The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-10-15
Great BAPTIST SERVICES
Celebration Of the First Century of
Baptist Work in Scranton.
CHURCH DEBT WAS WIPED OUT
Mortgages to be Burned at Jubilee Meet.
ing-Anniversary Services Tomorrow
and NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. Delivered
Yesterday by Rev. w. p. Hellings.

A day of great Importance In the his
tory of the Baptist community OF
Scranton and its vicinity was ushered
in yesterday morning, inasmuch as it
inaugurated the celebration services Of
the completion of the first century Of
Baptist work in this important dis
trict, as we'll as the thirty-fifth anniver-
sary of the Penn Avenue Baptist
church The members of that church,
as well as their brethen in outlying
churches of the same denomination,
were determined that this important
epoch in their spiritual life should be
celebrated with that observance be-
coming its Importance.
The services will continue on Tues
day and Wednesday, when eminent
divines of the Baptist church will de-
liver sermons and addresses appropri-
ate for the eventful occasion. The prin-
cipal interest in yesterdays services
centered upon the person of Rev. DR..
w. p. Hellings, who was pastor of the
Penn Avenue Baptist church from 1870
to 1871 and who had journeyed from
Omaha, Neb., to accept the invitation
of his old congregation to participate
in the dual anniversary.
The morning services opened with an
organ prelude and was followed by a
special song service which was excel
lently arranged and included the an
them, "Cantate Domini," by Chandler,
which was sung with faultless taste by
Professor j. 7. Watkins choir.
Apastor Of Long Ago.
DR.. Hellings prefaced his anniver-
sary sermon by few remarks In which
he stated that when his people at
Omaha understood last Sunday that he
was going to visit his old friends in
Scranton they desired him to convey
their heartfelt Christian fraternal
greeting. 1t was more than a formal
expression of their sentiments; ii was
a warm and genuine sympathy. With
regard to himself, after such long
period since his pastorate in this city,
he could not express the emotion which
stirred his heart when he reflected
upon the seven and half years Of his
life spent here; time hallowed by the
sacred memory of twenty years ago
when he first came to them, under diff
ferent conditions to those amid which
they were now surrounded.
The reverend gentleman based his SER
mon upon Ephesians ill.,, 3-5, and spoke
upon 1.-The ultimate aim of the Chris
tian'' and the reproduction of Christ in
ourselves. The sermon was eminently
scholarly and treated of the purposes
of Christ, which were to gather men
and women into His church, to educate
the convert, and to denominationalize,
though not to sectarianize. The SER
mon was brimful of Christian precepts
upon the paramount Importance Of uni
I fication In the work of God, and was
aptly illustrated by the reverend gen.
| tlemenswho showed that the mighty
force of the Niagara Falls was derived
fromthe little rain drops descending
from Heaven. In like manner the work
of Christians should be joining together
in carrying out the grand purposes of
the gospel.
The Union of Sinner.
To his mind the incarnation was most
wonderful to God and man, yet the per-
sonality could not. be distinguished.
Another wonderful thing was the
union Of a sinner by faith and grace
| with Christ. To die with Christ to live
| with Christ, and to awell with Christ.
| Dealing with sceptiscs, DIR. Hellings
quoted a recent incident in which he
was requested to speak to q sceptical
| young man who, as he thought, was
quoting the Bible, but could not say a
single text correctly. The speaker asked
him what kind of God desired, or what
kind of God he would make, where
upon the young man found that he
had more than he could accomplish, and
found how ignorant and puny he was In
sitting in judgment upon the Almighty
God.
DR.. Partridge, the pastor, made an
interesting statement and said that he
had very good news to proclaim. The
mortgage upon the church property had
been SS5,00O, and 1t was his ambition tc
reduce and clear the debt. 1t was re.
duced some time ago to $1,000, and s., ,00(
of that sum had since been paid, leav.
ing balance of $4,000, which he in.
tended should be cleared today ir
commemoration of the anniversary OF
the church.
He had been working night and day
during the past two weeks with this
object In view and had received volun
tary offers as follows. One of $500
three of 5000, seven of $1OO, four Of $5t
and six of $25, or about total of 81, 400
Another $1,000 would be required Il
clear the mortgage and discharge tn,
expenses of the anniversary and specia
iSpuiio W tHC anu llt WOul(
impress upon his hearers that this wa.
the last and final appearance upon tn,
stage of the mortgage which would soor
be burned at a jubilee meeting. H,
would, therefore, ask the deacons o
the church to distribute among thos,
present cards upon which they coulC
specify their donations to make UP tn,
$1,000 deficiency.
Addressed the Sunday School.
This ives done, and at an after meet
ing Of the church officers, II was ascer
tained that the required amount wa
subscribed for. The subscription
promised will be payable January next
and the Penn Avenue church will be de
clared free from debt. In the Afternoon
DR.. Hellings addressed the Sunda,
! school, in which he so successful,
labored twenty years ago.
A crowded church In the evening tes
titled eloquently to the widespread In
terest In the anniversary. The specia
programme arranged was continued ii
the evening, a pleasing number bein
the solo, my King" by Mr.. Watkins.
Before the sermon the pastor an
nounced the continuing services o
Tuesday and Wednesday, referred t
below, and urged the members of tn
! church to attend the meetings held 4
the early part of the day. With re
gard to the promises made during tn
day, he was more than pleased to sa
that the total amount had been sub