Poling's Endeavorers

The young people's wing of the Protestant churches is the interdenominational International Society of Christian Endeavor; membership, circa four millions. Especially active in it are Presbyterians, Congregationalists, Disciples. Approximately half of the young Baptists belong to it, the other half are members of the Baptist Young People's Union. Young Lutherans have their own Luther League, their Walther League. Similarly the Methodists formed their own Epworth League a few years after the founding (1881) of Christian Endeavor.

Last week in Kansas City, Mo., the Endeavorers conducted their 32nd International conference. As is usual with meetings of this kind, the young people listened to speeches and passed resolutions prepared by adult leaders. They resolved: 1) to uphold the Kellogg-Briand peace treaty; 2) to uphold Prohibition. These resolutions were sent as an answer to President Hoover's message of "cordial greetings . . . deep appreciation." In part they said: "[The delegates] send you the assurance of their affectionate regard and pledge their loyalty in the following words:

" 'With President Hoover I believe that Prohibition is an experiment noble in purpose, and that it was enacted for the protection of the American home, and with him I wish it to succeed.

" 'To support the President and the Constitution, to strengthen public health and morals and to advance my own well-being and the well-being of others I pledge myself to abstain from all alcoholic liquor as a beverage and to give my utmost endeavor for the enforcement and complete success of Prohibition.

" I accept the pact of peace as a covenant of personal and national honor.

Chief framer of these pledges was Dr. Daniel Alfred Poling, ever a militant Dry, who became the association's president two years ago following the death of its leader and founder, Dr. Francis E. Clark. Last week, as everyone expected, President Poling was reelected.

When he played football at Dallas College in Oregon, young Dan Poling did not care for liquor. He cared for it still less in 1912 when he ran for the Governorship of Ohio on a Prohibition ticket. Had he been elected he could not have taken office because he was too young (28). But he, a young zealot with the build of a lumberman, was merely propagandizing for his cause. Afterward he became secretary of the famed "Flying Squadron," a Prohibition-boosting committee which in 1914-15 visited and pleaded in each & every state. He enjoys a close Dry friendship with Chain Storeman James Cash Penney, friend of Prohibition and of President Hoover, publisher of the Christian Herald, interdenominational weekly of which Dr. Poling is editor-in-chief.

During his spare time, of which he generally has little, Dr. Poling writes novels which he signs "Dan Poling." One of these (The Heretic) he wrote on a Westbound transcontinental train. He has laid his novels on New York harbor barges, in Pittsburgh steel mills. He knows about New York because in the winter he functions there as pastor of the Marble Collegiate Reformed Church. About Pittsburgh he learned while collaborating with Bishop Francis John McConnell on the Steel Report Committee of the Interchurch World Movement in 1912, a committee which shares the credit for getting the steel laborers' workday cut from twelve hours to eight. During the War he served with the Y. M. C. A. at the front, still suffers occasionally from a gassing there received. Lately he was elected President of the General Synod of the Reformed Church in America.