Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1897-06-21
WORKING FOR CHRIST.
SUCCESSFUL CONVENTION HELD BY
THE TRl-COUNTY UNION.

tendance and Earnest Attention Mani
tested by the Delegates.
The Christian Endeavor societies of Lu-
zerne, Lackawanna and Wyoming coun-
ties, composing the Tri-County Union,
held their annual convention in Freeland
on Friday. Delegates from nearly every
tow n in the three counties where there
are branches of the union located, were
present, and numbered several hundred.
The convention was carried on with ad-
mirable success. All of the sessions
were largely attended, the work done
was peculiarly appropriate to Christian
Endeavor aims, and the subjects were
treated and the addresses delivered in
an able manner.
The work of the convention was divfd-
ed into three sessions. The day sessions
were held at st. Johns Reformed church
and the evening session at the Grand
opera house. This morning session was
opened with prayer by Rev. j. j.
Kuntz, of st. Luke's Lutheran church.
Rev. j. w. Bischoff, of Upper Lehigh,
warmly welcomed the delegates, and
President j. c. Manning, of Pittston, re-
sponded. The session was mainly taken
up with the business of the union. The
reports of Secretary C. E. Daniels. of
Scranton, and Treasurer A. w. Britain,
of Freeland, showed the union to be in
good standing financially and continu-
ally growing
Prof. and Mrs. Lowe, of Philadelphia,
sang together sweetly and solemnly and
their work was highly appreciated by
the delegates and others who attend
ed. Rev. Il. A. Mills, of Wilkesbarre,
| delivered the convention sermon. Dr.
Mills proved to be an able speaker and
did full justice to the part assigned him.
The afternoon session comprised the
real business of the convention, and the
church was taxed to its utmost to ac-
commodate the large crowd in attend
ance. Rev. S. Cooper, of st. Paul's
Primitive Methodist church, opened the
session, after which Prof. and Mrs.
Lowe, assisted by the delegates and
Others, sang. B. f. Armstrong of Wilkes
barre, superintendent of the Luzerne
County Bible Society, spoke on Essen
tial Preparation for Service" Mr. Arm
strong showed the efficacy of prayer at
all times, and urged more sincere and
earnest effort to carry out that part OF
their pledge which relates to reading
the bible every day.
Essential Part of Christian En-
deavor" was the subject of paper
treated by Miss Margaret Morgan, of
Wilkesbarre. Miss Morgan's paper was
one of the most brilliant of the day and
was full of instruction to the delegates.
Christian endeavor, from Miss Morgan's
point of view, did not consist solely of
mere society work, but it had broader
and more liberal meaning which was the
instilling of Christian fervor into all
great movements of public and private
Importance, and the particular necessity
of more earnest work along the lines OF
good citizenship and honest government.
The Upper Lehigh Juniors, under the
leadership of Superintendent Hoover,
conducted meeting similar to the
manner in which they hold their services
every Sunday afternoon. The meeting
showed the Juniors to be well trained.
EX-President Thomas +. Wells, of
Scranton, and Rev. C. |. Junkn, of
Philadelphia, who were to address the
convention, did not appear, and James
j. IL. Hamilton, of Scranton, opened
question box. Among the questions
submitted were the following: SIS the
Christian Endeavor pledge in conflict
with the pledge taken on entering the
church," SIS the Christian Endeayor
pledge superfuous?" "What is the best
way to have societies pay monthly dues?"
"Should names of delinquents be carried
on the rolls of societies." "What are
the causes of lukewarmness in socie-
tieS?" What is the condition of a
church without a Christian Endeavor
Society" ''Is the Christian Endeavor
Society considered a stepping-stone to
the church," ''What will be the uti-
mate future of the Christian Endeavor
movement" The questions were an
swered by Mr. Hamilton, and sugges-
tions on the various topics were made
by the pastors and delegates.
Ten minutes were devoted to the
pastors to speak of the good done by
young peoples societies. Several re-
sponded within the allotted time, all APP
proving of the societies in the heartiest
manner
The nominating committee reported a
list of officers, which owing to some de-
clinations was referred for consideration
to the evening session.
The session closed with consecration
service by Chas. G. Richards, a student of
Princeton university, and singing by the
convention.
One of the largest gatherings ever
assembled in the Grand opera house was
present at the evening session, which
opened with prayer by Rev. R. E. VIII
son, of the Methodist Episcopal church.
The Freeland Glee Club rendered sew