The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-12-08

eleven years until August. 1898, few
weeks after the latter's death, when he
was raised to the complete hishopric.
In the class of thirty-threc,. there
were II from St. Marks mission, Dun
more, and IS from the mother parish !;
there We're II males and 1G females.
They will meet Mr.. Israel Saturday
evening and receive lecture on their
first Communion.
BISHOP RULISON'S ADDRESS.
In his address Bishop Rulison impress
sed the class with the fact that there
was nothing of which to be ashamed in
being confirmed before the church, God
and the angels. 1t is mistaken idea
that the church is a place for only
women and children; the church Is
first for men. 1t is for men first. be-
cause the church is. first of ALL strong.
strong in its doctrines and teachings
and in it's head-God. Gods church Is
for the weak i'm only that through its
strength the weak may gain robust,
Christian Nigor
God has endowed his people with in
diyidual facilities for eXerting their
force. The church was designed to de-
vclope and mould that power. The
class, he said. might not be conscious
of human power but God knew of 1t and
it was demanded that they should come
to "a knowledge of Him i'll the knowledge
Of self.
one way the church chose to remind
them of the possibility of a knowledge
of God was through Holy Communion.
That sacred rite was, without any hair
splitting, he said, designed not for the
siuless nor for the wicked: 1t was for
those who honestly repented their sins
and wanted to live noLler lives. Holy
Communion was a Wayfor strengthen
ing the soul No conditions We're en-
acted before those mentioned. repent
ance and an honest craving to become
holier. The communion 5 Dement'S
should be sought and partaken without
hesitation.
Tie class was advised to become a
part of Gods social Kingdom. The
members We're bounden to bring souls
to Him. Any person vino found church
service or Gods work, dry and unin-
teresting must be doing a dead work,
that is, their so-called Christian life
had no heart in it and would meet
with the same poor result as would
listlessness in the business world.
They should derive conscious joy out of
their work.
MUST SUPPORT THE RECORD.
1t was incumbent on the class to hold
UP the hands of the rector. His work
was hard and responsible but was cas-
Ter with every consciousness of a par
ishioner's moral support. He was the
COMMUNICATIVE chief Of the parish and
should be made to feel that his people
were near his heart. There should be
no hesitation because of belief of a
lack of ability. God recognizes no such
thing. He has given everyone the
power and the opportunity and He and
the church demands that we should
make the most of them.
With power and opportunity there re-
mains only the necessity of sincerity
and humility and the saying of Lord,
here am l." 1t was Advent season. the
bishop said. and a good time to begin
the work with enthusiasm. whOlchsart-
edness and enthusiasm didn't mean SEN
timentality. There was no cause for
men to worry over the slow production
of Christian work. God will take care
of His church: the aiding work is ours.
There are not Ona-fifth as much blat-
ant .blasphemous infidelity now as there
population considered.
The Christian world and God needs
men with the courage of their convic-
tons men true to Him. The members
of the class should not be ashamed to
pray. in their homes and in church:
the time would come when IL they have
not been ashamed of God here, He will
not be ashamed OF them in heaven.
The Cody life would surely attend q
complete surrender of body and soul.