reception to Mrs. Polling, with
brief business session confined to the
election of officers for the coming
year. Mrs. Polling. whose internation-
ally known husband is pastor of the
Baptist Temple in Philadelphia, ac-
companied him last year on a trip
around the world in the interest of
Christian Endeavor.
Membership Above 100000.
She is expected to describe the So
cietys work in foreign lands. With
more than 100000 members over
the world, she and DR.. Polling found
on their tour that the movement was
particularly strong in the Orient,
France, England and Italy and that
its work continued in Germany and
Russia despite government opposition
in those countries.
In addition to her active interest
with her husband in Christian En-
deavor activities. Mrs. Polling for sew
eral years has been president of the
Council of Women for Home Missions
In America. DR.. Polling will follow
his wife to Washington on November
28 when he will address the Wash
ington Town Hall Forum.
All former Christian Endeavorers
will be welcome at the reception of
the alumni group, according to its
president, D. Roland Potter, of the
New York Avenue Presbyterian Church.
approximately $50 men and women
are active members of the alumni
organization here.
$4,000 Attended in 1896.
Among these are Grant Leet of the
feet Bros. Photographic firm and
William Wade Everett. now of Wood
ward e. Lothrop. who were members
of the Committee on Arrangements
for the Christian Endeavor Interna-
tional Convention here in 1895. That
convention brought $4,000 visitors to
Washington. With no auditorium
large enough for the convention,
group meetings we're held at various
churches. with as many as % meet
ings going on simultaneously. The
main program was presented in two
large circus tents.
The interdenominational. interna-
tional and interracial religious So
ciety unites the young people of at
least 10 different church denomina-
tions in Washington now, with more
than 100 active societies in the vari-
Gus churches. The first society was
organized here November g. 1885.
With % societies formed during the
next four years, the District Chris
tian Endeavor Union was organized
on November Is. 1889, at meeting
at the First Congregational Church.
One Woman President.
First president of the union was
w H. H. Smith of Takoma Park
During the life of the local union 81
young men and one woman have
served as president. The only girl
who held this off1ce-Miss Frances
SanEster of the Wallace Memorial
United Presbyterian Church-is now
secretary to DR.. Polling.
David Hayward of the lexington
Presbyterian Church is the current |
president of the District union.
Principally through the activities |
of the alumni organization in WASH
ington. the Extension and Perpetu-
alton Fund of the International So
ciety of Christian Endeavor has been
founded to receive contributions,
which are invested perpetually and
the income used to extend and finance
Christian Endeavor in all parts of the
world. Paul NJ Williams of the
Covenant-First Presbyterian Church
is president and Mrs. Merritt L. Smith
Is secretary of this religious corpo-
ration.
Leaders of the alumni group also
are quietly working for funds to Sc
cure suitable property in Washington
and attempt to secure transfer of the