The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-04-24

Rev. George l.. Aldrich the pastor of
Grace Reformed Episcopal church,
made the following annual pastoral ad-
dress at Monday nights annual busi-
ness meeting of the congregation:
"Grace, mercy and peace from God our
Father and Jesus Christ our Lord
/. Tim, .. In presenting to you my pas
toral letter, let me call your attention
first to a few statistics. At the last re-
port there were upon the roll S6l commun-
icant members; since that time there have
been added II by confirmation and 10 by
letter; while we have lest by dismissal
and by death, making the present num-
Der 376, of which 63 are nonresident.
On Sunday, June 14th, 1896. Lucius Dick
inson Powers fell asleep in Jesus. Mr..
Powers united with Grace church on
November 9th, 1895, but was prevented
from being very active in church work
by an illness which confined him to his
home. He passed away fully trusting in
his Savior, mourned by many friends who
knew his worth.
On Monday, September 7th 1896, the
Lord saw fit in His alfwise providence to
remove another of our members, Jetfer-
son e. Keller from his earthly to his
heavenly home. For some time Mr..
Keller had been a sufferer, and in great
and infinite mercy our Father called him
away. He had united with the church
by letter April 18th, 1894.
on Wednesday, September 30th, 1896, the
Lord took one of His lambs from our
midst to his upper fod-Miss Salle
Weisenflue. She had endeared herself ty
her quiet, loving ways to all of us in the
church. And shining for Jesus, as she
did always, even in the midst of pro-
longed suffering and pain. her example,
like that of many others, is our heritage.
On Sunday, December 9Th, 1897, Joseph
of cr1r ho ri mo m n
tered into rest, after a pilgrimage of sew
enty years. His simple, childlike trust
in Jesus has had it's reward in the sight
of his Masters face these many days.
And so from our membership there have
| passed to be with Jesus 4; while absent
| from the body, they are present with
| the Lord. But l would not have you
be ignorant brethren, concerning them
which are asleep, that ye sorrow not as
others which have no hope. For if we
| believe that Jesus died and rose again,
| even so them also which sleep in Jesus
will God bring with Him.. Thessaloa-
| ians, abba.
Thirteen families have been added to
the list during the year, making the pres
| ent number 251. There have been II bap-
| tisms, all infants; marriages and 13
| burials.
| OF the services held during the year
| there have been 81 Sunday morning and
|
| vices. During the week days there have
been 8 morning and dncluding cottage
| meetings) 40 evening services, making the
! total of all services, exclusive of Sab
| bath morning prayer meetings, Sabbath
School sessions, Y. p. s. G. L. meetings,
etc, etc, 27j; with all these. included,
| 591
There have been Is occasions on which
the communion has been celebrated dur
| ing the year; the numbers communing /
| have not been able to learn at times. On
| Easter Sunday there were ia present at
| the Lords table
As to the Sabbath school, the secretary's
report shows 256 scholars on the roll;
which with the ten officers and % teachers
makes total of 294. The Sabbath
| school treasurer reports total collections
| for the year $iSS.24. The librarian reports
| 2l7 volumes in the library.
| There are many causes for encourage
| ment, beloved, to which we gladly call
| your attention, and for which we give
God all the glory and all the praise, be-
| cause to Him alone it is due. While very
| many churches have been forced into
| debts that are crushing the spiritual life
| out OF them, the Lord has mercifully
| blessed us; causing us to use Bible meth
DDS for raising the needed funds, and hon
oring us in the doing of it. And while
we have been compelled to use some of
| furnishing of cur church, yet as our
treasurer has said, there is every pros
| pect Of replacing this money during the
coming year.
| The gradual increase of the attendance
| upon all the services of the church is an
| other cause for encouragement; it points
| to solid growth, for while it is not a large
as we hope and pray for, it is nevertheless
| blessing of God in which we see the
| promise of more to come. And all the
| more encouraging because the Lord has
| graciously kept us from the reprehen-
sible means so much in vogue among the
| churches to-day, to attract the crowds.
| Above ALL in the mission work do we
| find cause TO thank God and take cour-
age. We are all living in an age when
| men are beginning to feel that the
church, collectively and individually, is
doing too much for the cause of missions;
and are applying the remedy in the shape
of large sums expended upon handsome
| buildings and an ornate service. A time,
too, when many are asking the Lord TO
account for every penny expended. Amid
this God has blessed us afresh with the
spirit of missions, and has made us feel
that in the little while remaining every
thing should be held in trust for Him. May
the Lord increase this blessing upon us
more and more in the coming year should
He tarry so lCNg. Permit me to put what
l have said to you about missions upon
Bible grounds.-Phillipians All: mot be-
cause l desire a gift: but l desire fruit
that may abound to your account. When
we appear before the judgment seat OF
Christ, l want to see the hands Of every
one of you flied with sheaves from the
harvest field of missions.
| Finally, beloved, there is one thing
touching the very life and work of our
church about which / wish to speak to
you. The great need of the church OF
Apostolic times, the great need of the
church to-day, the great need of Grace
Reformed Episcopal church, yea, the one
great need of us all individually is the
Holy Spirit, dwelling in our hearts, and
ruling over us, using every power and
possession for the glory and honor OF
God Said Jesus to the disciples "Tarry
ye in the city of Jerusalem till ye be en-.
dued with power from on high" "Ye
| shall be baptized with the Holy Ghost
not many days hence" Not that we hav,
never received the Holy Ghost, but thai
we need Him in, greater fulness for the
work our Lord has given us to do. AnC
as your pastor, watching for the welfare
of your souls for time and eternity
plead with you to wait upon the Lord IL
the quiet of your own closets, at YOU
family altars In the prayer meetings anC
at the Sunday services yea, wait with in
creasing faith and perseverance until tn,
Lord makes good His promise of the ful
indwelling of His Holy Spirit. "TheT
shall we teach transgressors His way,
and sinners shall be converted unto Him.
| cannot close without a word of neart
felt thanks to you all for your cooper
, alton with me in the work; for your abid
. ing with me In the faith of our Lor
Jesus Christ, and for your continued re
membrance of me at the Throne of Grace
Had it not been for this upholding o
my hands upon your part as God CAV,
n 4