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TABLE OF CONTENTS
SECOND PERIOD—1774-1800 Ch.4—Mr. Otterbein called to Baltimore Ch.5—The Otterbein Church in Baltimore Ch.6—The Movement Toward a Separate Church Organization Ch.7—The First and Second Conferences THIRD PERIOD—1800-1815 Ch.10—The Conferences of 1801-1814 Ch.12—The Departure of the Leaders FOURTH PERIOD—1815-1837 Ch.13—The First General Conference—1815 Ch.14—The General Conferences of 1817-1833 FIFTH PERIOD—1837-1885 Ch.15—The General Conferences of 1837 and 1841 Ch.16—The General Conferences of 1845 and 1849 Ch.17—The General Conferences of 1853-1861 Ch.18—The General Conferences of 1865-1881 SIXTH PERIOD—1885-1897 Ch.19—The Nineteenth General Conference—1885 Ch.21—The Twentieth General Conference—1889 Ch.23—The Twenty-First General Conference—1893
PART II DEPARTMENTS OF CHURCH WORK Ch.1—The United Brethren Publishing House Ch.2—The Home, Frontier, and Foreign Missionary Society and Its Work Ch.3—The Church-Erection Society Ch.4—The Woman's Missionary Association Ch.9—The Young People's Christian Union Ch.10—The Board of Trustees of the Church
PART III THE ANNUAL CONFERENCES Ch.1—A Group of Early Conferences Ch.2—Other Conferences Organized from 1835 to 1853 Ch.3—Conferences Organized Since 1853
PART IV HISTORICAL AND STATISTICAL TABLES Appendices Index
NOTICE OF ATTRIBUTION Work originally published in 1897. Scanned, proofed and minor spelling corrections by the United Brethren Historical Center. Electronic edition ©2006 United Brethren Historical Center Suggested Citation:
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History of the Church of the United Brethren in Christ by Daniel Berger |
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CHAPTER IX THE YOUNG PEOPLE'S CHRISTIAN UNION I. ORGANIZATION. p.541 The nineteenth century has become noted for its production and development of the great organized agencies which have given such vast impulse to the advance of Christianity. Among these are the great Bible societies, American and foreign, the numerous home and foreign missionary societies, American and European, the phenomenal expansion of the Sunday-school work, the founding of great Christian publishing houses, denominational and undenominational, the building up of distinctively Christian institutions of learning, the Young Men's Christian Association, the Woman's Christian Association, the Young Women's Christian Association, and the National and the International Woman's Christian Temperance Union. Some of these agencies lap over a little way into the preceding century, but their great development belongs to the century now nearing its close. In these respects the activities of the Christian church have fully kept pace with the expansion in other fields of progress, as in discovery, invention, and the application of scientific principles to the various industries. It was reserved for the latter part of the century to give birth and development to one of the most remarkable of all the Christian agencies, known by the comprehensive name, "the young people's movement." This movement sprang up here and there in sporadic organizations, p.542 without connection with organizations of a like kind. Among these was one formed as early as 1867, in Dr. Theodore L. Cuyler's church in Brooklyn, called a "Young People's Association," and embodying some of the principal features now pertaining to the movement. Only a little later, in the year 1871, a similar organization was formed in the First United Brethren Church, in Dayton, Ohio. This was at first an association for young men only, but a few years later it was broadened in its character so as to embrace also young women. The organization thus founded became the pioneer of many similar organizations throughout the Church. In various other churches organizations of a like kind were formed. As the years passed, the time came when these numerous societies and others in process of forming were to be gathered together into a great national organization, as the Sunday schools of the nation and of the world have found a common bond in the international movement. For this end the Lord was pleased to raise up Dr. Francis E. Clark, of Portland, Maine. He organized in his church a society of young people, without any thought at the first that the work in his local congregation should presently become the means of giving an impetus to a movement that should become so vast in its extent. This local organization was called the "Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor." It has several special characteristics. Its aim was distinctly Christian. It required a pledge of definite service. It appointed stated meetings for consecration, and it divided its work among special committees. An account of the society appeared in a religious newspaper, and through this other churches were led to adopt the same plan. Thus in a short time the societies multiplied among the different denominations, and these were afterward gathered together under a common bond, and known p.543 by the name at first given to the society in Dr. Clark's church. Dr. Clark was chosen as president of the united movement, and probably no wiser choice could have been made. But meanwhile there were those in the various denominations who were persuaded that their young people could be best instructed, and their denominational loyalty best preserved, by the organization of unions under their own care and direction. And among several of the great denominations such unions have been formed, as the Epworth League of the Methodist churches, the Baptist Young People's Christian Union, and so on. In the United Brethren Church the local societies were at first gathered under conference direction. In the Allegheny Conference, for example, representatives of a number of societies organized a Young People's Christian Association, in 1887, which in the following year became a conference organization. In 1889 a similar organization was effected in the East Pennsylvania Conference, and in the same year the Miami Conference Young People's Christian Union was organized. All of these were organized substantially upon the plan which was soon after adopted for the whole Church. The United Brethren Ministerial Association of Dayton, Ohio, in its monthly meeting in April, 1890, had for a topic, "Should We Have a General Organization of the Young People's Societies in Our Church?" It was formally discussed by Prof. J. P. Landis, D.D., and M. R. Drury, D.D. Dr. Drury read a carefully prepared paper on the subject, in which he recommended the organization of the young people of the denomination. The association appointed Revs. M. R. Drury, J. P. Landis, and W. A. Dickson a committee to secure the indorsement of the bishops and to issue a call for a convention. The call, after reciting p.544 the belief that the time had come for holding a convention of representatives and friends of the young people's societies throughout the United Brethren Church to organize a young people's Christian society for the denomination in harmony with its spirit and methods of work, and that the holding of a convention, affording opportunities for the cultivation of a closer feeling of sympathy among the young people, would awaken a broader Christian enthusiasm, invited "all young people's societies in the Church, of whatever kind, to send delegates to a general convention to be held in Dayton, Ohio, June 4 and 5, 1890, in the First United Brethren Church." All churches friendly to the movement were also asked to elect and send representatives to the convention. The convention met as called, and was attended by about two hundred delegates, representing societies and churches in nine different States and fourteen annual conferences. Representatives of every department of church work were present to give approval, and the convention was characterized by genuine enthusiasm. Prof. J. P. Landis was chosen temporary chairman, and Mr. E. W. Runkle temporary secretary. The representatives who constituted the convention were unanimous in their opinion that there should be a general union of the young people's societies of the denomination, but they were divided as to what should be the name and character of the local society. Some favored the adoption of the Christian Endeavor society as the only form for local organizations, while others advocated a distinct denominational plan and name. After much discussion, the Committee on Plan of Organization, consisting of Mr. E. L. Shuey, Rev. H. F. Shupe, Rev. L. B. Hix, Mr. W. O. Appenzellar, Rev. E. S. Lorenz, Rev. W. O. Fries, and Mr. L. A. Buchner, was appointed. This committee reported the name p.545 and plan of the "Young People's Christian Union." In keeping with the name and spirit of the United Brethren in Christ, mutual concessions of opinions were made, and the plan adopted left to the local church the choice of the form and name for the local societies. This was unanimously adopted with rejoicing, and the whole plan was received by the Church with unanimity and enthusiasm. The constitution provides for a general union of all Christian young people's societies in the United Brethren Church to be under the direction of general officers and an executive council. The object of the union is "to unite the young people's Christian societies of the entire Church, of whatever name, for mutual helpfulness, for stimulating church loyalty and an intelligent interest in the various church enterprises, and for the organization and extension of the young people's Christian societies within the Church." An organization of similar character called a branch union is provided for each annual conference. Conventions of the general union are held biennially, and of the branch unions, annually. The officers of the union elected at the time of its organization were: President, Dr. J. P. Landis; vice-presidents (one for each bishop's district), W. O. Appenzellar, Rev. W. O. Fries, Rev. L. B. Hix, Rev. M. R. Meyer, Prof. J. A. Sollinger; corresponding secretary, Rev. W. A. Dickson; recording secretary, Prof. U. D. Runkle; treasurer, Mrs. R. L. Swain; executive committee, Prof. J. P. Landis, Rev. W. A. Dickson, E. L. Shuey, Rev. H. F. Shupe, and Rev. A. E. Davis. The executive committee arranged with the editors of the Religious Telescope to have a department devoted to the Young People's Christian Union, and Dr. M. R. Drury was elected editor. Topics for the young people's prayer-meetings and a badge were provided, and p.546 leaflets were issued. Societies were at once organized throughout the Church, and at the annual conferences succeeding the convention a number of branch unions were organized. The first report of the corresponding secretary, January 1, 1891, showed eighty-seven societies enrolled and nine branch unions. II. PROGRESS AND WORK. Early in 1892 the executive committee asked the societies to make an offering for the missionary work, and in conjunction with the missionary board selected Los Angeles, California, as the place for establishing a church. It also designated the last Sunday in May of that year as an anniversary day, or young people's day, to be observed with special services and an offering for the Los Angeles mission. At that anniversary the corresponding secretary reported two hundred and ninety-five societies. Sixteen branch unions had been organized, some of which had held branch conventions. The second general convention was held at Galion, Ohio, June 1 and 2, 1892. It was attended by about two hundred delegates, representing eight States and seventeen conferences. The number of societies reported was 448, with about 22,500 members. Twenty branch unions had been organized. The treasurer reported $1,359.45 received, of which $806.36 was for the Los Angeles fund. At this convention a few verbal changes in the constitution were made. When the General Conference of 1893 met, the union numbered 559 societies, with 23,193 members, and a memorial was presented, asking recognition as a department of the Church. The need of a young people's paper to be the organ of the union was also felt, and the General Conference was memorialized to provide it. Both requests p.547 were granted. The Young People's Christian Union was made a department of the Church by giving it a place in the Discipline and by constituting the president of the local young people's society a member of the quarterly conference. The publication of a paper was authorized to "represent specifically the work of the Young People's Christian Union," and Rev. H. F. Shupe was elected editor. The paper was named the Young People's Watchword, and the first number was issued September 2, 1893. The constitution was so changed as to make the executive committee consist of nine members, including the president and corresponding secretary, four of whom are elected by the General Conference. The General Conference elected Mrs. L. R. Keister, Rev. W. A. Dickson, Rev. M. R. Drury, and Miss Estelle Krohn. Immediately after the General Conference Rev. W. A. Dickson resigned as corresponding secretary, and the editor of the young people's paper was elected to that office. The general convention of 1894 was held at Elkhart, Indiana, June 21-24. An attendance of eight hundred people from fifteen States and thirty-three conferences, including some of the leaders of the Church, made it the largest and most representative gathering ever held in the Church. At this convention thirty-three branch organizations were reported, and the number of societies was 1,062, including forty-nine Junior societies. The number of members was 48,615, including 2,099 Juniors. The receipts for the two preceding years were $2,408.63. Of this amount $1,994.54 was for the Los Angeles mission, $278.23 having been given during a week of self-denial. The receipts from society dues was $413.59. At this convention the Young People's Reading Course was adopted. This provides for the reading of a number of selected books and of special study course papers in the Watchword, on the completion p.548 of which certificates are granted to the readers. The convention also pledged to raise the sum of five thousand dollars for building a church at Los Angeles. The fifth anniversary, in May, 1895, showed the continued growth of the union, there being 1,400 societies and 58,000 members. The fourth general convention was held June 17-21, 1896, at Des Moines, Iowa. It was a great representative convocation—spiritual, missionary, educational, and churchly in spirit. The union had grown to 1,763 societies, including 186 Junior societies, and 70,374 members, including 6,433 Juniors. The branch unions numbered forty-five. During the two preceding years $808.16 had been paid as dues and $3,293.22 for Los Angeles. Among the new lines of work adopted were the Christian-stewardship idea and the college committees. The officers elected were: President, J. P. Landis; vice-presidents, W. L. Richardson, William Williamson, A. B. Statton, W. E. Schell, J. S. Pitman; corresponding secretary, H. F. Shupe; recording secretary, Lizzie Sheets; treasurer, Z. W. Barnard; executive council, E. L. Shuey, W. O. Fries, and George Miller. The statistics of the union January 1, 1897, were: Societies, 1,612; Junior societies, 208; total, 1,820. Members, 64,872; Junior members, 8,119; total, 72,991. Although less than seven years have passed since the organization of the union, its advantages have become so apparent that it meets with universal favor. As a means of assisting young people in entering into the proper activities of Christian life, the association is above estimate. |
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