The Young Peoples' Society of Christian Endeavor.
FOR years it was the custom of the students to hold prayer-meeting on Sabbath afternoon. These meetings were held in the Library or in some recitation-room. Soon after President Taylor took charge of the institution, a Young Men's Christian Association was formed. In order that the ladies might be active members, this society withdrew from the State Association in 1885, and changed its name to the Young People's Christian Association. In 1883 the room adjoining the Lyceum Hall was fitted up and the meetings were held in this place until the completion of the new wing. This room became too small for the meetings, so in 1888 BellesLettres Hall was set aside for the use of the association on Sunday afternoons.
Desiring to cooperate with State and national organizations in Christian work and to introduce more system into the local work, the association organized as a Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor January 30, 1889. The following officers were elected: President, A. M. Bogle; Vice-President, Kate Bacon; Secretary, E. R. Shepherd; Corresponding Secretary, Annie Willey; Treasurer, E. E. Hench. The following committees were formed to assist the officers in looking after the Interests of the Society and the welfare of the students: Prayer-meeting, Missionary, Lookout, White Cross and White Shield.
Though the programmes have varied somewhat through the years, the general plan of conducting the Christian Endeavor has remained much the same. One particular feature of the Society is the holding of the meetings of the White Cross and White Shield. The leaders for these meetings are always consecrated men and women who set before the students of the school the highest standard of a moral and religious life, and who seek to inspire them with a desire to live up to this standard.
This year much attention has been given to book reviews. "Sky Pilot,'' "Black Rock," "In Darkest England," and "In Memoriam" are some of the books that have been studied. The relation that books bear to the religious life has been carefully brought out.
From the date of its organization down to the present time, the Christian Endeavor Society has been a power for good in the school. Many young men and women, away from home for the first time, have come into the Sunday afternoon meetings, feeling that they are among strangers who care nothing for them, and have gone out, realizing that after all they are with brothers and sisters; that all of the many students here are children of one loving Father. In these meetings, too, many troubled souls have found peace and joy in Jesus the Savio:-.
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