The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-08-04


No town of any size is destitute in ia
ciilties to worship, and where church
edlhees have not existed, moneyed
men OF leading religious societies in
the valley, have aided the missionary
In securing religious home for the
people. This work has been silently
pursued during the last ten years,
thousands of dollars have been con-
tributed, and today the missionary
spirit In our churches is as active as
ever.
In Peckville, two churches are well
under way, the one a new Presbyterian
church, and the other re-modeling
and enlarging of the Methodist Episco-
pal church The PIesbyterians Of this
town have for years gone to Olyphant
to worship, but last spring they re.
solved to erect church In Peckville,
on Main avenue. The plans were pre-
pared by Architect Duckworth. of this
city; the contract was awarded to
Ward & Son. of Taylor. The building,
when completed, will cost about $4,000
1t is frame structure with COM
modious basement, divided into rooms,
where socials can be conveniently held
The main audience room has q seating
capacity Of over 300 and in the rear
building is 70 feet long by 40 broad.
The membership is about fifty, and
they expect to be In their new home
about Sept. 1.
ENLARGING THE HOUSE,
The Methodist Episcopals of Peck
vile found their old church too small,
and at an expense of from $4,000 to
$4,000, they are making 1t more prepos-
sessing to the eye and better adapted to
the growing needs Of the town. The
plans were executed by B, D. Price, of
Philadelphia, and the contract awarded
to ID. A. Barber, Peckvills.
The lower story was torn from under |
the old building, which was then lower |
and moved to the rear of the lot. In
front Of this new building has been |
erected. which Is the main audience |
room and capable of seating 450. Be-
tween this and the old building are
folding doors which can be thrown
open and $50 more can see the platform
and join in the worship The contract
for the woodwork is SO, $50. The foun-
dation was separate aud cost $500. |
Windows and psws will cost about
$1,000 The floor Of the new part is
pit in the southwest corner in
front of the orchestra platform.
The old building is designed for Sun
bowled. the ceiling cassd and the pull
day school purposes, but can be used |
for public worship when occasion de- |
mands. Rev. F. P. Doty Is pastor, who
has done very good work in this town
during his stay there. He expects to
lead his charge to the new edifce about
Oct, l.
GROWN AND MULTIPLIED.
The German Methodist Episcopal
church began work in our city in 1866,
when Rev. f, W. Flocken was sent
here as a missionary. His trials were
many, but after five months Of activity |
he organized church with fifteen
members. The newly organized society
bought the old frame building of the
First Methodist Episcopal church for
500, which they removed to the corner
OF Adams avenue and Vine street, This
was replacedin 1872 by the fine brick
church which adorns the OH site and is
known as the First German Methodist
Episcopal church.
This organization has not lived for |
itself. In 1886 some of the active MEM
bers began u mission on the South Side.
A church was erected at the cost of |
S6,OOO, which was paid for, and today !,
an aggressive. self-sustaining society
known as the Second German Method
ist Episcopal church is the result OF
this activity Another missionary en-.
terprise is conducted by this church in
petersburg, where they have erected q
chapel that has cost them $4,000. This
mission is now under the fostering care
of the parent church, and Rev G.
Hausser goes there once week to con-
duct services, but the time is not far
distant when this second offspring Of
the First church will assume independ.
ency.
70 MISSIONARY WORK.
LET not thy left hand know what
thy right hand doeth," is the principle
that regulates missionary activity in
many Of our churches in town. Many
individuals prominent in Christian
work at home, send to foreign coun-
tries liberal contributions to aid the
propagation Of the Gospel of Peace.
These men sound no trumpet before
them, and their liberalty is only
known to the pastor of the church and a
few others, and their imperative COM
mand is that their names be not nub
lished. 1t would not be difficult to
name score Of men who maintain Bi.
BILE readers or give annually a scholar
ship to some college at home or abroad,
by which freedmen or heathen are edu-
Gated and sent forth as missionaries.
These bene6cencies are never recorded
In the annual report Of the church, but
the silent messengers are recorded in
living monuments Of flesh and blood,
which become tongues of fire, whose
work is recorded in heaven, and shall
be known by the well done thou good
and faithful servant" Of the Master.
WORK IN THE SUBURBS.
In Dunmore the Penn Avenue Bap-
tist church has planted mission which
has this year declared itself independ-
ent. This mission was started during
the ministry of Rev. Dr. Spencer, about
five years ago. A church building was
erected at a cost of 81, 1000, the bulk of
which was paid by the mother church.
There are sixty-three resident mem
bers In this church, and a Sunday
school averaging about 100 scholars.
The pastor. Rev. A. B. O'Neil. ia an
earnest missionary and it is expected
that the society. having come to its
majority, will manifest renewed life
and energy.
The St. Luke's church has a mission
chapel In this suburb that is in -four
ishing state. 1t is now in charge of
Rev. w. Urban, who is Rev. Rogers
Israel's assistant.
On the West Side a mission chanel
was erected twenty years ago on Gar
field avenue by the First Welsh Bap-
tist church. William O. Jones Is sup
erintendent, having a Sunday school
averaging eighty members. The prop
erty is valued at S3 900. This church