Page:Famous Living Americans, with Portraits.djvu/140

 FRANCIS E. CLARK By Charles Eugene Underwood FATHER ENDEAVOR CLARK all Christendom knows and loves as the founder of the Yonng People's Soci- ety of Christian Endeavor. The orphan boy, Francis Edward SymmeSy assumed the surname of his uncle and fos- ter father, Rev. E. W. Clark. *' Father Endeavor'* consti- tutes an honorary degree conferred upon him by the young people who for more than a quarter of a century have ac- cepted his fatherly counsel, and followed his spiritual leader- ship. The future founder of the Young People 's Society of Chris- tian Endeavor was born at Aylmer, Province of Quebec, on September 12, 1851. His parents had migrated thither from New England. Orphaned at eight years of age, Francis en- tered the home of his uncle. Rev. E. W. Clark. His New Eng- land inheritance, the inspiration of Christian associations, the atmosphere of a Christian home, and the influence and encour- agement of his uncle, all conspired to make him a Christian minister. He prepared for his chosen career at Dartmouth college and Andover seminary. Upon graduation Dr. Clark entered upon a modest mission pastorate in the Williston Congregational church at Portland, Maine. By earnest, capable effort he built the mission church into a strong, self-supporting, aggressive organization. In 1883 he removed to Boston, where he served the Phillips Congregar tional church for four years. Closing his pastorate at this church in 1887 he became actively engaged in directing the Yotmg People *s Societies of Christian Endeavor. Henceforth the biography of the man is merged in the history of the move- ment. In the Williston church at Portland, Maine, on February 2, 1881, he organized the first Society of Christian Endeavor. He had found his young people interesting and inter- ested, but with no clear lines of Christian work to awaken