The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-25
CITY'S RELIGIOUS WORLD
Something More About DR.. Giffin,
Elm Parks Prospective Pastor.
CRITICISM OF ENDBAvORERs

CRITICISM OF ENDEAVORERS
They Are .Oresuizsd Ayers Q Well
KNOWN Religious Worker = Current
Events snd Their Discussion
BY Church societies.
"The Christian Endeavor work Is
over-Organized," says one Of the best
known and most active church work.
ers In Scranton. He alleges that the
outpOuring Of from 5000 to 10000 dele
gates and visitors makes state cOnven-
tions unwieldy, impractical and liable
to do more harm than good by encour-
aging tndiscriminate throngs of young
men and women.
"The idea Of deriving any great
amount Of good from convention mass
of many thousands of persons who have
really less than three days in which to
transact business Is prepOsterous," he
said. If such great crowds of dele
gates are necessary why aren't political
conventions conducted on the same
plan? For the conventions the compe-
tition Of the railroads offers very low
transportation rates which are taken
advantage Of by persons Of all sorts
and these help to swell the attendance
figures. The Young Mems Christian
association. probably the best governed
organization of it's kind in existence,
found its state and International con-
ferences growing SO undesirably popu-
lar that change in policy was impera.
tive in order to reduce the number Of
delegates and followers: II was neces-
sary In order to properly do business.
and l am sanguine that the Christian
EndeavOr will be obliged to adopt u
similar policy in the very near future.
you will notice In the reports of
local delegates to the national Chris
tian EndeavOr convention at Boston
that they made mention of the crowds,
the decorations. the hospitality, the en-
tertainment, the pleasures and the like,
but very rarely did they report on new
ideas gained, on new methods of work,
on new thought: no, they didn't report
on these because useful information
was swallowed and smothered by the
stupendous crowds and the excitement.
The result couldn't be otherwise. The
Christian Endeavor movement Is pro-
ductive Of good, much good. but its use.
fulness might be increased many fold
If 1t paid more attention to real work
and curbed the tendency to over-organ-
izing"
Example Worthy Of Emulation.
Why isn't the example of the Ep-
worth league Of Elm Park church In
its discussion Of vital current topics
worthy of emulation by other leagues
and kindred organizations? At its
meeting Thursday night the Elm Park
organization heard brief talks on 1.-THE
United States Navy" american His.
tory" Monroe Doctrine" Cuba and
the "Cubans," Result OF q War with
England" and christian citizenship"
The topics were treated for the most
part by non-professional men. To be
sure, the purpose Of church societies
composed chiefly Of young persons Is
not to debate upon International dis
putes nor to directly concern them
selves with matters belonging to diplo.
macy and national. officers, but one cold
h1hu AoSt, osu OIL tdlt OiC, 10 Sou~
stantly referred to by both writing and
preaching theologians-they constantly
refer to country" They preach tnat
next to God Is country; that country,
being the parent of all persons, its well
fare should arouse the most intense,
even the religious. loyalty Of its sub
jects. 1t Is not unreasonable to sup
pose that indirectly international strife
would offer a new and at present an in
comprehensive work for religious
bodies. So why would it not be wise
for such bodies to prepare for possible
emergency by debate and discussion?
The Tribune's columns are at the dis
posal of persons who care to offer sug-
gestions pro and con.
Concerning Rev. Dr.. Giffin.
In an article concerning the engaging
by Elm Park church of Rev. DR.. Charles
NJ. Giffin. of Mount Vernon, N. Y, the
Daily Argus of that place says, after
referring to the reluctance with which
church released him!
Dr. Giffln came to Mount Vernon in
April, 1894, from Grace Methodist church,
In every way a success and his congrega-
tions large. He is a great preacher He
possesses those elements which made
Beecher and Brooks power in the pull
pit. He has the vim, dash and eloQuence
which attracts and holds and he Is an In
domitable worker.
Since he came here his congregations
have grown steadily until the capacity Of
the church has been fully taxed morning
and evening. His reputation as preacher
is SO general that people come regularly
from New York. New Rochelle. Larch-
mont, Pelham Manor and Woodlawn to
hear him. The members of the Elm Park
church are to be congratulated upon Sc
curing his services. They will not be dis
appointed In the man. p
Although official meetings of church
boards are supposed to be secret, the fact
Of DR.. Gifin's going away at the close of
this conference year. leaked out. All day
Sunday the doctor and his charming wife
were besieged by throngs who were panied
to learn Of their decision to go away. Re-
gret at his departure is general throughout
the city.
DR.. Giffin's relations with this church
have been of the pleasantest kind. and his
going to Scranton Is largely due to de-
sire to get In higher altitude and away
from rapid changes of climate which take
place here SO near the Sound.
Religious Notes.
At the Methodist minister's meeting
next Monday morning Rev., DR.. Floyd
will present q paper entitled 'Our Su-
peranuates." There is an increasing
interest on this subject throughout the
Wyoming conference. and 1t is probable
that some importan measures may be
adopted at the session in April looking
to better support for the worthy SUI
peranuated members Of the conference.
1.-THE Reward of Faithfulness" will be
the subject Of the Gospel meeting at the
YOunp Wnyuan'o Chriottou occonia<