The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-09-25
Religious


Beginning at sundown tomorrow the
month of Tishri and the Jewish New
Year, 565S, will be ushered in. The holy
day is known as Rosh Hashana, and
marks the beginning of number of
important holy days in the Jewish cal
endar. 1t Is a period made up Of SOL
emn services and festivals. With the
beginning of the month of Elul, which
occurred in August, began the forty
days of propitlatory prayer commem-
Grating the days spent by Moses on
Mount Sinai. These forty days end on
the day of atonement (Yom Kippur),
which will fall this year on Wednes-
day, October 6. This is followed by
the Feast of Tabernacles (Succoth) on
October II.
These days are observed by Hebrews
throughout the world with impressive
ceremonial. In the orthodox syna-
gogues the ancient ritual which has
been followed for centuries is rgidly
adhered to, while the conservative and
reformed wings of Judaism have adopt
ed a modernized ceremonial, from which
many of the traditional rites have
been dropped. The New Year will be-
gin at sundown tomorrow. when short
special services will be held. Early in
the morning on the following day the
formal service for the New Year be-
gins, and consists of ritual, psalms and
songs, and usually special sermon.
-
The dim religious light" of some of
our churches is only equaled by the
dim, soft whisperings of the congrega-
tions as they join in the singing of the
hymns. Where Is the hearty, Vigor-
Gus singing which at one time was
such a feature of our Methodist
churches? Most of the noise is made
by the organ, and if by any chance it
Is disabled for a service, how very
feeble and frail is the hymn, and with
what thankfulness we resume our
seats, glad that the sad ordeal is over!
Why can't we have a revival in con-
gregational singing? Who is respon-
sible for the present state Of things?-
Christian Advocate.
The Rev. H. B. Johnson, writing from
Victoria, B. c., under date of Sept 13,
says: THE readers of The Christian
Advocate may be pleased to learn that
of the 12O passengers sailing today
China, thrty-nine are missionaries, of
whom thirteen are Methodists. This
does not include the children nor sew
eral Japanese who are returning to
the home land for Christian work after
years of preparation in America. OF
the thirty-nine, ten are going to Japan,
eight to Korea, and twenty-one to
China. Dr. Eby and his church at
a IN
yesterday. Ten missionary societies
are represented. The Methodists are
as follows: Methodist Episcopal
church-For China, the Rev and Mrs
w. II. Lacy and five children, the Rev.
and Mrs. A. ]. Bowen, Misses Carrie l.
Jewell, Evelyn c. Plnckney, Minnie E.
Wilson, and Martha Libeus; for Japan
the Rev. II. Il. Johnson, Miss Mariana
Young, the Rev. and Mrs. Toyama
(Japanese). Methodist Episcopal church.
South-For China, Miss Rankin, Miss
Lizzie o. Thomas. Canadian Metho-
dist church-For Japan, the Rev. d.
Norman"
Two unusual services will character
ize the day tomorrow in the Providence
Presbyterian church. Rally Day"
service will take the time of the usual
Sunday school hour, beginning at 12
o'clock, officers, teachers, scholars,
former members, friends and strangers
will unite in the special service pre-
pared for the occasion, which will be
under the supervision of Superintend-
ent H. Fl. McKeehan. Tomorrow even
ing at 7.30 o'clock there will be a spe-
cial Endeavor gathering, when the
delegates of our city will read reports
of the International Endeavor conven-
tion at San Francisco. The programme
is as follows: Q) Service of song, led
by the choir; (2) EN- Route to San
Francisco" Miss Margaret Davis, Ply
mouth Congregational church; (3) "Our
Country" Mr.. ID. j. Phillips, Green
Ridge Presbyterian church; (D "Ag-
gressive Work." Miss NJ. Louise Will
liams, Washburn Street Presbyterian
church; (5O Conservation service, Miss
M, May Benedict, Providence Presby-
terian church; (6) Results of En-
deavor Enthusiasm" Mr.. Ernest ].
Paine, Penn Avenue Baptist church.
The public at large will be interested
in these services and is cordially in
vited to attend them. The Providence
and Peckville street cars pass the door
of the church.
DR.. Griffin is one of the most enthu-
siastic advocates of the Chautauqua
idea to be found in this country. 1t is
probable that he has successfully con-
Quoted larger circles than almost any
other man in Methodism. During his
last pastorate the reading club num-
bered over one hundred members and
the progress made by the students was
most encouraging. 1t is probable that
a very large class will be organized
under his direction. DR.. Giffin is very
much pleased to have secured so COM
petent a leader as Mr.. A. +. Bower.
whose literary attainments and enthu-
siasm are we'll known. The circle will
include many who have read the scien-
tific and literary course prepared under
these auspices in other years, while
many new students will also be en-
rolled. The class will be undenomina-
tional and any members above the age
of fifteen will be received.
IN o0 "a oo,N M a-uvs MAJ