CHRISTIAN WORKER

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 616, 19 March 1929, Page 1

CHRISTIAN WORKER

ENDEAVOUR SECRETARY ARRIVES

MISS JENNIE STREET A stnall red and white flag-, bearing: the monogram “C.E.,” fluttered from the deck of the Ulimaroa this morning. Its owner, Miss Jennie Street, was greeting friends and Auckland for the first timo. The flag is a symbol of the Christian Endeavour Union which has branches in all parts of the Empire. It was made for the lirst world conference of the union in 1900 and since then it has been carried to all parts of the world and numberless conferences by its proud owner. Miss Street is the honorary field secretary of the British Christian Endeavour Union and has come to New Zealand for some months to hold meetings and extend the organisation. “Ur. Poole, who had returned to England before I left, had wonderful things to say about New Zealand,” Miss Street said this morning. “He told me that I would not understand the meaning of the word ‘welcome’ until I had been here. He was most enthusiastic about his tour.” Miss Street said that all her life has been devoted to assisting with church work, principally among the young people. A few years ago she was captured by the aims and ideals of Christian Endeavour and had worked assiduously for the cause ever since. Now she is on a world tour strengthening and extending the organisation. Her tour of New Zealand is the outcome of a visit to England in 19‘J6 of Mr. Noel Carless, secretary of the New Zealand branch of the union. He conferred with the Kcv. Lionel FJ. Fletcher, president, on his return to the Dominion and Miss Street was invited to make a tour. “Christian Endeavour stands for the church,” the enthusiastic secretary remarked to-day. “We aim at the development. of indivdual Christianity within the happy limits of the church. All denominations are free to join us, and do. We send many people into the mission fields, but they go always through their own church.” Started by Ur. Clark, an American, many years ago. the union has spread to most countries of' the world. It held its first world convention in 1900 and will hold its jubilee in 1931. It was only after the convention in 1900 that the union took on world rar.k. From then on its progress has been rapid until to-day the membership runs into many, many thousands. The methods of the union have since b«eu imitated by many other societies working for the benefit of young Christians. Miss Street was welcomed this morning by Mr. Fletcher, Mr. Carles* and several members of the union in Auckland.