Miss Nettie E. Harrington, lately of Minneapolis, are active workers in this organization. is Reference to this remarkable Christian work among the young, mentioned also in the chapter on American Girls in this volume. The following statements of the principles and practice of the Society of Christian Endeavor have been culled from their leaflets: "Since this organization was established, in 1881, letters have been received, literally by the hundred thousand, from all parts of the country, asking for information about it. The Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor is simply an organized effort to lead the 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- The main point upon which the constitution insists, is the weekly prayer-meeting, which each active member pledges himself or herself to attend (unless detained by some absolute necessity) and to participate in, in some way, if only by the repetition of a verse of Scripture. "Once each month a special meeting of reconsecration to Christ is held, at which special pains are taken to see if every active member is faithful to his pledge and true to Christ. The Society may, and often does, branch off into many other departments of Christian effort, adapting itself to the local needs of each church, but these rules concerning the prayer-meeting, are imperative; without them there cannot be a true Society of Christian Endeavor. In cannot be insisted on too strongly that the Society of Christian Endeavor is first and last, and always a religious society. It has social, and literary, and other features, but it is neither a social nor literary society. In the platform of principles set forth by the President of the United Society when he accepted the position, and since very generally endorsed by the societies and adopted by their conventions, is the following: "The purely religious features of the organization shall always be paramount. The Society of Christian Endeavor centres about the prayer-meeting. The strict prayer-meeting pledge, honestly interpreted, is essential to the continued success of a Society of Christian Endeavor.' A society thus organized among the young people has proved itself to be in many cases a half-way house to the church. This society is also a training school in the church. This society is also a watch-tower for the church." The Christian Endeavor bands number 21,080, societies with a total membership of 1,370, 200. Over 120,000 young people from the various bands have become church members. "These four principles characterize this movement: The consecration meeting, the commitee work, the pledge to outspoken loyalty, the unsectarian fellowship, these must be of God's ordering, because they are Godblessed. These are what make the society more than an organization, a world-wide movement." YOUNG WOMEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATIONS. The work of these associations among women is four-fold: Physical-Systematic training in the gymnasiums, health talks, and holiday excursions. Social-Receptions and socials in home-like rooms, musical and literary entertainments, helpful companionships. Intellectual-Libraries and reading-rooms, and educational classes. Spiritual Bible training classes, evangelistic meetings, personal work. General statistics: Membership of American Associations, 12,000. The International Association was formed in 1886. General office No. 153, La Salle street, Chicago, Ill. The International Committee of twenty-seven members controls the work. The officers are: Chairman, Mrs. John V. Farwell, Jr.; Secretary, Mrs. F. T. West; Treasurer, Mrs. L. W. Messer. Each State Thirteen States have organized State associations. holds an annual convention. The International Convention occurs biennially. Each year a summer school is held for the training of young women in secretarial and Bible work. "The Evangel," the official organ of the associations, is published monthly at Chicago. The second Thursday of October is observed as a day of prayer for young women. A special department is maintained for young women of colleges." THE ORDER OF KING'S DAUGHTERS. "The Order of the King's Daughters is a religious order of service, composed of thousands of small circles united in one great organization that numbers now over 200,000 members. It is a Christian but unsectarian order, and its members may be found in all churches and in almost all nations. It originated in New York City, and has spread over nearly every State in the Union, and has its representatives in Canada, England, France, Italy, India, Australia, New Zealand and other countries. Each individual circle may choose its own field of labor, but cannot escape the obligations of service. "Its original circle of ten women, to which have been made some additions, forms now the Central Council of the order. The first meeting of this original circle was held in New York City on January 18, 1886. It is now six years old and it ranks among the strongest and most useful societies of the world. It issues a monthly magazine called The Silver Cross, which is most helpful to the order and takes a high rank among the religious and philanthropic periodicals of the country. It deals with every topic by which women may be made helpful to humanity. Its work in aid of every charitable object is effective and increasing. The badge is a small Maltese Cross of silver, often worn with a knot of purple ribbon. The order is an incorporated society of which this little cross is the seal." Its headquarters are at No. 158 West Twenty-third street, New York City. The motto of the order is "IN HIS NAME." MINISTERING CHILDREN'S LEAGUE. "This organization was founded by the Countess of Meath; it now has branches all over the world, and is rapidly growing in membership. Each national branch has a central secretary, to whom all the local branches report, but each local branch elects its own officers. These exist in almost every State of the Union. The members of the Ministering Children's League are children, and associated with them are parents, Sunday-school teachers and others who join as associate members. Children of all ages and denominations are eligible for membership. The objects of the league are stated to be; To promote kindness, unselfishness and the habit of usefulness among children and to create in their minds an earnest desire to help the needy and suffering; the rule of the League is, 'Every member must try to do at least one kind deed every day.' The motto of the League is, 'No day without a deed to crown it.' Beds in charitable institutions are being supported by Ministering Children. A chapel for the Indians has been built through the exertions of one little band of members in New York. It is difficult to estimate the good this League has done; but it has certainly made homes happier, taught members to become better sons and daughters, kinder brothers and sisters, truer friends and to be merciful to dumb beasts. And they are also trained to be useful and helpful in every practicable way. The Central Secretary for the United States is Mrs. F. E. Benedict, 54 Lefferts Place, Brooklyn, N. Y." CHAPTER XXXV. WORKING GIRLS' CLUBS. EDITED BY GRACE H. DODGE.* T is pleasant to feel that among the achievements of American women during the present century can stand the Working Girls' Clubs. The following pages voice the sentiments of hundreds of enthusiastic members, and it is only to be regretted that space will not allow a more detailed presentation of facts. The first working girls' society or club in New York grew out of a series of evening talks, when a large group of busy girls met to discuss practical matters, and to learn with the leader things which would help them in their probable future lives, as wives, mothers and housekeepers. It was organized in January, 1884, and that same winter the Philadelphia New Century Working-women's Guild was inaugurated. Since then the movement has spread throughout the country. A club is an organization formed among busy women and girls, to secure by co-operation means of self-support, opportunities for social intercourse, and the development of higher and nobler aims. It is governed by the members, for the members, and it strives to be selfsupporting. Thus three compound words define its distinctive characteristics—co-operation, self-government, self-reliance. One strange charge has been brought against the third of our principles: this rule of self-support will inevitably repel from the clubs those who most need their privileges, and for whom they were mainly instituted." The point of the whole matter lies in the proper answer to this statement, which is made under the impression that First Director of the New York Association of Working Girls' Societies. |