The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-18


the Joy of the dedication day The
church presented a beautiful scene to
the rejoicing wUrshippers. Palms and
plants gave it a CHEEKY and inviting
appearance, splendid music enliVened
the interest in the proceedings; heart
stirring prayers and sermons fired anew
the souls of the two large audiences.
Rev II. IL. Weber. secretary Of the
Board of Church Extension of the Gen
eral Synod of the Lutheran church, full
of enthusiasm, earuestness and devotion
to Gods cause was present to encourage
the congregation. The "re Deum" by
the quartette was exceptionally fine
and great credit is due them for the
noble rendition of the several anthems,
MORNING SERVICES.
The services began at $50 a m. when
the sabbath school assembled. At 1890
the regular service commenced. After
an anthem by the quartette the pastor,
Rev Foster L. Gift, conducted the
opening service. Rev. Weber preached
the sermon from Isiah, lv:1 He said
% it was an earnest invitations; (2)
a broad one. and go a loving one. 1t
was an earnest appeal for all to accept
=
to accept free salvation. After the SER
mon the congregation responded freely
to the appeal for subscriptions. About
twice as much was pledged as was
expected.
AT $50 y. m. the Christian Endeavor
society held a very inspiring prayer
meeting. At 7.3O a large audience as
sembled for the dedicatorv services
pt ta rAnlarpl
very fine selections after which Rev.
Weber preached a strong and forceful
sermon. After another liberal response
to the appeal for subscriptions the
church was dedicated to sacred pur-
| poses.
Thus closed gala day for Grace
| Lutheran church. Several years of no
BILE and faithful work beheld it's reward.
The following is a short historical
sketch of the church as it appeared in
| the dedication souvenir:
SKETCH OF CHURCH.
"The history of Grace Lutheran
church dates back to June, 1894. The
present pastor, Rev. Foster u. Gift,
then a student at Gettysburg, Pa, was
sent to Scranton to look up the inter-
ests of General Synod Lutheranism in
this busy center. He reached the
city on the 4th of June, 1894 on the
18th of June the first services We're held
| in the Young Mems Christian aSsocia-
tion rooms, in which place services
We're thereafter regularly conducted
| during the summer. On the 9Th of Sep
tember, 1894, an organization was eff
fected with thirty-tWo charter men,
| oers by Rev. A. n. Warner, of North
umberland, Pa, secretary of the Sus-
quehanna synod. The Sabbath school
| had been organized in July. A Ladies'
| Aid society was formed in September.
| In October the pastor left for Gettys-
| burg to resume his studies. During the
J winter the mission was supplied by the
pastors of the Susquehanna synod.
In the spring of 1895 the mission was
| placed under the care of the board of
| home missions, and a call was extended
| to the present pastor. on the 1st of
June, 1895 he began his labor in this
field In July, 1895, the Young People s
| Society of Christian EndeaVor was
| formed.
A CHAPEL SECURED.
The need of a house of worship was
now the pressing problem. In May, 1896
the lot corner Madison avenue and Null
berry street was purchased for $4,000
| There was a small building 30X20, with
an annex upon the lot. This was fitted
up as a chapel making a seating ca
| pacity of about 100, with an annex for
| infant department large enough to seat
| 20 more. on June IA, 1896, farewell was
said to the Young Mems Christian asso-
in the chapel which was dedicated yes
terday. 1t is hoped soon to erect a suit
| able structure upon this corner
on the 1st of June, 1896 the Woman 5
| Home and Foreign Missionary society
of the general synod took charge of the
work, and the church is now a Womans 5
mission, the only eastern point under
| their care at present.