The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-10-25

Rev. Charles G. Spieker, of Cleve-
land Ohio, Yesterday began his duties
as pastor of the congregation of Holy
Trinity Evangelical Lutheran churcn,
though he will not be formally installed
for month. He is but % years old,
unmarried and, it is reported, is one 1f
the brightest and most promising Of
the younger clergy developed in recent
years at the Evangelical Lutheran
Theological seminary at Mt. Airy, ne&:
Philadelphia. Though q young man,
Mr.. Spieker has for several years been
engaged in lis calling, rearly all the
time In missionary capacity.
The new minister received his early
and academic education at the Kutz-
tow normal school and at MuhlenberS
college, the Lutheran schcol of this
synod at Allentown. After his gradu-
alton from the seminary st Mt Airy
he was sent to Evans City. Pa, where
he performed splendid m ssion work.
For two and a half years, Mr.. Spi+-
ker has been pastor of Holy Trinity
church at Cleveland. In II at time the
congregation grew from fifty to nearlJ
$50 members and to be one of the most
active and promising in that synod.
While in Cleveland Mr.. Spieker waa
provisional president of the Western
conference of the Pittsburg synod ans
was the secretary of the same.
DIR. sPIEKER, THE FATHER.
Mr.. Spieker Is a son of Rev. George
F. Spieker, d. D., Ph.D.. well-known
throughout this CountryS Lutheran
ism as professor of church history and
the old testament at the Mt Airy
seminary. DR.. Spieker was once pas
tor of st. MiChaels church at Allen
town, which has nearly 400 members,
one of the largest Lutheran congrega-
tions in the United States. He has
been heard i'm Scranton several times,
his most recent visit being two Sab
baths ago, when he was engaged to
occupy the Holy Trinity pulpit and
conduct the Harvest Home services
The installation of the new pastor
will take place on the First Sunday in
Advent, Nov. 2S The president of the
| conference and others from outside the
city will be here to participate in the
ceremony.
Mr.. Spieker made a happy advent
yesterday among his congregation,
| who have been without a pastor since
| last March. At the morning and even
| ing services there was a filled church.
| His morning sermon was introduced
| by a few simple remarks to the effect
| that it was Gods choice which called
him to labor in new field, a work
| of honor under any conditions as il
was in Gods cause. His experience
| had not been full, but whatever he had
had and Of his best talent he proposed
| to make use in the interest of his con-
| Gregation.
PURE LUTHERANISM
The text was from Hebrews, xiii: s,
Jesus Christ the same yesterday, and
| today, and for ever" 1t might seem
| strange, in a comparative sense, said
| Mr.. Speicher, but he came with moth
! ing new-no new doctrine, no new gos-
| pei; he brought the same old light and
the same truth. After presenting the
| salient position of the Lutheran church
he remarked that he stood upon the
same ground, the identical foundation
of which Jesus Christ was the corner
| stone.
While the spirit of liberation, to do
away with all creeds, was abroad. he
| would hold that the Word of God as
taught in Lutheranism was the only
| faith; the confession of faith, a dis
tnct doctrine of Lutheranism would
be his doctrine. He came to preach
the whole gospel, to labor and to ad-
minister the sacrament.
In the evening THE Ideal Congre-
CATION" was the subject of Mr.. Spiek.
er's address. His text was from Acts
| \. az "NOw therefore are we all here
present before God. to hear all things
that are commanded thee of God" He
dwelt particularly on the fact that his
and his hearers work could not be
pleasing in the sight of God without &
diligent and concentrated effort fOl
good. The church was expected indi.
vidually, no less than collectively tC
be good church men and women and
good Lutherans. Inc spirit of the text
should be affirmed in that they were
all present, in time, with one common
purpose and to seek understanding OF
| what WAS commanded them of God