The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-05-25
REV. GEORGE E. GUILDS SERMON.
Delivered from His Pulpit in the
Providence Presbyterian Church.


Last evening the veterans of Ezra s.
Griffin post, Grand Army of the Re-
public, the Sons of Veterans and the
Women's Relief corn. No. so, by spe-
cial invitation worshipped in the PrOvi-
dence Presbyterian church and enjoyed
a service which was 20 impressive and
devout, and withal appropriately pa
triotic, that it will long be remembered
by all present The church was crowd
ed, overfowing, many being turned
away from the doors. The music be-
sides an excellent anthem by the chcir.
and sweetly rendered duet by Mrs.
Heckel and Miss Davis. included MY
Country 'Tis of Thee ! Sing" and the
Battle Hymn of the Republic"
The church was artistically decorated
in patriotic colors, the deft handiwork
of David Jones and II. Fl. Mckeehan.
A large flag was draped over the pipe
organ behind the pulpit. and above the
pulpit in large letters the words, Wei
come, G A. r.. 139." in red, white and
blue were wreathed Festoons Of bunt-
ing hung from the chandeliers to the
walls and the effect was beautiful.
The sermon was given by Rev. Mr..
Guild from Daniel XII. 32: "The people
that do know their God shall be strong
and do exploits" The discourse gave
evidence of studious preparation and
was delivered without the aid of man.
uscript The sermon was as follows:
THE GENERAL BELIEF.
1t is generally believed that in our text.
Daniel, our prophet. is prophesying OF
men and events of the period between the
time OF Malachi, the last book of the old
testament, and the beginning of the Chris
tian era.
It was during the reign of Antiochus
Epiphanus when the dreaful and cruel
prosecutions OF about l20. B. c., took
The immediate occasion Of the persecu'
ton was that the disciples Of Judas Mac
cabaeus resolutely protested against wor-
Shipping the Syrian gods and hence were
subjected to treatment SO inh,lman as 10
horribly blacken the period with its atroc-
tiles and cruelties. The sons of Macca.
baeus knew their God, and maintained
unfalter!ng allegiance to Him.: That chap
under the banner Of the God OF Heaven
is stirring and inspiring chapter indeed
1t Is the chapter of noble endurance In
witnessing for God Of inspiring hero'sm
those martyr-men Is disc9vered the stun
that heroes are made of. The enemy could
not, by any device OF genius Of physical
force. tempt them to- renounce the Jeho
| their own God. Scme might assert thai
| 1t was brave In them so 20 act, but that !,
| was only Spartan bravery after all, sto.
ical deadness or blind fanaticism
But the text VIII allow us to indulge II
no such unkind speculation. THE people
that DO know their God shall be stronf
and do exploits" To do such exploits a.
those o: the Maccabean heroes Is precise
" hat which would be expected of people
who know their God. To know God Is K
| be strong and DO exploits. The secret o.
strength is the knowledge Of God.
MEANING OF KNOWLEDGE.
At this point the preacher dwelt al
| length on the meaning or nature Of thai
knowledge of God in which Is strength
and by the possession and exercise Of
which exploits are accomplished. 1t!
knowledge. not tnat which is philo
sophically abstract, or theoretic. or in
tellectually speculative, but it's knowl
edge of God which implies and necessi
tatas personal acquaintance with Goo
and His attributes and in which ther,
is discovered to us "a God spotlessl,
holy, inileXibly just. absolutely tru'
and infinitely merciful" It's more O
the heart than of the head; It's expert
mental more than intellectual. Nov
this is the broad proposition Of tn
text: \ proposition or syllogisn
resting on scrintural promise. viz
that 1t Is the people who have thi
knowledge that are strong. giants Il
strength and do exploits It's Difficult
to strengthen the statement or simpli
fly ii.
History has proved It's truthfulnes
again and again. Go, If you will tn
world over, ransack the archives o
history. and you will find as an elo
quent orator has forcibly said: '"Ther
are achievements of faith 'victorie
over sin." .'conquests OF self" "tri
umphs Of principle" 'marvels Of en-
durance." enterprises of disintereste,
zeal, which are nowhere to be me
within the records of those to whom tn
Christians God is unknown. "Knowl
edge is power" is the well-known an,
worn AKIN. but knowledge of God |
more than power: it is the power 0
peace and CONQUEST in this presen
world and In the world to come lif
everlasting.
Here the reverend speaker illustrat
ted the text by citing somewhat in 6e
tail examples of inspiring exploit
which in various periods Of the world
history have been accomplished b.
men and women, who, by their &C
quaintance with God. have possesse
the secret Of moral and spiritual, super
natural strength. The history of on
nation sparlsles with such examples.
They climbed the steep ascent of heave
Through peril. toll and pain,
q God, to us may grace be given
To follow in their train.
ILLUSTRATED THE TEXT.
AS patriotic sons and daughters of
Christian nation which is our heritag
we ought to gratefully remember tn
fathers and mothers and the struggle
they endured In founding the institu
| tjo,,a that have made our country whn