The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-04
news OF RELIGIOUS WORLD
Rex. Samuel r. Matthews Will Begin
His PaStOrate Tomorrow.
THE SUMNER AVENUE CHURCH
Its Affairs viii BE Considered at
the Next Meeting of the pcsby-
tcry-New Years Receptions
ut the Christian Associations.

Rev. Samuel Il. Matthews. the new
pastor of the First Baptist church, bet
ter known as the Scranton Street Bap-
tist church, will take charge of the pas
torate tomorrow. Mr.. Matthews and
family have been in the city for the
past two weeks. They are now COM
fortably settled in the church parsOn-
age on North Hyde Park avenue. Mr..
Matthews came here from Grotin. y. V.
where he had charge OF circuit of
churches.
He was born. reared and educated in
Philadelphia. In early life he was con-
Nerted by and under the ministry of
the celebrated DR.. Henson. now of Chi
cago. Receiving call TO the ministry
Nr. Matthews was ordained at Harris
burg, where he labored for several
years. His pastorates included Athens
and Welsboro. i'm Pennsylvania and
Union Springs and Grotin. i'm New York.
Just before settling in Scranton, he re-
ceived a call from the First Baptist
church OF Little Rock, Arkansas. The
call was declined in favor of the Scran-
ton church invitation. Several years
ago at the request of the Siberia exile
commission OF the United States. Pas
tor Matthews prepared literature bear
ing. upon the exile subject. This was
widely distributed throughout the Unit
ed States. especially in the South and
West, and the reverend author has re-
ceived not n little fame az result
MIR. Matthews is now In the prime or
life, when his faculties are best prepared
for work. He Is i'm personal appearance,
scholarly. his features having decided
ly intellectual cast In the pulpit he de-
livers his sermons from few notes, re-
lying on the spirit of his subject for ef-
feet He Is an eloquent speaker ana
an increase i'm attendance Is already
noticeable at the Scranton Street Sap
tist church. The installation will take
place in the near future. Tomorrow
Mr.. Matthews will preach both morning
and evening ON subjects appropriate to
the new year Services at 1890 u. M,
and p. m.
sumner Avenue Church.
At a netting OF the Presbyterian
cleric held Monday morning In the
study of the Rev. :. c. Logan. ID. d..
the financial condition of the Sumner
avenue church was discussed. 1t was
decided to lay the matter before the
next meeting of the presbytery of this
district with the recommendations that
funds he raised to assist the church.
Rev. John Grifliths Is now In charge or
the church. He was sent there by the
presbytery when the church was pas
torless and i'm demoraliZed condition.
The success met with since his advent Is
only partial though Mr.. Griitiths has
been most earnest In his work. The
church was built two years ago and was
dedicated by Rev. Drs. Mcleod ana
Logan.
1t is Il pretty frame structure. situ-
ated on the corner of Price street ana
s.,,,. . ~ b.,S
church and pastor comes hard upon
the small membership which cannot
easily pay the current expenses
and the debt incurred in build
ing becomes more pressing every
month. At the last meeting of the
Presbytery DR.. Logan was speaking on
the subject. II was suggested that the
TAYLOR Presbyterian church and the
Sumner avenue church be taken care or
by one preacher, the Rev. Mr. Jones,
now Of the Taylor church. Definite ac-
ton will he taken In the matter at the
next meeting Of the Presbytery.
The New Years Receptions.
Is all the talk about the interest of
members In the Young Mems and Young
Women's Christian associations inflated
and promulgated by few enthusiasts
whose interest marks the correctness
of their utterances? \ practical bit or
information on this point might have
been CLEANED at the New Years recep-
tiors of the two organizations conduct
ed separately at their respective build
ings on Wyoming and Washington ave-
nues. when throughout the afternoon and
evening each building was iammed by
dense thrOngs of young people who thus
attested their appreciation of the popu-
lar associations. Certainly what oc-
CURED does not indicate INFLATED in
terest
In the Young Mems Christian associa-
tion the reception began at 2:30 o'clock
and continued until late at night. Guests
were cared for by a committee consist
ing of w. w. Inglls, T.. Dolph. William
Allen Charles BrOome. Samuel Nc
Cracken. Charles Wizard George
Schroeder. John Kemp. +. c. Bartz,
John NJ. Shopland, Stuart Hutchinson,
w. J. Kingsland, w. n. Vail. Homer and
Harry Pease. Harry Sweetzer and
George Walters. The programme from
. 80 to $3.50 was music by Conrad's or
of eight pieces. At $3.50 o'clock
a graphophone entertainment began in
the lecture hall This was continued
throughout the afternoon and evening
and was in charge of II. W. Reynolds
aud George Schroeder. The juvenile
members gave an enter
tainment in the gym" between the
hours of and $50 under Prof Hoff's
In the evening the music by
Conrad's orchestra was continued. Sew
eral thousand people must have passed
in and out during the day. feature
was concert in the hall by the New |
York Male Quartette company. Men, |
bers were charged ten cents each for
reserved seats but non-members paid |
an admission fee of seventy-tive cents. |
Every seat was taken. The reader of |
the company was Miss Nellie Nicholas. |
,,,,y ~ ~
Over q thousand members and their |
friends visited the Y. w. c. a. rooms be- |