The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-05-26
THs AFTERNOON SESSION.
Was the Important Business Meeting of
the Day.

@A' h'oN SiOSh ueNOIlOuul tXerClBp
were conducted by ]. J. Parkhurst, oil
Wilkes-Barre. The service was opened
with song. after which those assem- bled
said silent prayer An invocation wa,
offered by Rev. D w. Skellinger. OF
the Washburn Street Presbyterian
church.
Following the devotional exercisei
the meeting proceeded to the nomina
ting OF officers. The names were gath
cred by the nominating COMMITTEES t
report Mt 8 o'clock and then hold ths
election.
c. FL. Chandler. of the Tri-County
union. presided during the afternoon
Two o'clock was the hour assigned
for the one-minute reports of societies
OF the three counties. However, $50
o'clock was reached before the reports
could be received. Corresponding Sec.
rotary j. c. Manning, of Pittston, On,
nounced that remarks must of necss
sity be brief.
The reports made by the various To-
cal unions shows that the organization
is taking on an abnormal growth which
seemed highly gratifying to the meet
ing. Eacn local secretary who arose
to report had some particular feature
TO announce as greater than that DOS.
seSsed by other societies.
THE OPEN PARLIAMENT
An open parliament and conference
on old and new features of COMMITTEES
work was the main feature of the af-
ternoon session. 1t was conducted in
fonr sections in its relation to look =
out, prayer meeting, social and misce i
laneous committees.
Carl Councilman, Of Pittston. con-
Quoted the lookout discussion.
The old question of the advisability
or including an associate member on
the lookout committee was presented,
Nearly all who spoke on the subject
contended that non-members Of the
church are not qualified to bring young
people to God.
Delinquent members and the best
way to approach them was considered.
The consensus Of veiws expressed was
that a conciliatory and prayerful
treatment will work better results than
harsher methods.
In his remarks opening the discussion
of prayer meeting work A. B. Eynon,
of this city, asked the meeting to ex,
press the best way to insure good at
tendance and enthusiasm at prayer
meetings. Several members expressed
the idea that personal work would gen.
orally be followed by good results.
Secretary Manning suggested that q
preliminary prayer meeting would
show it's fruit in the regular meeting
following. 1t has been In vogue for
sometime in many places and has de-
velopsd very successful results.
Personal and general experiences
following brief period of silent
prayer were given. From the large
number Of conversational testimonials
the members derived great deal Of
valuable information. This portion of
the session was one OF the most inter-
esting during the day. In answer to q
question as to one of the purposes OF
the prayer meeting committee, Mr..
Eynon said that idle time in meetings
could be occupied by six or more men,
bers previously selected, in reading
verses assigned them and make brief
pertaining thereto. In this
way dull meetings will be done away
with and encouragement given to non
members to give themselves to the
cause.
W. F. Nye, Of Carbondale, said the
social committee in addition to what
the name implies is committee for
work.
Mr. Eynon asked whether the COM
work Is to be confined to the
union especially or extended into the
church. The opinions signifsd that
the social work went beyond the portals
Of the church it included work in
the church, and an alertnsss in seeking
new residents In a community. The
word welcome" does more good to a
stranger upon his entrance rather than
upon his departure. Come again,
you're always welcome" won't save
souls. Christian endeayorers as church
ushers bring many into the Union or
Sunday schools.
PRoPRIETY OF soCIALs.
The social question drifted into some
spirited remarks on the propriety of
holding socials in the churches. The
expressed showed that
many were opposed to the custom. In
Lhe midst Of the discussion the young
lady who asked the question arose and
,aid her question related only to socials
without the money making feature.
A motion to take rising vote of
opinion was opposed by several 1t
was the opinion Of the opposition that
The convention was treading on dan
gerous ground. Repeated requests for
l putting Of the question was answered
BY Conductor Nye by refeiriag the
matter to President Chandler.
When Mr.. Chandler arose Rev.
George E. Guild. of the Providence
Presbyterian church, moved that il was
The sense OF the convention that socials
IAN with propriety be held In the
,hurch.
The motion brought several men,
'NAp uHOu lOtb IVY plOtCbbou
he right to vote upon the matter and
'gain suggested the danger which
night follow.
President Chandler pleaded lack of
ime as q reason for not taking q vote
IN the question.
Rev. c. W. Harvey, of Wilkes Barre,
conducted the meeting for a'fsw mo-
nents Of the open parliament on the
work of committees. other than look
'ut. social and prayer meeting. Owing
o the sact that the convention was
learly a half hour behind its schedule.
he miscellaneous conference subjects
we're treated briefly. A valuable sug
,estion for music committees is to pre
,sre music for church and Sunday
chool services.
Cottage prayer meetings once week
8 work Of practical kind for mission
ry committees,
Continued on Page 8.