The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-22

account of the larger appropriations 1t
has been necessary to make for this pur-
pose, and that 1t regards the diocese as
having the first and highest claim upon
the offerings of its own Sunday school
children.
II there IS one work to which We are
all pledged. not only as matter OF
Christian duty but of business obligation,
1t Is the mission work of the diocese. Its
Importance is attcsted by. the time and de-
liberation we willingly give to 1t in our
annual conventions and in every meeting
of our archdeaconries. We have enacted
canons, constituted boards. done every
thing necessary to testify our opinion that
diocesan missions are an essential mani.
fiesta ton of our corporate life. Surely
We all know well enough what our plain
duty and privilege are in regard to this i'm
portant work Let us. therefore. do that
duty faithfully and improve this privilege
willingly in helping, according to our abil-
ity, the cause of missions in our diocese.
In his report the archdeacon made
separate reference to the many parishes
in his charge and in each case was
shown growing and favorable condi-
tions. The report indicated the spread
ing of missions and church extension
throughout the diocese and especially
in Lackawanna, Susquehanna and Lu-
zerne counties.
a spirited and interesting informal
discussion, over which Bishop Rulison
presided. followed the eXegesis at 4
o'clock of Rev. &. A. Howells rector
Of ST. James church. Jermyn. on Gene
sis iii:3: But of the fruit, of the tree
xvb inl, 10. tn, ha CT of ,lan
God hath said ye shall not eat of 1t.
neither shall ye touch it, lest ye die"
The Evening Session.
The audience which gathered I'm the
church in the evening was one of the
largest since the session opened. The
regular evening prayer service was
shortened i'm order to make time for
three excellent addresses as follows on
common subject, THE Chruch Mill
tant in Central Pennsylvania" l. "Ob
jects of Parish Organization" by Rev.
Edward II. Eckel, secretary of the arch
deaconry and rector of Trinity PARISH.
of West Pttston; .. development of
the Archdeaconry of Scranton" by
ArchdeacOn Coke; 3. Diocese of Cen
tral Pennsylvania" by Rev Henry l..
Jones, $. I'D, rector of St. Stephens
parish. of Wilkes Barre
In treating his subject Secretary Eek
el insisted that the routine work
Of the parish fits parishioners for
higheI workmanship and is
ore of the surest means of
building and extending the church.
Doctrir ., discipline and worship in their
full meaning should be applied ardently
and devoutly anu each person should
use his or her best faculty in good for
the whole church. ......
Archdeacon Coke introduced a sound.
logical and emphatic plea for funds to
Increase mission and church extension
in the diocese by explaining the divi-
so of the eleven countie., of the uiO-
cese into the four archdeaconre.; of
Scranton. Williamsport. Harrisburg and
Reading, and by interesting figures as
follows showing the relative strength
of the Scranton archdeaconry In 1885,
| and 1895: Clergymen. 16 and 81; par.
ishes. q and Al; families. 1.4l6 and 2,753
communicates. 1874 and 3.l54: Sunday
school teachers, 262 and 400; Sunday
school scholars. 2.792 \ nd 4,Oll; value OF
property. $500, 800 and $54S, 800; total Of
ferings. $49,S26 and $74,392 In addition
Dr.. Coke offered a number of other in.
structive statistical, matter. all going
to show the progression and activity of
this archdeacOnry.
Devotion ofthc Clergy.
For the advance and good works he
ascribed the devotion. energy. courage
and unselfishness of the clergy as the
main cause. In view of the fact that
the prosperity of a state or country de-
pends on the goodness of it's people, he
said the license of present speech and
acts Is threatening the liberty of this
republic and demands fearless preach
ing and energetic work by ministers
| and the moral and material support OF
their congregations. There is no time
for experiments, work must be done
quickly and well in this diocese, espe-
cially in Monroe county, where ther,
is not an Episcopal mission or church
shameful fact when is considered the
splendid record in other parts of thu
diocese. For the diocesan offerings
necessary to the work, he made an ar
dent appeal.
DIR. Jones made one of the happiest
addresses of the session in treating his
part of the subject Under discussion. He
reviewed in a chatty and entertaining
way the history of the diocese since its
conception in 1871. when the late Bishop
Howe took it in charge. To this be-
loved divine he paid eloquent tribute
as he did to Bishop Howe's successor
the present Bishop Rulison. described
by the speaker as strong and brave
but tender and true" Bishop RulisOr
| was Bishop HOwe's assistant from 1884
until the latter's death in 1894.
Bishop RulisOn closed the discussion
in brief but most filial address In
which he referred to statistics men,
toned by DR.. Jones and showing the
Central Pennsylvania diocese to rank
from seventh to twentieth i'm various
instances among sixty other dioceses
Bishop Rulison stated with much free.
| dom and heartiness that the diocese
certainly ranked first in the spirit of
sympathy. brotherly love. affection and
helpfulness between clergy and bishop
Rev. Rogers Israel. rector of st
Luke's, after the service extended a
cordial invitation to the congregation
as he has done after each session, t.
meet Bishop Rulison informally in the
| rectory.
Programme for Today.
n. I.I,.