The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1894-12-13
review OF METHOD|SM
William COnnell Speaks of the Work
Done Forty Years ago.
C0NTRASTED WITH PRESENT
Added Responsibilities Have Come with
the Great Increase of the Church In
Numbers and Influence-Other Ad.
dresses Heard Last Night.


upon Mr.. Davies, one of the Oldest mem
bers of the church, to offer prayer. The
pastor then explained that to make
themselves happier and remove the re-
straint of set speeches the meeting
would be informal, with brief addresses
from the church officers. He called upon
William COnnell, president of the board
of trustees, to address them upon The
Yesterday and Today of Methodism in
Our Midst"
Mr.. Connell, after congratulating them
upon the auspicious occasion which
they We're celebrating after the sad
recollections of the difficulties in the
past, said: "The yesterdays of Meth
odism of forty years ago We're very
different to the today of Methodism in
many respects. While those of today
are indebted to q great extent to the
Methodists Of forty years ago, there are
many who have a habit of saying that
the latter days are better than those
early days. The men Of the early days
were heroes who made sacrifices the
younger portion of our churches today
cannot properly appreciate and know
very little Of l could, with pretty
distinct recollection, go back SIXTY
years in the history of the Methodist
cause, but of thirty-eight years l am
able to speak with clearness.
Mcthodism of the Past.
1T is thirty-eight years since I came
into the Lackawanna valley and To-
Gated at Taylor, then called Lacka-
wanna, where / worshipped in the little
church which was known as the Union
chapel. The Methodist churches of
Hyde Park, Taylor and the Brick church
We're then served by one minister who
preached to us at Taylor alternately
with the other churches. These mem
Orles bring to my mind that we had to
walk a mile to attend service, and on
one occasion, when we lhad prayer
meeting in the forenoon, there were
only two of us present, and l said t.
my friend, Well, there are enough of
us to claim the promise and we ac-
cordingly held a prayer meeting, and
well recollect what "a good time we had
This naturally brings me to my sub
ject, the early days of Methodism.
Many things were differently conduct
ed in those days. We had the delight
ful class meeting, which has now al
most gone out of date, although we
have other services which, to a large
extent, supplant it, but no other service
can supply the place of the old
fashioned Methodist class meeting. 1t
was the family place of the church.
where all anXieties and cares were
made known. In our present day meet
ings, when men stand promiscuously
we cannot understand each other SC
well and receive the same sympathy
as in the old days when we always
went home from the class meeting
happy and glad.
People More Liberal Now.
II we'll remember the difficulties OF
those days. We had great work tc
collect the salary of the minister, who
received $500 altogether from the three
places. Today the members of oul
churches are more liberal, more gen.
erous; they see their duties to religion
more clearly than they were seen thirty
years ago. They have been taught tC
give now. 1t was, however, the noble
sacrifice of those men who preached
the Gospel in the early days, that has
preserved and given us the Methodisn
of today.
"The history of Methodlsm here
abOuts has been one Of steady and con
tinuous growth. The number Of
churches when | came here was bu
four including the Baptist church; now
within the same boundary we have
fifteen Methodist churches and clever
with the times, and maintained pace
with the growth Of population. 1t ha:
more than increased In wealth accord
| ing to the increase of population.
"Twenty-five years ago | came tC
| Scranton and joined the old Adam!
Avenue church. l am sure you will no
think l have any desire to belltte tn,
small place in which we worshipped
but some of us can we'll remember
the dingy little room. We were very
democratic there, as we had no carpe
and very uncomfortable benches. How
ever, we progressed until carpet anC
| chairs adorned the room and, best o
| all, the ladies introduced the "socials'
consisting of coffee and sandwiches a,
refreshments, which, in Those days
| formed the introduction to the delight
full suppers and sumptuous feast
which we enjoy in this church so fre
quently.
Have Added Responsibilities.
"Of the trials and difficulties from tn
Adams church to the Elm Park churcI
/ will not speak, as they are familiar t
so many of you, but in all the growt
it is gratifying to see so many goo
Methodists who always make good citi
zens, and here wish to impress point
With this great growth comes grea
responsibilities. In the early days tn
members and preachers We're heroe
who struggled and battled, and as
result of their energy and patience hav
handed down to you a heritage and a
obligation. Think of It, The Methodist
of these days, with all the advantage
ought to accomplish more work
This church with its young people
associations and their auxiliaries hav
power which did not exist at all /
those days. With all these advantage
of the present day we ought to reali2
our responsibilities to the fullest exten
Elm Park church, you may rest as
sured, will be expected to render te
talents for the five which have bee
given to her. Here is the Epwort
league and other societies, which hav
such great responsibilities. When muc
is given, much is required, and God II
quires much at your hands. AS l stan
here tonight and glance back to tn
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