Christian Endeavor

Never has the world ceased to marvel at the success which will attend simplicity. Christianity began simply, was simple, flourished. So, too, "Christian Endeavor," from its crowded international convention last week at Portland, Ore., beamed forth its simplicity; the world beamed yonder.

History. Seventy-four years ago in the Province of Quebec, a son, Francis E., was born to an obscure New Englander named Symmes. Two years later he was orphaned, was adopted by his uncle, Rev. E. W. Clark, changed his name, grew up as Francis E. Clark. Dartmouth College and Andover Theological Seminary having graduated him, the youthful parson accepted a call to a tiny church in Portland, Me., and started a diary. Presently he wrote :

Feb. 2, 1881. "The boys and girls take tea with us, about 35 of them, and we form a young people's society."

Feb. 4, 1881. "First young people's [prayer] meeting conducted by the new association. Very successful."

These young people, "about 35 of them," had but recently discovered the awful importance of their immortal souls. Temptations beset them. Religion moved them, but the Devil was never far away. So they banded together, pledged themselves in aid one another in the Christian life. The idea spread. Hundreds, then thousands, then millions joined their band, n nearly every Protestant church today, he bulletin board announces: "Christian Endeavor Meeting, Wednesday [or it may be Sunday] at 7 [or it may be 8]." At the meeting will be prayers by

he young members, songs, a sermonette --perhaps also "personal testimony." And the pledge is repeated: Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for strength, I promise Him that I will strive to do whatever He would like to have me do; that I will pray to Him and read the Bible every day; and that, just so far as I know how, throughout my whole life, I will endeavor to lead a Christian life. As an Active Member, I promise to be true to all my duties, to be present at and take some part, aside from singing, in every meeting, unless hindered by some reason which I can conscientiously give to my Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. If obliged to be absent from the monthly consecration meeting, I will, if possible, send an excuse for absence to the Society.

Convention. Subjects discussed at the 44th annual convention included:

Is it necessary to be a Fundamentalist to be a Christian?

Can the Church supply enough recreation for the average young man or woman of today?

Does dancing indicate a serious defect in moral fiber?

Is it immodest for a young girl to appear in public in a one-piece bathing suit?

Should golf and other sports be engaged in on Sunday ?

How can enforcement of Prohibition best be aided?

Can a Christian Endeavor girl wear rolled stockings and use a lipstick?

Must all races mingle on an equality?

Five thousand Endeavor delegates took up the matter of amusement--the old query whether a dancing foot and praying knee could be joined together. There was no final pronouncement on dancing except that no dance may be given under

Christian Endeavor auspices. Then, before the 5,000 was set up a large blackboard, on which amusements were set down under three headings after long discussion:

WHOLESOME

All athletics

Hiking

Socials

Singing

Pageantry

Dramatics

Educational Films

Charades

Fishing

TWILIGHT ZONE

Dancing

Cards

Movies

Theatre

Sunday amusements

Reading*

BAD

Gambling

Prizefighting

Drunkenness

The great moment of the convention came when Francis E. Clark resigned his active presidency of the United Societies of Christian Endeavor (he retains the headship of the World Christian Endeavor Union). Fourteen years ago, he tried to resign but failed. This time, he refused "No" for an answer.

A fund of $100,000 is to be raised for the Society, the interest of which is to go to Mr. Clark during his life.

Membership was reported as exceeding 4,000,000. Mr. Clark's joy in beholding the fruit of his labors was declared comparable only to that of Sir George Williams, who founded the Y. M. C. A. in 1844 and celebrated its jubilee in Westminster Abbey; that of William Booth, who founded the Salvation Army in 1878 and lived to review brigades in every continent; that of Baden-Powell of the Boy Scouts.

Said the Portland (Me.) Evening Express:

"Portland and Maine have given to the world many noble and great men and women who have added to the fame of the city and state. But it is probably true that all of them together have not carried the name of Portland as far or made it known to as many people as this great apostle of the Christian faith."

Mr. Clark's successor is Dr. Daniel A. Poling, leader in the cause of Prohibition (dry candidate for Governor of Ohio in 1912), associate pastor of the Marble Collegiate Church, Manhattan.

* This was first put in the "Wholesome" zone. Later it was decided that it might be interpreted to include unwholesome books.