Christian Endeavor

In Cleveland hotels last week, porters gathered up empty whiskey bottles, maids cleaned cigar stubs out of bathtubs, policemen went home to rest. The Prophets of the Grotto had left (see MISCELLANY, p. 19), and there were coming the Christian Endeavor young people, whose 31st international convention was immediately following that of the Prophets.

The Christian Endeavor movement among young people is comparatively recent. The late Rev. Francis E. Clark, who died last May, founded it Feb. 2, 1881, at his Williston Congregational Church in Portland, Me. Members were obliged to pledge themselves to attend weekly prayer meetings of their local society. So sound was Dr. Clark's idea that 80 evangelical religious denominations have sponsored the movement. It has societies in 60 different countries; has more than 3,500,000 members. Of these members 20,000 went to Cleveland last week.*

When they descended from their trains in the grimy, shacklike Union Depot they found one W. H. French, pullman conductor of South Euclid, Ohio, singing to them a song he had composed. It went: "Welcome to you, welcome to you; Christian Endeavor, welcome to you!" The visitors were glad.

In the convention sessions no matters of strong controversy came up. Christian Endeavor is too well organized for that. Young people join the societies because they sincerely believe in its simple principles. Two important matters the delegates decided on--one of rote, one of note. They re-elected as president Dr. Daniel Alfred Poling, pastor of Marble Collegiate Church, Manhattan; and they changed the name of their organization from "United Society of Christian Endeavor" to "International Society of Christian Endeavor." Union in their work they knew that they had accomplished. Henceforth they wished to emphasize its international aspect, influence.

* The Epworth League, founded in 1889, for Methodist young people, has similar aims. Its motto is "Look Up, Lift Up"; its membership is 2,000,000.