Christian Endeavor
2 of the 7 encyclopedias on this shelf carry an entry for Christian Endeavor. Both are reproduced below, so you can see where they agree and where they differ.
Collier's New Encyclopedia (1921)
YOUNG PEOPLE'S SOCIETY OF, a society distinctly religious in all its features: organized Feb. 2, 1881, in Williston Church, Portland, Me., by the Rev. Francis E. Clark, D. D. From one small association it has expanded into over 77,500 societies (United States, 51,268; Canada, 4,118; foreign countries 22,181), with an aggregate membership of over 5,000,000. In addition to the main organizations in the United States there are various special branches, such as the Life Savers', instituted by the Rev. S. Edward Young, at the United States Life-Saving Station at Asbury Park, N. J.; the Travelers' Christian Endeavor Union, organized at Philadelphia, Nov. 14, 1892, for work among commercial travelers; the Floating societies for work in the United States navy and among seamen generally; and various other organizations whose fields of labor lie among the Chinese, the Indians, convicts in prison, etc The first Christian Endeavor Society in England was organized in 1887, and was followed by similar ones in other countries, and the constitution has been printed in over 30 different languages. The movement is not a denominational one. Any society belonging to an evangelical Church, which adopts the leading principles as set forth in the constitution, including the prayer-meetin ting pledge, and which guarantees these principles by the either alone or name Christian Endeavor in connection with a denominational name is admitted to all the privileges of the organization. The distinctive features in the Christian Endeavor movement are its work among the young people, leading them to consecrate their lives to the active service of God; the weekly prayer-meetings, which each member takes a solemn pledge detained), and to take part in; and the reconsecration meetings held once a month, at which special efforts are made to see if each one has been faithful to his pledges. The World's Union of Christian Endeavor held its first triennial convention at Washington, D. C., in July, 1896, which was attended by representatives from all over the world. Since then several international conferences have been held, the last at Buffalo, N. Y., in August, 1919. The United Society of Christian Endeavor is a central body formed in 1885, with headquarters_in Boston. It publishes the "Christian Endeavor World." The president in 1919 was Rev. Francis E. Clark, and the general secretary, William Shaw.
Aiton's Encyclopedia (1910)
or more fully, the Young People's Society of Christian Endeavor. It was organized February 2, 1881, at Portland, Maine. A similar organization was effected in England in 1887. The society has spread so widely that its constitution is now printed in thirty-two different languages. It is undenominational. Presbyterians, Baptists, Methodists, Congregationalist, and many other denominations contribute to its membership. There are now about 57,000 societies with an aggregate membership not far from 4,000,000. Annual conventions bring an enormous number of delegates together. See Epworth League