CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 150, 19 March 1908, Page 8

CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR.

PROGRESS OF THE MOVEMENT. , N.Z. PRESIDENT INTERVIEWED. • ,The Rev.' J.,T.;Pinfold/:Prosident .of'the NewVZealand r ,Christian Endeavour . Union, passed through Wellington yesterday on his way back-to Canterbury, after completing a tour, of Jail, the..centres-of'Christian Endea-vour-work' in •.Now! Zealand. .In conversation with' a representative of this'journal ho gave some interesting facts, relating 1 to tho growth of this-.iniportant.,branch:of religious -work. " What ..is the/ present. condition, of. Christian Endeavour? ' .' ■ ' :j " The -present; condition is one- of hopefulness. '; The',enthusiasm,by which;the movement was marked in /tho- early: days' is not now so apparent, and, on this account, many think', that!, the Christian Endeavour movement is 'on the. .wane. But this is a mistake. ; It has., been sconsolidating, and instead .'of exhibiting ,its . .energies in meetings has been employing them in active service for 'Christ- and: His Church.' We

have some 9000,active,;members in the Dominion, and nearly 3000 Junior Endeavourers. Since fits inception in"' ISBI over 30j000,000 of young people havo; been trained in Christian Endeavour Societies,", and are , now actively: engaged in various , kinds of work, in the ch|irches of Christendom; At present there- are 4,000,000. active: members in 70,000 sociotiei-."'..-,, u , , " Does : the, Christian. Endeavour; movement engage.in' any special work f;o benefit thoso outside tho Church?"

• "Yes.; In various-ways it stands for moral uplifting:,and,the extension of'righteousness. Quite recently, whilo attending the Auckland Christian Endeavour Union, I found an attempt was boing mado by: interested parties to obtain.a. licenss .for a booth to sell liquor at the big, ; Maori and : European .regatta at Ngaruawania., The local socioty sent a pro-, test, and I got tho Union to wire a protest on the';day when-'tho Licensing Committee sat.' :J..am : all who.have tho true .interests : of the Maoris., and of .sports at heart will' be glad also—that the license was refused. By; means of the many committees of the Christian Endoavour. societies a great amount'of work is encompassed from month; to month. , Hospitals are regularly visited, cottage services for .aged and the poor, are held, and mission- work is undertaken among: tho Chinese." Open-air services are - regularly. held, especially on Saturdaynight in : some centres; such as,, Wellington, with marked success. Tract distribution is undertaken," and church services conducted by, bands of.'Christian: Endeavourers." 1

Do you anticipate that 1 any special results will follow ypur visit to the various centres in the country?" --. /' :

' I expect to sco a moro general interest taken in Christian.Endeavour by! our. friends and well-wishers; especially am i looking-for this 'aniorigst'thc clergy: Our New Zealand ■Union;is'"sending ft circular to all ministers in\the'Dominion, becaiiso 'we are persuaded, if ' they realise' what-a groat help it will he to them >in -their work, they will' at once give it their. hearty sympathy and support.. Then we oxpect: also greater enthusiasm amongst the active members. We are making a combined effort to double .our membership; and, froim ■ what has already been, done, we ,are hopeful of success.";; .; ~ ' Mr. Pinfold left for the South by. last ni'ght's ferry-boat..:.' ■ ..... <A- 'large ■ and enthusiastic meeting of members of the- Christian Endeavour societies of the.Manawatu was held at Palmerston North on-.Tuesday night. : The : Rev. F MDonald presided, and : many of tho.locai' ■clergy, attended.N Amongst, tho speakers were the :B«t. , JV. T. .-Pinfold,' President of the New .-Zealand:; Christian -- Endeavour Union and the Roy.. C.. E.' Beecroft, President of the Methodist Conference. ' *