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25-654: Harriet E. Clark , the wife of Rev. Clark, originated the idea of the Society of Christian Endeavor. The Christian Endeavor movement began on February 2, 1881. After the Society was described in a magazine article in 1882, the Society grew initially in the United States and then spread throughout the British Empire and beyond. The movement peaked during the last decade of the nineteenth century and then declined as denominational youth societies imitated and adapted

50-778: Is located in Ephrata in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania , USA. The General Secretary (CEO) is Dr. Dave Coryell from the USA. The President is Raffi Masserlian from Lebanon. As of 2022 the society unites 40 independent National Christian Endeavor Unions in 32 countries around the world. According to the WCEU, Christian Endeavor Societies are under development in 20 additional countries. Christian Endeavor meetings are described in both Cloudy Jewel and The Girl from Montana , by Christian author Grace Livingston Hill . In Heaven to Betsy ,

75-526: The Bible was very clear about what was good and evil in life, she reflected that design in her own works. She wrote about a variety of different subjects, almost always with a romance worked into the message and often essential to the return to grace on the part of one or several characters. If her clear-cut descriptions of evil in man and woman were Hill’s primary subjects in her novels, a secondary subject would always be God’s ability to restore. Hill aimed for

100-488: The cabinet organ . Here, she met another teacher, Dr. Rev. Francis Edward Clark , and in 1876, they married. In the following year, she organized the "Mizpah Circle", the first "Junior Society", though not yet of "Christian Endeavor". The Mizpah Circle was a missionary society. It consisted of a group of girls who studied about and prayed for missionaries. Clark's love of children was especially noticeable in her travels to China, Japan, and India. The stained-glass window in

125-623: The Christian Endeavor idea, and the movement's success was largely due to her. As Dr. Clark made his trips to foreign countries around the world, Mrs. Clark assisted him in furthering the main object of his journeys: Christian Endeavor work. She made frequent addresses, especially before gatherings of pastors' wives and missionaries, to whom she explained the work. She uprooted every year or two that she might accompany Dr. Clark worldwide. A constant sufferer from seasickness, she probably traveled more miles by water than any other woman from

150-586: The U.S., earning the title, "Mother Endeavor Clark". She traveled not only by steamship and railway but also thousands of miles by carriage and bullock cart , on the back of horses, mules, donkeys, camels, and elephants, in sedan chairs , rickshaws , wheelbarrows, and on foot, to keep their Christian Endeavor appointments in the out-of-the-way places of the world. In all these journeyings, she carried her portable typewriter and assisted Dr. Clark in his literary labors, collaborating with him in Our Journey around

175-935: The World , the story of their first trip. Clark was a favorite at missionary gatherings. When at home, she was for many years the superintendent of the Junior society in her home church at Auburndale, Massachusetts , and also conducted the department for Junior superintendents in The Christian Endeavor World . Since 1915, she was a member of the Boston Authors Club. On October 3, 1876, in Andover, she married Dr. Rev. Francis Edward Clark. They went on to have five children. Harriet E. Clark died in Newton, Massachusetts , September 24, 1945, and

200-563: The concept of "youth ministry" by asking young people in his Williston Congregational Church to sign a two-sentence pledge described in his book published in 1882, The Children and the Church, and the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor, as a means of Bringing Them Together. Previously youth had been classified with children and not considered capable of active Christian involvement. The World's Christian Endeavor Union (WCEU) office

225-676: The death of Hill's father less than a year later, her mother came to live with her. This prompted Hill to write more frequently. During and after her failed ten-year marriage to second husband Flavius Josephus Lutz, a church organist 15 years her junior, she continued to write to support her children and mother. She stopped using the Lutz surname after they parted ways in May 1914. Although many of her earlier novels were specifically intended to proselytize, Hill's publishers frequently removed overt references to religious themes. After her publishers realized

250-471: The fifth book of the Betsy-Tacy series for children by Maud Hart Lovelace set in 1910s Minnesota, Betsy's new friend Bonnie is the leader of the local Christian Endeavor society, where several characters attend meetings and parties during the course of the novel. Harriet E. Clark Harriet E. Clark ( née , Abbott ; pen name , Mrs. Francis E. Clark ; December 10, 1850 – September 24, 1945)

275-455: The forms of Christian Endeavor. The Society continues in various locations into the twenty-first century. The first Christian Endeavor Society was formed on February 2, 1881, in Portland, Maine, under the direction of Francis E. Clark. Rev. Clark founded the first national church youth organization, Christian Endeavor, the forerunner of the modern denominational "youth fellowship". The society

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300-609: The front of the Williston Church in Portland, Maine is a memorial to the Mizpah Circle. Under Clark's leadership, the Mizpah Circle also raised money for the "Book of Psalms", which was used in the responsive service of the church. These responsive readings were found one Sunday morning in the pews as a symbol of youthful contribution to the worship. Clark, an effective speaker, is credited with having originated

325-498: The house of their minister. Within a year, six societies had formed. After two years, the number of societies had grown to fifty-six. The organization expanded rapidly as it grew from a single church society into a world movement. By the end of the 19th century, Christian Endeavor was in the headlines of many major American newspapers. By 1906, 67,000 youth-led Christian Endeavor societies had been organized worldwide, with over four million members. Christian Endeavor took up many causes and

350-407: The monthly consecration meeting of the society, I will, if possible, send at least a verse of Scripture to be read in response to my name at the roll call. Christian Endeavor created publications for youth, devised youth programs, and sponsored events. Christian Endeavor was maintained through private donations that often came from youth. Christian Endeavor began as a small group of youth that met at

375-414: The popularity of her books, references to religious topics were allowed to remain, although she later modified her writing style to appeal to a more secular audience. The last Grace Livingston Hill book, Mary Arden , was finished by her daughter, Ruth Hill Munce , writing under the name of Ruth Livingston Hill, and published in 1948. Hill's messages are simple in nature: good versus evil. As Hill believed

400-724: The presidency. Christian Endeavor societies met at the state level for local control and met in World Conventions at intervals of three to six years. (World Conventions were held in Grand Rapids, Michigan in 1937 and 1951.) The organization's world headquarters moved from Boston, Massachusetts, to Columbus, Ohio, in 1952. Christian Endeavor is still operating throughout the world; their activities are widely reported on international and state Christian Endeavor Websites. Drawing on ideas taken from other pastors, especially Presbyterian Theodore L. Cuyler from Brooklyn, Clark shaped

425-578: The rule of my life to pray and to read the Bible every day, and to support the work and worship of my own church in every way possible; and that just so far as I know how, throughout my whole life, I will endeavor to lead a Christian life. As an active member I promise to be true to all my duties, to be present at and to take some part, aside from singing, in every Christian Endeavor meeting, unless hindered by some reason which I can conscientiously give to my Lord and Master, Jesus Christ. If obliged to be absent from

450-416: Was The Esselstynes, which was published in 1877 as part of the "Mother's Boys and Girls Library" by D. Lothrop & Company. A Chautauqua Idyl, her first book as a young adult, was written in 1887 to earn enough money for a family trip from her Florida home to the summer Chautauqua gathering at Chautauqua, New York. This illustrated allegory of a Chautauqua gathering held by the flowers, tree, and animals

475-399: Was a direct descendent of John Alden and Priscilla Mullens . After Harriet's father died, in 1855, the family removed to Andover, Massachusetts , where she received her education. She went on to become a schoolteacher in Andover, and also taught for a year in the grammar school at Ballardvale, Massachusetts . At Abbott Village Mission School, she taught the primary class and played

500-492: Was an American teacher and author. She was the founder of the "Mizpah Circle", a group of girls who studied about and prayed for missionaries . She also originated the idea of the Society of Christian Endeavor . Harriet Elizabeth Abbott was born December 10, 1850, a native of Hampton Falls, New Hampshire . Her parents were Rev. Sereno T. and Sarah (French) Abbott. Her grandfather and great-grandfather were clergymen also. She

525-477: Was born in Wellsville, New York to Marcia Macdonald Livingston and her husband, Presbyterian minister, Rev. Charles Montgomery Livingston. Both were writers, as was her aunt, Isabella Macdonald Alden , who wrote under the pseudonym "Pansy." Hill's writing career began as a child in the 1870s, writing short stories for her aunt's weekly children's publication, The Pansy. Her first story printed in book form

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550-424: Was buried at Newton Cemetery. Grace Livingston Hill Grace Livingston Hill (April 16, 1865 – February 23, 1947) was an early 20th-century novelist and wrote both under her real name and the pseudonym Marcia Macdonald . She wrote over 100 novels and numerous short stories. Her characters were most often young Christian women or become Christians within the confines of the story. Grace Livingston Hill

575-528: Was formed in order to "bring youth to accept Christ and work for Him". The youth were shown that the church cared for young people. The Society enabled youth to express themselves while participating in useful tasks. It stressed a devoted, evangelistic spirit that was expressed in the Christian Endeavor pledge: Trusting in the Lord Jesus Christ for strength, I promise Him that I will strive to do whatever He would like to have me do; that I will make it

600-609: Was influential in supporting the temperance movement in the 1920s. Christian Endeavor began extensive publications in 1886. World conventions were held to address major issues. In 1887, Clark was elected president of the United Society, and in 1895 he was chosen as the World President of the Christian Endeavor Union. Clark held this position until his death in 1927. Daniel A. Poling then assumed

625-431: Was published in time to be offered for sale that summer and brought enough earnings to take the family there. Several books written in collaboration with her family followed in the early 1890s, as well as her only children's book, A Little Servant. Lack of funds was a frequent motivator, particularly after the death of her first husband left her with two small children and no income other than that from her writing. After

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