T

HE celebration, February second, of the twenty-fifth anniversary of the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor will be the commemoration of a great history. The growth from the beginning has been marvellous in numbers and in extent of territory. From one society in 1881 it has increased to nearly seventy thousand societies in 1906 and from a membership of fiftyseven to an enrolment of more than three and one-half millions, and from a small place in one denomination to a large place in sixty denominations. It spread rapidly into New England, the United States, Canada, South America, Great Britain, into Northern and Central and Eastern Europe; into the great Empires of the East, India, China and Japan; into Australia and the widely dispersed islands of the great oceans; into the Dark Continent of Africa. has penetrated to the interior of all the continents of the world. It has been the greatest young people's movement in the history of the Christian church and the supreme expression and triumph of evangelical Protestantism during the last twenty-five years.

It

The original society of 1881, founded by the Rev. F. E. Clark in the Williston Congregational Church, Portland, Maine, of which he was

pastor, was full grown at birth. All the essential principles developed in the subsequent history of the society were incorporated in the original constitution which Mr. Clark wrote in his study on the day named. Such revision of the constitution as has been made has been slight and simple, a modification of the constitution originally framed. Mr. Clark had sought information from all known sources concerning the varied plans that had been matured from time to time in Christian history for developing the religious life and activity of young people, and had become somewhat despondent over the possibility of producing anything new and effective. Nevertheless, he made one more attempt and it proved to be the most successful in the history of Christendom. Its success is due doubtless to its simplicity and its definiteness. He was a providential man chosen. for a world career, although he did. not realize the fact for a year or more after the organization of the first society. Providence did not communicate the secret of his destiny except gradually, and from the moment when the consciousness of it dawned upon him he has not ceased to recognize every advancement as due to equally specific and evident providential leadership. He has followed where he has been led. He has not run without being sent.

Inasmuch as the first society from its origin until the present time has been a model, it is desirable to state the facts concerning it that we may learn from them what the essential principles have been which have developed multitudinous societies in so many lands. The constitution provided for two classes of members, active and associate. The active members were to be Christians; the associate members

of the society deemed it absolutely essential to every society of Christian Endeavor and hence regarded it as a misnomer, to say the least, if the name of the society was appropriated and the pledge were omitted or made meaningless. He has attributed the success or the failure of the society in different churches, denominations and countries to the keeping of the pledge or to the

ommission or violation of it. Nevertheless theory and practice have not always harmonized. Concessions have been made and the word agreement or some other equivalent has sometimes been

substituted. The constitution provided for a monthly consecration meeting at which each active member should renew his vows of consecration, and absentees were to send written expressions. of their interest in the service and a renewal of their vows.

The germ of a Junior society existed in a class for boys and girls which Mr. Clark was then conducting, and which called for a pledge. similar to the one incorporated into the society's constitution. These are the essential features of the original society; there were details which need not be rehearsed,

men and women in religious efforts, the tendency in those countries. having been historically to separate the sexes. It would be difficult for critics to show any harm done to young people by being thus associated or by expressing the simplest phases of Christian experience.

It has already been made clear that the vital principle of the society was a pledge of the performance of specific Christian duties The vast majority of the societies organized have used it, and found the advantages of doing so. It is easy to make a pledge a bugbear. A pledge is a promise. It is a specific promise. It is a customary act by multitudes of people and by a plurality of organizations. Promises were made in biblical times by the servants of God, and similar pro:ises constantly have been made and kept in all departments of society, religious and civic, individual and collective, ecclesiastical and governmental. There is nothing new in the idea of making and keeping a vow. Men and women have done it historically. It is an essential element in wedlock. It is a vital part of the monetary system of the government. Pledges are made by the national government to redeem written promises. Admission to the churches. of the various denominations has been not merely by acceptance of a creed but by the taking of a covenant comprehensive in its character and sacred in its obligations. The covenantal mode of admission is older than the creedal, and preferable to it. Hence the Endeavor pledge has been defended against every criticism that has been levelled against it, and the criticisms have been multitudinous, some of them about sixteen months after the so

plausible and some of them unreasonable and imaginary, the product of minds seeking an excuse for negation in the Christian life and nonperformance of Christian duty. The pledge has worked advantageously where it has been honestly taken and faithfully kept.

The society was intended to be an organization for Christian work, for doing things, hence it was well named an Endeavor society. Good intention was inherent in the name whatever the result of the efforts put forth. Christian work in all its manifold forms has been done, work for the promotion of home and foreign missions, temperance, good citizenship, the abolition of gambling. the care of the sick and infirm, the visitation of prisoners. Millions of dollars have been put into the treasuries of missionary societies. Deeds of kindness have been multiplied all over the globe. There is scarcely a conceivable form of Christian Christian activity in activity in which which the young people have not participated. They have generated new forms in accordance with the inventive capacity inherent in youth. Good will and good deeds have characterized the course of the society in all the lands where it has found a home.

As soon as the society began to expand, a result that occurred within one year of its origin, it began to generate a group of unique conventions, the size and proportions of which have increased from local to county and state conventions, from national to international and worldwide conventions. The first convention was called a conference and was held in the home of the original society in Portland, June 2, 1882 ciety was founded. A second convention was held in the same city in

VON OGDEN VOGT

GENERAL SECRETARY

county, state, national and international, union and denominational. This was two years before the formation of the United Society, and long before a local or state union existed. It is one of numerous illustrations in the history of the society of the possession of seership by one of its leaders, the prophetic power of discerning what ought to be by observing what is.

The first local union of Christian Endeavor was established at New Haven, Connecticut, and the first state convention was held by Connecticut societies. Christian Endeavor Union came to be the name for the organization of state, county and city in Christian Endeavor work. The state union preceded the organization of local unions and originated about 1885-6. The Rev. Jus

JOHN WILLIS BAER

FORMER GENERAL SECRETARY

on lines that would be absolutely impervious to legitimate criticism. A corporation was formed bearing the name of United Society of