The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-03-12
ST. JOHN CBRYSOSTON
Rev, James Mcleod Delivers Interesting First
Lecture of a Series,
is Still A Living EXAMPLE

ChrYsostom's Mother Planted in His
Heart Divine -Christendon
Needs Such Mothers Today Career
AS Monk, Preacher and Bishop al
Interesting Study-Greatest Unin-
spired reacher-Other Sermons.
At the FrSt Presbyterian church last
night Rev. James Mcleod, ID. d., the
pastor, delivered the first OF series oI
lectures treating OF the great johns Of
church history. Last nights subject
was John Cbrysostom. tho Evening
Star of Early Christianity" the text
was from Acts xi;9G. The disciples
were called Christians first at Antioch. "
The series will be continued every
Sunday evening as follows; John
Huss, the groat Bohemian; John Wy
cliffe, the morning star of the reforms-
ton; John Calvin. the great theologian
John Knox, the Scottish rctormer; John
Wesley, the founder of methodism
John Buuyan the glorious dreamer,
DR. Mcleod preface tho lecture by
saying, Church history is not a popu-
lar study. but it Is an important study
1t is the story OF God dealing with
man. and Of mans dealing with God
it is christian philosophy teaching by
example; it brings before us In an of
fsctiye aud practical way. the power
and the glory Of the gospsl of Christ.
Continuing he said.
The Bible Is not only a historic book, but
it is book largely made up Of history; it
Is book Of biography In which both sin
and grace are plainly and faithfully illus
trated, II holds up before us notable exam
pies Of sanity meu and women that we can
be encouraged, aud, on the other hand. it
presents US with those who have siuued
grieviOusly and who made shipwreck Of the
laith, that we may be warned aud avoid
their siu and folly. Thus the truth OF the
gospel IS brought to our attention not in
the abstract, but in the concrete.
PULPIT NEGLIGENCE.
think 1t is no libel on the Christian
pulpit to say that 1t does not give to
church history that attention aud prOmin-
ence " hlch its importance deserves. Tne
apostles did not forget the history OF the
church, nor the lives OF the fathers and
saints Of the olden tims. Ga the contrary
they held up those old WORTHLESS as exam
pies OF faith and patience and heroism-
men ana women who would suffer death
rather than deny the truth; in whom was
illustrated the power anu perseverance Of
true faith; whose faith was so steadtast
and SO mighty that through it they sub
dued kingdoms, wrought Righteousness 5,
waxed yalient in fight aud turned to flight
the armies Of the aliens Aud II apostles
aud evaugellsts could and did preact
Christ's gospel, when they referred to the
| patriarches and prophets aud fathers and
SAINTS who preceded them, surely we in
the Christian pulpit ought to be able now
a-Iays to preach that same gospel when
we talk about the fathers and saints and
martyrs and cOnquorer5 Of pJst-npostolIc
and more modern times.
IL is with this object in view that l have
selected as suitable theme for this pulpit,
few Of ths church fathers, who in the
sphere Of religion were mighty men Of
valor. who left their impress not only upon
the church, but upon the world; and IN
whose lives the power Of divine grace was
signally manifested. That it may please
God TO use these addresses for His own
glory and for our good, is my earnest
prayer.
The first of the fathers to whom your
attention is invited is st. John CnrySos'
tom.
HIS EARLY HOME.
All christians have good reason to re-.
member Antioch. 1t was in Antioch they
got their name, and, most likely, the name
was given in derision. But If the wicked
inhabitants Of Antioch once despised aud
Knocked the christian name, the time came
when they counted it worthy Of the high
est honor. Even in the days Of the apO5-
Ties q christian church was established
there, and for long time it was a centre
Of christian influence. II had its martyrs
and couQuerors and it endured bitter per
secutions for Christ's sake. 1t came to be
called THE City of Cod" It gave to the
church an Ignatius, and when the empire
was fast declining, it gave to the christian
world John Chrysostom.
Chrysostom was born ia 3i7. His parents
were Christians. When only an infant
his father died, but he was well care for
| by his pious mother, the sanity AnJhusa.
| She planted in his young mind and heart
| the seeds of divine truth and she lived tC
see her noble son a cOnseCrated servant Of
Jesus Christ.
"What mothers these Christians haver p
said the tutor Of Chrysostom, the heather
sophit, Libanius He tried TO overthrow
the faith Of his brilliant pupil and to enlist
| him on the side of heathenism, but, thank
God, he failed tie was indeed great
man, honored aud eloquent, aud, as Glib
| bon tells us, he was "the last glory OF ex
piring Paganism.n But a faithful Chris.
| tiau mothers prayers we're weightier thar
| the most eloquent appeals OF the mos
| distinguished orator OK his day, and tht
| faith of Chrysostom remained stendfast
He clung to his mothers God and Savior
COMPLIMENT FOR CHRISTIAN MoTHERs
Yes well might Libanius say: "Wha
mothers these Christians have" Tn
church of God owes much to christian
mothers The great Gregory, the gres
Augustine and Chrysostom, IN some re
speCts the greatest OF the three, were,
humanity speaking, saved to the church
by their mothers. They were praying
mothers God heard their. prayers
Normal Monica Anthusal What sanity
mothers they were And what legacy
they left to the church In the sons they
| trained up for the Lord.
And surely christendom today needs
praying mothers and praying fathers. II
needs christian parents whose chief aim In
life for their children Is not wealth and
worldly position, but 10 train them up II
love and serve their God and Savior. Tnere
never was time In the history OF thi,
nation when her sons and daughters
needed more careful training. Mothers
christian mothers, pray for your sons
and sons remember your mothers prayer
and your mothers lOve-that no love save
that OF God IS 80 unselfish
CHRYsosToM's EDUCATION,
In re.pect to secular and religious in
struction ChrysOstom had the best teacher
in Antioch. His mother and the goo,