The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-11-17

Probably one of the most interesting
anniversary celebrations ever held in
this city was that of last evening on
the occasion of the decennial Of Rev.
DIR. G. f. Robinsons pastorate at the
Second Presbyterian church.
Notwithstanding the extremely un-
favorable weather the auditorium was
well filled with friends of the pastor
not only Of his own congregation but
many others. A charming musical pro-
gramme was rendered by the choir
under the direction of Organist Chance.
The opening prayer was offered by
Rev. DR.. Lansing, of the Green Ridge
Presbyterian church. Colonel II. NJ.
Boies, who had been requested TO pre-
side, made brief and happy remarks
in the course of which he declared
that he assumed the chair with much
satisfaction, not because of any pre-
eminent or inherent fitness for the
duties, which might thus involve upon
him as chairman of the committee, but
because of the pleasurable pride in
this memorable occasion.
He then referred in terms of praise
to the sermon of DR.. Robinson on
Sunday morning, following with elo-
carried out in the view from Pisgah's
Mountain. He spoke with emotion Of
the early days of this congregation in
the little hemlock church, remember
ing the prayer for blessing this vine
of Gods planting and the answer to
that prayer, in that it had not only
been a blessing to the community, but
had stretched forth it's branches
throughout the length and breadth Of
the land.
ADDRESS OF CONGREGATION.
Colonel Boies then introduced ]. H.
Torrey, who presented the address for
the congregation, the board of trus-
tees and various organizations Of the
church. 1t was as follows:
The officers, members and congrcga ton
of the Second Presby terian church, Of
Scranton, assembled upon the occasion
of the tenth anniversary of the passionate
OF Rev. Charles L. Robinson, d. d., pre-
sent to him the following expression of
their consratulatiCn, esteem ana afiec-
tiOn:
We congr ltrlate him upon the rapid
and constant growth of the church and
the steady increase of efficiency in all of
its agencies urder his pastorate. We
growth:
There have been added to the church
during the ten years seven hundred and
.orty-nine members; four hundred and
ifty-three upon profession of faith and
two hundred and ninety-six by letter from
ether churches; making an average of
nearly seventy-fiVe additions each year.
The roll of members has increased from
three hundred and eighty in 1887 to eight
hundred and eighty-one in 1897.
The benevolent contributions of the
church have been so largely increa sed
that the average amount given to the va
rious boards of the church each of the
past ten years is from two to five times
as much as it was in previous years. The
aggregate amounts given to various
causes during the decade are as follows:
Foreign missions .................,S 9, los S4
Home missions ..................... 1913 U3
Education .......................,.. 1878 10
Church erection ................... 7,ij2 81
Freedmen ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS. S,O47 50
Aid for colleges ................,... 4,2i7 sc
Sunday school work ............... go u
Ministerial relief .................. 3,S23 81
Synodical aid ....................... 1913 a
General assembly .......,.......... 2,Oi5 O6
miscellaneous NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.. 6,536 Is