Opal Whiteley's
Christian Endeavor
In 1916 Opal Whiteley was the brightest and most beloved leader of the Christian Endeavor youth groups. Opal attracted over 5,000 children to join Oregon's Christian Endeavor in just three years! Opal became the most well known teenager in Oregon. Everyone thought that young Opal would become a great teacher or scientist or religious leader. It was people from Christian Endeavor who inspired Opal to teach children about nature.
In 1919 Opal left Oregon to find a publisher for her book, "The Fairyland Around Us". She had written about the unseen world of God in nature. Opal was a brilliant teacher of young people. Her students loved how she could explain the science of nature and God's design of the Universe. Opal wanted to build nature centers where children could come and learn. Opal believed both in evolution and in God. She bridged the gap between science and faith.
Dr. Thomas Condon, Minister & Geologist, CE Leader
Opal was highly influenced by the University of Oregon's Dr. Thomas Condon. He was a minister and a geologist. He is famous for his studies of fossils. He taught that God "directed" evolution, thus blending his faith as a minister and science. Opal learned much from his work.
The UofO has a natural history museum in his memory. Here is a URL from the national parks service telling a bit about Thomas Condon and his studies of fossils in Oregon. http://www.halcyon.com/rdpayne/jdfbnm-history.html.
See UofO's Condon Hall - depts of Geography, Maps & Environmental Science
Even Opal's harshest critics have stated that she never wavered in her faith. At several times in her life people tried to get Opal to take advantage of her gifts for communicating with nature. They urged her to become a spiritual "guru". This occurred in Los Angles, Boston and England. Opal however, believed everyone had his or her own gifts. Opal did not "worship nature" but taught that Nature is God's creation to be cared for and not trampled on.
Opal maintained her religious faith all through her 75 years of disgrace and 50 years in mental hospitals. We have recently discovered a few prayer written in the 1930's. There are also stories of her firm religious faith in the institution. If ever a person had reason to "give up" trusting God - Opal was certainly one. Yet, there is no evidence she ever lost her faith. If anything, her hardships made her faith in God stronger. We are glad to bring you the story of Opal’s Christian Endeavor.
Christian Endeavor &
Social Reform
Christian Endeavor was non-denominational, multi-cultural & international. Christian Endeavor was one of the most progressive religious organizations of the 1800's and early 1900's.
CE had chapters all over the world - over 4 million members! They were primarily concerned with local church service but were also active in many social issues.
In 1900 CE had a black man as a trustee, Methodist Bishop Arnett of San Francisco. His photo is here and his story is at this URL http://www.sfmuseum.org/hist5/ame.html.
Also,
here's a URL about Dr. Bob - one the founders of AA, the group that has helped
millions of alcoholics around the world. http://www.dickb.com/drbob.shtml
Christian Endeavor leaders were involved in labor rights struggles. Here is a URL about one of their leaders and his labor rights work: http://www.izaak.unh.edu/specoll/mancoll/reform.htm.
CE leaders were early foes against the tobacco industry and its selling of cigarettes. Read this 1929 article, "The Tobacco Cyclops". http://www.mtn.org/~quack/amquacks/cyclops.htm
