1891 



GLEANINGS IN BEE CULTURE. 



709 



have joined that mighty chorus I It would 

 have thrilled you as you were never thrilled 

 before. One of the most inspiring parts oi all 

 the convention was the singing, of which we 

 had much. It was no eifort to sing in such a 

 company: indeed, it would have required a 

 greater effort not to unite in those grand melo- 

 dies of praise. 



After preliminary business and prayer, the 

 first words of welcome on behalf of the com- 

 mittee of 1891 were spoken by the chairman. 

 T. B. Daniels. He said the people of the twin 

 cities were proud of their factoi'ies. lalces. and 

 the Father of Waters: but they were prouder 

 iitill to open their hospitality to the greatest 

 army ever gathered, not for any selfish end. but 

 for "Christ and the Church." Ours is a crusade 

 that is sure to win. The old Crusaders fought 

 for land: but we fight for souls: they fought 

 with speais and with swoixls: we fight with a 

 sword too, but it is the sword of the Spirit, the 

 woid of God. The eyes of the woild. also our 

 ]\laster. are watching us. and we must ever ad- 

 here to our motto— •■ For Christ and tlie Church." 



A. J. French followed on behalf of the pastors 

 of Minneapolis. He counted it a high honor to 

 welcome such an assembly. He told of the 

 strength of the church in their fair city, and 

 what they had done for temperance. They had 

 a church for every lO.oS of population — far 

 ahead of any other city of equal or greater size 

 in America. The saloon power entered on a 

 crusade to extend the city patrol limits, and 

 thus extend their influence. The churches 

 came out boldly, opposed to the scheme. The 

 enemy threatened, and was furiotis. When 

 the election had passed, and the smoke of 

 the battle had cleared away, it was found 

 that the limits were just .vliere they were be- 

 fore. Said he. "Ingersoll says. "The church 

 must go.' Certainly it must go — go into all the 

 world to preach the gospel to every creature. 

 Christian Endeavor with its youthful vigor and 

 aggressive methods is destined to greatly help 

 to make it go.'" 



Rev. Robt. Christie spoke in behalf of St. 

 Paul pastors, giving a hearty welcome to this 

 new child of the church, the youngest and the 

 best. He commended Christian Endeavor be- 

 cause it promotes interdenominational fellow- 

 ship: and. let me say. this was the keynote of 

 the whole convention. Nothing is so injurious 

 to the Christian name as denominational jeal- 

 ousies. Such meetinffs as this clarify the vision. 

 The church shall prosper when loyalty shall be 

 tested, not by subscribing to any particular 

 creed, but by a common loyalty to Christ. 

 Youth has the power to influence youth, when 

 the aged would doubtless fail. In this lies our 

 strength. When Jesus wanted disciples he 

 called the youthful James and John, and left 

 the father. "Zebedee. Missions are awakened, 

 not by some learned divine or bishop, but by 

 the youthful Carey. And by other striking ex- 

 amples he proved that youth is the time for 

 Christian service. My brother, my sister, are 

 you giving that service gladly, enthusiastically? 

 If you withhold it you are missing the best 

 things in life. 



John H. Elliott, on behalf of the Y. M. C. A., 

 ^poke earnest words of welcome, telling of the 

 close relationship between the Y. M. C. A. and 

 the Y. P. S. C. E. He was glad that they both 

 rejoiced in the old- gospel, and had no room for 

 the new theology and higher criticism, and 

 other isms of the times. Resjjonse was made 

 by Geo. H. Wells, of Montreal: and it was 

 probably the most witty and telling address of 

 the convention. He carried every thing by 

 storm, eliciting applause at almost every sen- 

 tence. He spoke of the scene of the convention 

 being near the head waters of the streams that 



flow to the Arctic seas, the (Julf of Mexico, and 

 the Atlantic: so the streams of blessing would 

 flow from this convention to bless the continent. 

 The Methodists, said he. are fiery: the Baptists 

 like water. When these elements are united 

 they will put each other out. Properly united, 

 they make steam. So in Christian Endeavor. 

 We unite them to make the steam that drives 

 the gospel train to carry the glad tidings to all 

 the world. Christian Endeavor is not denomi- 

 national: is not undenominational: but it is 

 interdenominational and also international. 

 As we come from diff'erent countries, it dispels 

 prejudice. 



Around the front of the high platform on 

 which the speakers stood were wreathed the 

 stars and stripes and the Union Jack, united 

 with a wreath of flowers forming the initials 

 C. E. He called attention to the flags. " which." 

 said he, "at first sight look different, but really 

 are much alike. They are composed of the 

 same material and the same colors. We be 

 bretliren. Let there be no strife between your 

 fishermen and our fishermen, whether "they 

 catch cod or seal." 



After adjournment, supper and a song ser- 

 vice. The evening session opened with singing 

 " Stand up for Jesus," and repeating in concert 

 the 23d Psalm. After singing "Nearer, My 

 God. to Thee," General Secretary Baer gave 

 his annual report, which was full of statistics, 

 by no means dry and uninteresting. The growth 

 of the movement for the past year has far out- 

 stripped all former records. 



A year ago at St. Louis there were reported 

 11.000 societies, with a membership of (i60.000. 

 This year there were reported 1(3,374 societies, 

 with 1,'K)8.980 members, and there have been 

 gathered inio the churches from the societies. 

 S2..5(X) young people in one year: 307 societies 

 are rcjiortpd outside of Ami-Vica. of which 120 

 are in England. 82 in Australia: India 30. Tur- 

 liey 12. China 7. Canada reports societies in 

 every province, and 829 in all. The States hav- 

 ing the largest number of societies in their or- 

 der are as follows: New York. Pennsylvania. 

 Ohio. Illinois, Massachusetts. Oklahoina won 

 the banner for the greatest proportionate gain 

 during the past year. Increasing from 1 to 1.5 

 societies. Pennsylvania won the banner for 

 the greatest aggregate gain, increasing iUr> dur- 

 ing the year. The Junior movement is rapidly 

 growing, and 8.5.5 societies are reported. In this 

 movement Illinois is the banner State, with 122 

 societies. 



Thirty denominations are represented in this 

 world-wide movement. The Presbyterians take 

 the lead, with 4019 societies: Congregationalists 

 next, with 3.545: the Baptists rank third, with 

 2381: the Methodists rank fourth, with 20(38 

 societies: and if the memorial to the General 

 Assembly prevails, and our Methodist brethren 

 settle the Epworth League question as they 

 have settled it in Canada, by calling their soci- 

 eties Epworth Leagues of Christian Endeavor, 

 then they will take the first rank in numbers, 

 settle a vexed question, and bring glorv to the 

 cause of Christ. Christian Disciples rank fifth, 

 with 801 societies. The glory and strength of 

 this movement is. that, while each society is 

 first loyal to Christ and its own cnurch. still it 

 is adapted to the needs of each and every de- 

 nomination, and all can unite in interdenomi- 

 national fellowship. This was referred to 

 again and again by representatives of twenty 

 or more denominations on the program. 



After a song by Ira D. Sankey. "Throw out 

 the Life-line," and reading of cablegram greet- 

 ings from Australia. South Africa, and Japan, 

 Father Endeavor Clark arose for his address 

 amid showers of applause and waving hand- 

 kerchiefs. Father Clark is always unassuming 



