The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-04-13

singer. DR.. Giftin must have diScOV-
cred his mistake by the smiles among
his audience. but the episode was at
once forgotten by his further reference
to the trials. He had no doubt there
would be much craning Of necks, cock
ing of ears and trial among those be-
fore him in sizing up the new pastor
and in speculation as to whether he
was this. that or the other. He want
ed II just as distinctly understood that
it was reasonable that he should be
having trial in sizing up and in spec
ulation as to how he was going to like
his congregation. The one was as fair
as the other and he did mot propose
to begin his work with any misunder-
standing.
HIS FIRST SERMON.
He then announced his text with such
manner of distinctiveness and inten-
tionally forced gravity that the pass
age was received with perceptible
ripple of mirth. 1t was Acts x:29.
Therefore l come unto you without
gainsaying, as soon as I was sent for:
l ask therefore for what intent ye
have sent for me?" He said:
The words in the text are those of new
fashioned preacher 1 repeat them now
to YOU You have sent for me, now what
are your intentions In the matter? This
Is not u question of the church's right
alone nor Il bishops; 1t Is equally mine.
l say it Is a heresy to believe that bish-
ops have the only understanding of APP
pointments and that the laity shall get
left. II such were true. then where is
the great, free underlying principle of our
Methodism? Nor is the right all yours
in this matter, for l insist that l have
quite as much right to know what kind
of flock go to, as you have to criticise
Inc or, TO select preacher Some man
over there thinks it's all right If l am
satisfied with the official board. Let's see
| want you to know whether or not he
long to any board. committee or click. AS
God Is my witness / belong to you--all
or you-the poorest as well as the richest
and no influence or thing can move me-
! would like to be deluged with praises
OF your late pastor; that Is good. and
would. If / could, pluck bouquets from
each OF your hearts and throw them to him
with god-speed for his labors in new
held. But l don't want to be held UP and
compared with any former pastor Of this
church, no matter how efficient or ineiii-
Client he may have been: | am willing 20
be tried on my own merits, on the gauge
God set for me. You know new wife
| will hOt submit to comparisons with the
virtues and niceties of her half-score of
predecessors neither will l.
THERE ARE MANY KINDS.
Maybe fault will be found with the
matter or manner of my preaching no.
tice that among your hotels there are
many kinds; notice that God did no,
| create one kind of fragrant flowers: you
have here in your city churches Of nearly
all denomnations-well. all this varie y
| means that humanity is not ali sameness
| and that any one kind of thing will not
suit everybody. Just 50 with my preach
| ing; cannot suit everybody and shouldn't I
| be expected to, and if We begin with a
| fair understanding at the start there will
| be no occasion for undue Haunting of crit
| icism later on. There will be such If
| sweetness Instead of strength or pleasant
| ry rather than profit is wanted.
l agreed when / came here that we
should sometimes not agree. That is nat
ural. In every community there are SER
! mon-tasters who go about from church
| to church for the sole object of mak!n,
mincemeat of the sermons they hear.
| There will no doubt be many of them here
tonight and are OF class that want every
part CT everything to be first-class and
pleasant. They exhibit the broad brain
of man who goes to the butchers shop
| and pokes his finger into the meat am!
says why don't you have 1t all tender
| loin?"
If do the work of God in this place
must do It according to the kind of thought
and machinery God has put in me. Ev-
| cry preacher has his own stock of STYLES
and | assure YOU | shan't always speak
this way"-and suppose YOU hope not III
not play one string, for, the breadth of MY
! business Is mere than that, but l won I
guarantee that You will ali be satisfied
Paul and John did not satisfy all con.
gregations and even Jesus Christ has
| been hissed at.
| NOT = MOt NTEBANk.
\ man over there says III be all r.sh,
| II | draw crowd IN here Whewi No thea.
| ter manager IS more ANXIOUS than a
preacher TO- sci large. audiences, but IN
| not play the mountcbank to III this
| church. ia rather have Christ, my wife
ard six persons for an audience than 20. on
| melodies that get nothing and never will
In any world we ever heard OF and whf
came with empty souls and go away with
| the same load with them
Some woman says we sent for YOU tS
do the extraordinary" You've missed the
mark. l knew the owner OF that famou.
little thoroughbred Jer1ey CIV called
QUEEN one OF the first of the masniti,
cent breed to be imported here. She had
been giving such great quantities Of mili