2. The Junior Movement started a few years later, though many features of the Junior Society as now developed were incorporated in the Endeavor Society from the beginning. But as time went on, and the young people became older, the need for some special work for the boys and girls became evident: hence the sur prising growth of late years of the Junior So ciety of Christian Endeavor.
3. The United Society of Christian En deavor is simply a bureau of information. It claims no authority and exercises none. One of the Christian Endeavor principles is that all authority over a local society is vested in the church and its pastor. The United Society sim ply records the names of local societies, tabulates statistics, issues information in the form of leaf lets and booklets, and provides the program for the international conventions. The details of management are under the direction of a board of trustees, consisting of about one hundred well known clergymen and laymen representing the different evangelical denominations and state unions. The expenses of the United Society are kept at the lowest point possible, and it is sup ported by the sale of its literature and badges.
The basis of the union of the societies is one of common loyalty to Christ, common methods of service for him, and mutual Christian affection. rather than a doctrinal and ecclesiastical basis. In such a union all evangelical Christians can unite without repudiating or being disloyal to any denominational custom or tenet.
The Christian Endeavor World is the official representative of the societies. It was adopted by the sixth annual convention of Christian Endeavor societies, and has been indorsed by many conventions since. The president of the United Society. as editor-in-chief of the Christian Endeavor World. and the treasurer, as business manager of the paper, receive their support from the paper and not from the Society. In many other ways the paper contributes to the support and growth of the Society.
4. Its Principles. The principles of the So ciety of Christian Endeavor as they have been held from the beginning, and as they have been wrought out in the experience of thousands of societies. embodied in the following state ments. These, together with a study of its con stitution, will give anyone a clear idea of the Society of Christian Endeavor, what it is and how it works.
(1) Organized Effort. The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor is an organized effort to lead young people to Christ and into his church, to establish them firmly in the faith, and to set them at work in the Lord's vineyard.
One main point upon which the constitution in sists is the weekly prayer meeting, which each active member pledges himself or herself to at tend (unless detained by some reason that can conscientiously be given to the Master), and to participate in, in some way, however small.
Once each month a consecration meeting is held, at which special pains are taken to see that every active member is faithful to his pledge. Willfully unfaithful members are dropped from the roll after a fair trial.
(2) A Training School in the Church. It cannot be insisted on too strongly that the So ciety of Christian Endeavor is a religious or ganization. Social, literary and other features can be added as may seem desirable. Into this Society the new Christian, however young or feeble he may be, is invited to come at once. Here he is immediately recognized as a Chris tian, and is afforded the opportunity to acknowl edge his Savior, which he is encouraged to do. He is given something to do for him in the way of practical service. This work accustoms him to the sound of his own voice in the prayer meeting. It causes him to feel that he has a part to perform in the activities of the church, as well as the oldest Christian. Very soon he learns that he has a duty in the general church prayer meetings, and he becomes naturally and easily one of the pastor's trusted helpers. A generation of Christians trained from early boy hood and girlhood in this way, patiently, persist ently, kindly, will be a generation of working Christians.
(3) The Committees. The various committees are essential features of the Young People's So ciety of Christian Endeavor. With faithful, earn est, intelligent committees, the work can hardly fail to succeed. Perhaps the most important of these is the Lookout Committee. This has for part of its work the bringing of new members into the Society. It is the duty of its members to see that only those who have begun the Christian life are thus introduced as active mem bers. The other committees, especially the Prayer-meeting, Missionary and Social Commit tees, are scarcely less important, but their duties are easily understood as defined in the constitu tion, and it is not necessary to dwell upon their work. All these committees, according to their zeal and devotion, can make much or little of their office. Each one of them affords ample opportunity for efficient service, if it is rightly used.