The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-01-22
REPORT OF ARCHDEACoA
Made to Session of Episcopal Clergy
in st Luke'S.
THE DIOCESE is FLOURISHlNG
Has Bccn q Marked Growth in Mission
and Church Extension WOrk-Addrcss.
cs and Busincss Meetinss-SessiOn
viii Terminate Tonight.

cS ana buStncSS NNectiuSS-SeSsiou
viii Terminate Tonight.
Yesterday morning in st. Luke's
church witnessed a much larger at
tendance of clerical and lay delegates
than was present at Monday night
opening service of the winter session or
the Scranton archdeaconry of the Cen
tral Pennsylvania diocese.
Holy communion was administered at
: 20 o'clock in the morning, when Rev.
B. S. Lassiter, of Milford. oficiated as
celebrant and Rev. J. w. Burras. of
Pittston, as servitor.
A business meeting began in the rec
tory at o'clock. The Ven. ID. web
ster Coke. archdeacon, presided. The
matter chiefly discussed was that of
several church titles involved through
several changes i'm parish locations.
Rev. T.. j. McHenry, of Great Bend,
and Rev. +. Marshall, of Forest City.
were apDointed Il committee to search
the titles and see that they are properly
cleared Attention was also devoted to
the maintenance of the weaker
churches.
At the morning prayer, which began
at 10 O'Clock. Revs. c. a. Howells. OF
Jermyn. and william Coney, of Tunk-
hammock. officiated.
Holy communion was administered at
10. 30 O'Clock. Rev. Rogers Israel rector
of st. Luke's, was celebrant, Rev. -.
l.. Urban. of Dunnore, servitor: .frch-
deacon Coke, gospeller and Rev. f. II.
Eckel. of West Pittston, epistolar
At the close of the communion SER
vice Bishop RuUson preached upon me
Incarnation from the text. IN the De-
ginning was the ord, and the "ord
was with God, and the Word was God,
etc" IL was logical and scholarly
exegesis of the Incarnation in which the
omnipotence of God was emphasized I'm
an eloquent manner After. the SER
vice the clergy and laity registered at
the rectory, after which they with many
of the Brotherhood of s,t. Andrew,
dined together at the Hotel Terrace.
The second business session of the
day began at 80 o'clock in the rec
tory. | 1
ArchdcacOn COxc's Report.
Archdeacon Coke at $50 o'clock in
the church read his report, which con-
tanned the following:
During the past three months. ended
Jan. |. 1896, the missionary work of TINS
archdeaconry has been carried on qulettS,
but efficiently, by the faithful ana earn
est men who have this work in charge. we
deem 1t a proper cause of congratulations.
and one main secret of our success, that we
are blessed with such able and devoted
ministers of Christ and His church. In all
parts of this archdeaconry there are un-
mistakabe zeal on the pari OF the clergy
ana genera! co-oDeration ana interest III
the work on the part of the -faithtul
among the laity. We have abundant PROOF
that the clergy of this archdeaconry are
up to the times in meeting the needs of
the respective communities in which they
labor There is an increasing interest IN
Industrial schools. kindergarten. guilds.
reading rooms, societies of various kinds
for the use of those who most need the
help that comes by the blessing OF Gou
on such instrumentalities. Taking all
things into cOnsidera ton the church work
in this archdeaconry is in fiourishing con-
dition and we have reason to be thankful
for the peace. prosperity and brotherly
love which prevail.
During the past quarter the archdeacon
has made five special visits without SER
vices and thirteen with services In :he
middle of November the archdeacOn, as
sited by Rev. f.. j. Balsley, held series
of services at Forest city. The Rev. +,
Marshall has the charge of the church
work in this place and the design of these
services was to aid him. 1t would scarce
ly be correct to call this a mission, because
we were not able to carry out the ideas
of a Christian mission; but we did have
daily services and "a part of the time SER
vices were held twice each day. The In
terest in these services among the peO-
pie continued 10 increase until the church
was crowded with an attentive and rev
erent congregation. Evidently considera-
BILE good was done.
During the past quarter Rev. William
Coney gave up the charge of ARIEL Ham
linton and Sterling and has devoted all mis-
time to Tunkhannock and Springville
Church Extension.
According to the provisions of Canon
TX. "'rhe work of church extension shall
be prominent subject for considcra-
tion," at the meetings of the archdeacon-
ry. and we are expected Ito aid in every
way possible the advancement of that
work." 1t is also provided that "every
minister in charge of u parish, mission
station or congregation shall do his ut
most to keep his people Informed in re-
gard to the mission work of the diocese
and to stimulate them to liberal offerings
| for this important work.
The work and the needs of our diocesan
missions must always occupy a prominent
| position in the deli berations both of the
annual convention and of the different
| meetings of our achdeaconries. They
should also form an important part Of
our plans for work in all our parishes and
mission stations. We are expected to
| make lat least four contributions in each
year to the diocesan missionary fund for