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Show Page 68<br><br>Second Convention.<br><br> At this convention, held in Salt Lake City, April 15, 1890, the Utah Endeavorers were honored by the enthusiasm and counsel of Father Endeavor Dr. F. E. Clark. The afternoon was devoted to a devotional service, business session, reports from societies, addresses by pastors, five-minute talks, the children's mass-meeting, a question-box and an informal social. The evening service consisted of an address of welcome to Dr. Clark by President J. Brainard Thrall, in which a C. E. pin, made from Utah gold by Utah workmen, was presented to Dr. Clark. The speaker in return delivered to President Thrall his own C. E. monogram. He anticipated much pleasure in his visit on account of the fight that had been carried on here and because of the social, educational and spiritual ties which bind Christian people here to Christian people back in Boston. After a spirited spiritual consecration meeting Dr. Clark left on the 10:30 train. President Thrall and Secretary Parsons were re-elected. Twenty-two societies were reported organized. John T. Axton was elected delegate to represent Utah at the St. Louis convention in June of 1890. On Christian Endeavor day, February 2nd, 1891, the Salt Lake Local C. E. Union was organized in Hammond Hall. Mr. John T. Axton was elected president and Miss Hattie Knowles (now Mrs. Randolph) secretary.<br><br> Third Annual Convention.<br><br> Was held in Ogden Baptist Church March 31, 1891. The largest delegation was that of the Salt Lake Union, over one hundred strong, by a special train. The church was packed. The main address of the evening was delivered by Rev. S. E. Wishard, D. D., on the subject, "Study and Use of the Bible by Christian Endeavor Workers." The first Utah C. E. convention sunrise prayer-meeting was held the next morning at 7 o'clock. Nearly all the delegates were present. At the business session at 9:30, Secretary C. H. Parsons reported that during the year there was a membership gain of over 150, making 725 members in the twenty-three societies, and that the two Epworth Leagues had withdrawn from the Union. The total number of delegates present was about 350, every society being represented. One of the prominent visitors was Rev. Mr. Fulton, the organizer of the Fulton fund system of collecting money for the missions in China. A telegram from the Minneapolis committee of 1891, and greetings from President F. E. Clark, Secretary John Willis Baer and from C. E. workers in thirty States and Territories and provinces were received. As the outgrowth of the convention thoughts, the following was expressed in resolution form: "That we will depend for success in the future more largely than ever upon these three things: "First-Prayer for the presence of the Holy Spirit; "Second-Definite and systematic Bible study; and "Third-Personal work for the salvation of the unconverted. "That we consider it a special ground of praise to God for the happy results of the C. E. movement in the unifying of denominational differences." All in all, it was the grandest convention (yet) held in Utah. At a meeting of the Union Executive Committee held April 6, 1891, the year's work was planned and apportioned to six district secretaries. At the Minneapolis convention Miss Anna Baker of Salt Lake City, Miss M. H. Nutting of Ogden and Mrs. L. A. Burnet of Mt. Pleasant were the Utah representatives. <br><br>Fourth Annual Convention.<br><br> Elaborate preparations for the fourth annual convention of the Utah C. E. Union were made by the Salt Lake local C. E. Union in conjunction with and under the direction of the Territorial Union, and was held April 5th and 6th, 1892. The convention proper was preceded by a conference of pastors, society officers, local union officers and the executive committee. Secretary Parsons' report showed an increase of eleven societies and 216 members over the report of the last convention. Total number of societies, 34; total membership, 971. The membership is apportioned as follows: Active/Associate Presbyterian .....................267 80 Congregational ...................180 97 Baptist .......................... 94 15 Epworth League ................... 60 15 Christian ........................ 39 25 Juniors .......................... 79 20 Total ............................719 252 The efficient work of President J. Brainard Thrall and Secretary C. H. Parsons called forth their third re-election. The usual quota of officers and committees was elected. Besides the usual resolutions and recommendations the following are noticeable and noteworthy: "We recommend that local unions Christian Endeavor Societies and individuals send petitions and personal letters, as many as possible, to the United States Senators, Members of the House of Representatives and the World's Fair Commissioners praying for the closing of the Exposition on Sunday; also that Sunday Leagues be formed for the purpose of keeping the Sabbath day in their respective localities. "Resolved, That as workers in the cause of Christ we abstain from indulgence in all questionable amusements." In all, this was a rich symposium of spiritual and social blessings to the Endeavor work in Utah. The attendance of the visiting delegates was 183, Ogden sending 74 and Provo 31. The other towns and cities represented were Lynne, Smithfield, Nephi, Logan, Brigham City, American Fork, Bountiful, West Jordan, Lehi, Mendon, Spanish Fork, Kaysville, Park City, Springville, Payson, Sandy, Trenton, Mt. Pleasant and Evanston, Wyo. Rev. B. F. Clay, pastor of the Central Christian Church, Salt Lake City, was the official delegate to the International C. E. gathering.<br><br> Fifth Annual Convention.<br><br> In the Congregational Church of Ogden, April 17, 1893, the president called to order the Fifth Utah C. E. convention. Large delegations had arrived. Arrangements had been made to have at the convention John G. Wolley, the temperance orator, and Professor E. H. Kent of Chicago Bible Institute, while Rev. C. T. Brown of Olivet, Mich., was a visitor. The three gentlemen contributed largely to the success of the convention. The following is from the secretary's report: "Twelve new societies have been added this year and ten Junior-a total of 22, or an increase of 63 per cent since the last meeting. We have lost four E. L. of C. E., and seven others for various reasons have been discontinued. So our total net gain is 11 societies, or over 30 per cent. We have a membership gain of 337, making 1308 in all. The election resulted in Mr. Robert J. Caskey being made president in the place of Rev. J. Brainard Thrall, who was to remove from Utah in a short time, and Rev. F. S. Forbes was elected secretary. In the closing session President Thrall made his farewell address to the Utah workers, and was presented with a beautiful C. E. badge by Secretary Parsons. At the close of his thanks he presented to Mr. Parsons his own C. E. pin, as a token to remember their five years' work together. At the great Montreal convention, Mr. I. N. Hayden was the Utah representative. Professor O. F. Davis of Salt Lake City and F. S. French of Ogden were also present.<br><br> Sixth Annual Convention.<br><br> President Robert J. Caskey called to order on April 3, 1894, in the new First Congregational Church, Salt Lake City, the sixth conference of the Utah Endeavorers. One of the most successful parts on the program was the inauguration of officers and committee conferences and the Junior rally. The main addresses were given by Rev. J. A. Livingston Smith and Rev. Clarence T. Brown. Their topics were respectively, "The Mission and Menace of Christian Endeavor," and "Christian Endeavor an Important Factor in Coming Reform." The convention was well attended, the delegates were hospitably entertained and all the topics were handled in an able manner. The reports show a net membership gain of 240, and seven new societies were added to the list. The business session re-elected Robert J. Caskey as President and elected Harry N. Tolles secretary and treasurer, and in conjunction a competent corps of vice-presidents, directors, etc. All went away inspired with new zeal in advancing the cause "For Christ and the Church."<br><br> Members Convention.<br><br> The seventh annual convention held at the Gordon Academy building, Ogden, on April 3rd and 4th, 1895, was styled a "Member's Convention" from the fact that it was designed to be a convention in which all the delegates were to take some part. The topics of the morning and afternoon sessions were for the members and not for a few leaders. The evening sessions were devoted to these addresses: "Systematic Beneficence and its relation to Missions," by Professor H. K. Warren; "A Live Society and a Vital Question," by Rev. Charles F. Richardson; "World-Wide Endeavor," by C. H. Parsons, and "Christian Endeavor Heroism," by Rev. B. F. Clay. The special Junior Convention and Committee conferences were among the special features. Each appointed a leader to report briefly its important discussions to the mass convention. |
