The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-11-25
new west Side PASTOR
Rev. j. r. Moffat's First Sermon in
the Nashburn Street Church.
CONES WELL RECOMMENDED
For Thirteen Years the Pastor OF the
Wcathcrly Ch~urch-Lchigh P~rcsbytery
Gives Him Splendid Endorsement.
About Mrs. MOffat.

cupied their residence at 11a2 WASH
burn street. He Is the successor TO
Rev. ID. w. Skellenger, now OF wash
ington, D.. c., who resigned last WIN
ter from the nastOrate OF the church.
The new pastor a o In Eliza
BEETHOVEN, Bartholomew county, In
diana. He Is of Scotch descent. his father
having been born in Scotland. He
graduated from Hanover college, which
is located along the Ohio river in In
diana. He also graduated from Prince
ton Theological seminary, taking in
addition to regular collegiate course,
a most graduate course OF one year.
In May, 1856, he was married to Mary,
second daughter of h late Philip Hof-
fecker. of Weatherly. One son was born
to them.
Mr.. Moffat has a genial personality;
sincerity is the prominent feature of
his character. He is a middle-aged
man, heavily built. yet active. His
face Is clean shaven n a clear, blue
eye shows the Scotch descent. In the
pulpit his Is easy, though eff
fective. He does not use notes during
his preaching, but relies chiefly on eX-
temDOraneous effect. His ministerial
work began on May 10. 1882, when he
received a call from the Weatherly
Presbyterian church. Since that tim 3e
has continued rs pastor of his church,
though at numerous times invitations
have beer extended to him to take
charge of other flocks.
The L.chigh Prcsbytcry.
On Sept. II, of the present year.
Mr.. Mohat received q call from the
Washburn Street church. After q
months deliberation he accepted and
began duty yesterday. The esteem in
which he was held at the town of
Weatherly and thereabouts n best be
appreciated by the following excerpt
from resolutions by the Presbytery of
Lehigh:
The presbytery Of Lehigh. in consenting
to the dissolution of the pastoral relation
between the Rev. John p. Moffat and the
Presbyterian church Of Weatherly, do so
with regret and only because both parties
unite In the request and because from the
ering the connection the church loses a
pastor to whom 1t IL justly and strongly
attached, and presbytery. a fellow labor
er, whose record Of usefulness and success
Is not surpassed by any cO-presbyter dur-
ing the time he has been one of us. When
he came thirteen and one-half years ago
the church numbered GO members; $50 have
since been added on profession and by let
ter; many wanderers nave been restored
to he fold, and although twice the origi-
nal number have been lost by death and
removal from town. yet lO active mem
bers are now on the church roll, thor
oughly united and loyal. At the time of
his installation the church was dependent
on the Board of Home Mission for e
fourth OF the pastors salary, and was en-
numbered by a debt of nearly $1,000. In the
third year 1t became self-sustaining and
Is now, and free from debt During these
thirteen and one-half years the congrega-
tional expenditures amount to nearly $24,-
900 inc the church during the same time
has given to outside benevolent objects
81, 800. '"* With good reasons his peo-
pie have been slow to assent to part with
a pastor whom they greatly, love and
~Presbytery also with reluctance consents
to sunder the ties which v hitherto
bound them together. "H' We pray
that the Master will bless him and his Ia,
ever before; and for the flock which he
leaves We pray that the head Of the
church, according to- His promise, will
to feed them with knowledge and UNDER
standing, to this end presbytery exhorts
them to make 1t a subject Of much prayer
and that with purposes of heart they
guard against divisions and cleave to the
Lord.
The stated clerk of the presbytery of
Lehigh was directed to furnish a copy of
the above minutes to the stated clerk of
sive of the sentiments Of this presbytery
and as a recommendation Of the Rev.
John p. Moffat. A. NJ. Woods.
Stated Clerk, Presbytery of Lehigh.
Tho Pastors Wife.
Mrs. NJ. rat IS the daughter of n
prominent Weatherly citizen. She has
always been active in church work and
was held it, high regard in her native
town. The Weatherly Herald says edi-
toially cf her: I'm the removal CT
Rev. j.. p. Moffat and wife, Weatherly
Incoc unn1 ctfizanc nv hor bind dts
position. her genial and pleasant ma
ture, and the sincerity shown in all her
work. Mrs. Moffat did untold good for
the church n wOmankind, endearing
herself to all. She left Weatherly with
nothing but the kindest and best
wishes of all who knew her."
Mr.. Moffat preached yesterday morn
ing from the text. Jesus Christ. the
same yesterday, today and forever"
Hebrew, xiii, 8. The audience vas a
large one. In referring to himself as
pastor of the church. Mr.. Moffat said
that only with the cooperation Of the
members could his work be successful.
In the evening the text was taken
from Nehemiah, v, Is. Mr.. Moffat gave
a brief history of the life of Nehemiah.
He told Of his special work in Jerusa-
lem and the condition of things when
he returned to the holy city. 1t was in
DDSSeSSlOu u Il uoIut VI TOuDtTS. lilc
people We're robbed by the thieves as
Tammany pollutes the city Of New
York. Nehemiah changed this awful
condition. But It was difficult to bring
about a reformation. His position was
similar to that of DR.. Parkhurst. Yet
he conquered.
To Accomplish the Right.
Nothing will 20 right unless we be
singular in this world and stand IN
alone against the masses in order to ac-
complish the right. The chief field Of
moral action is the daily conduct of hui
man lives. He who yields is wrecked
and ruined. That there Ia an absolute
necessity for this non-resistance to
evil is shown in the very makeup of
our natures. We are all thrown into
daily contact with sinful humanity. It's
influence. Easy yielding to the de-
mands of the world brings out all sorts
of moral confusion. There is nothing
more contemplate than a man who
can be affected by every influence.
Another consideration: What a poor
excuse 1t will be on the Great Day to
follow the vagaries Of the world. The
only source to resist evil is in Christ.
God In Christ, trusted in, loved, rever-
enced. Obeyed, initiated, God In Christ
alone. Christ strengthens a man for
resistance and noncompliance to evil.
In Christ we have a perfect pattern;
we a initiate Him. God gives us an
all-powerful motive: 1t strengthens for
resistance. because 1t gives the Omnipo-
tent power for ourselves.
AS the secret Of negative forbearance
from evil a k for our watchword.
80 did not ], because of the fear of
God" AS the secret Of all positive al
legiance to God take as your motto,
THE love Of God constraineth me-"
CONVENTION OF THE C. E.