THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR MOVEMENT.

Evening Post, Volume LXVII, Issue LXVII, 30 January 1904, Page 6

THE CHRISTIAN ENDEAVOUR MOVEMENT.

VISIT OF ITS ORIGINATOR, DR. ULARK. The Society of Christian Endeavour i« , one of the most modem religiotiß movements, nnd its influence to-day is worldwide. The visit to Wellington of its ,'fouwior, the Rev. Francis K. Clark, D.D., of Boston, U.S.A., is therefore un event of more than usuul interest to the Endeu■vourerst of tho city. It was hoped that I)r. Clark would h:ivo included New Zealand in his Auslruluftiun tour rnada eleven years ago, but on tluit occasion ho only passed' through Auckland. Tho present is his ilrat tour pt our colony. From the Bluff he goes to Tasmania and Austiulia, •will perhaps touch nt South Africa, but io must reach London in time for the great . Convention in May next. 'After that b» visits tho Continent of Europo before returning to America. When a representative of tho Post met Dr. Claik this morning, on tho train during the tun down from Pulmcrston North, he was buwly engaged writing his* impressions of his travels for publication by a syndicate of American newspapers; He has b«cn naked to enquire into our colony's aocial conditions, the operation of our labour laws, old-nge pensions, the women's franchise, .the .co-operative movement, etc., in which grent interest is boing evinced throughout tho States. Dr. Clark is also writing weekly letters for tho Christian Endeavour World, a weekly paper, of which he ia the editor. In tho course of conversation he said ho had teen impressed during his short stay in the iiortb with the vitality of tho religious movement here. There was a closer religious fellowship and Christian unity between the sects in New Zcahuul than there was in America; but the Endeavour movement, which was essentially for the yonng, whs doing a great work in tho States in broadening Christian fellowship. As to his other impression*, it etruck him, in comparing his own country with Now Zealand, that there wen; more similarities Mum difference*. Of course, .llotoruiv was unique. He bad »euu nothing co mnrveUou* in America; and tho Wunganui River wn« simply charming. Ho had watched with particular interest tho progress of tho Prohibition movement in New Zealand, for as a resident of Maine — the doctor was born in Canada, is 62 year* ot age, and bad charge of a Congregational Church for twenty-three years in rot-Hand, Maine— ho had a particularly warm regard for -the buccohs of tho movement Was Prohibition really a sue- j cc&s in Maine 1 ; Certainly it wa», for ninctcntbw ol tho Stnto was what (hey called "dry." Thu trouble- wiw tho illicit trade, ■which wu« difficult to copo with. A remarkable development of the Prohibition movement was now taking place in tho Southern States of the Union. In Tennessee 89 of tbo 95 counties \vero "dry, and the. movement had spread to Mississippi, Alabama, and Texas. , ' Speaking of the condition ojf the States, when In* Wt thero, only t\ few w<ieks ago, Dr. Clark said the labour troubles were I not »i> acuto «« they had been for somo montlia previously. He bad not. tho slightest doubt that President Roosevelt would Ik> re-elected, as \m popularity today w greater than it has ever been, und * though the leaders of tho Republican Party find vim too strong for their purpose, they cannot pn«» him by in tho nomination owing to his populnrity with tho masscfl. During bis short stay in Wellington Dr. Chirk will bo tho guest of Mr. J. G. W. Aitkeu. M.H.R. A PUBLIC RECEPTION. Dr. Clark and his party ■"'ere met at the Mannwiitu railway station by tlie olticials of the local Christian Endeavour Sooietv. They were afterwards driven to tlio "City Council Chiuubers, wheio they wero publicly received by the Mayor of Wellington ("Mr. .7. O. W. Aitken), and about forty citizens. His Worship, in the course of his remarks, ,-wid they had all known of Dr. Clark for many years pas-i, and had recognised him us the father of the great Christian Endeavour movement, which had found its way into the lifo of all the Evangelical Churches throughout tho English-speaking peoples on tho earth. His Wor«hin spoko of tho expectations of good which would originate from the doctor's visit, and mentioned that their visitor would be compensated by going 1 away feeling that hl« visit hud not been in vain. In concluding, Mr. Aitken (raid : " I linve tho gieatent pleasure in giving you tho right hand of fellowship, and in welcoming you to tho city, and I hope you will have a profitable and pleasant stay here." (Applause..) Dr. Clark, In reply, *>aid he was veiy grateful for tho kindly official welcome From the Mayor, and for the kind words he bad spoken. The Christian Endeavour movement had in some respocta a claim on such men as his Woiship and the * members of tho City Council, and thoMU interested in good government, because it had tried to stand in his country (America) for good citizenship. Ho then spoke of the benutiea of New Zealand, and " the 're«ar<l which his countrymen had for this colony. Cheers were afterwards given for the visitors, and tho gathering vji tlien photographed. Dr. Cltirk will hold meeting* in Wdlipatyn aa advertised.

[Jfor Notices of Births, Marriages and Deaths, see l*age. I.]