The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-05-17
EPW0RTH LEAGUE
EIGHT YEARS OLD
Methodist Churches FittingIy Common,
crate the Anniversary.
DR.. GIFFlN'S SPECIAL SERMON
The Subject of Character Reading
Treated in n Manner Particularly
Appropriate to Young People--"A
Man Cannot Piav Two Hands" Is
the Expressive way the Reverend
Doctor Puts II.

Several of the Methodist Episcopal
churches about the city yesterday held
services commemorative of the organ
ization Of the Epworth league, eight
years ago last Tuesday. Some of the
churches listened to special sermons
by the pastors while In others the Ep-
worth league conducted the service.
The services at Elm Park church were
held in the evening. Rev. Charles NJ
Giffin, ID. d.. preached a special sermon
on the subject: Building Yourselves" D."
Before the sermon Miss Elsie Wolfe. of
the quartette. sang Come Unto Me-
with beautiful effect. Messrs. Thomas
and Wooler with Miss Wolfe singing
the trio part.
DR.. Giffin's sermon was one of the
most interesting he has delivered in
the church. He took his text from the
book of Jude, twentieth verse, and
used as his theme the three words
Building of Yourself"
DR. Gihin said that man is engaged
in building up real edifces in our
character. Like the turtles shell, char
acter follows us everywhere. We can
not keep an assortment. 1t is not like
the houses builded by children-a barn
mansion, a palace, a house; not
like these. We cannot have a church
character, a business character, and a
home character, we have but one--the
character that really it.
IDEA IS FALSE.
The idea that a man has three char.
acters-"what he exhibits, what he
really Is, and what he thinks he is
is false. The first is a pretense and
the last is a conceit. Character is the
real self. "A man." said DR.. Giffin
"cannot-though the expression should
not be used by a Methodist minister
play two hands" The builder is re.
sponsible for the character. 1t lies
with you.
DIR. Giffin then told of a young mar
whom he once knew. This young mar
was a rolling stone. He would b,
found most any place in the United
States. His character, like those Of
other men, was crazy quilt-an as
sortment thrown together. Settle
somewhere and then build" was DR.
Giffin's advice to the young people
Human life is like the varied kind o.
houses that you find in a commun
ity, there are broad buildings, small
buildings and structures high in tht
air.
Some characters like the books il
some libraries are a collection of things
without any particular aim. w,
should build steadily but not swiftly
The man who in youth decides to b,
an author and all through life he Is
dreaming of his success will never sue
ceeG. Doing is the secret.
DR.. Giffin interspersed his address
with pointed illustrations which added
interest. Mr.. Wooler, of the quartette
sang Life, Death and Resurrection
DIR. Giffin pronounced the benedictior
and the service closed.
AT SIMPSON CHURCH.
At the morning service in the Simp
son Methodist Episcopal church yes
terday, the pastor, Rev. j. Il. Sweet
preached an eloquent sermon on 9TH,
Substance of Christian Life" takinl
his text from Galatians ii, 90. In tn,
| evening the eighth anniversary of tn
Epworth league was observed by Simp
son chapter No. PAP, and the Willinl
Workers Junior league.
Rev. j. B. Sweet preached a sermon
on Character, Achievements, Position
and Possession" taking his text from
Hebrews ii, 2. The annual report o
the league work was read by the pres
ident, Miss Rachel Jones, and tn,
yearly report of the Junior league worl
was read by the superintendent, Mis-
Maggie Crawford. Special music wa
rendered and the church was prettil.
decorated with potted plants and Gu
| flowers.
| The Simpson chapter was organized
| May s, 1889, and has a membership o
| 225. The Junior league was established
| October 2, 1891, and now numbers 10
| members. The cabinet officers of tn
| league are: Rev. ]. r. Sweet, Mis-
Rachel Jones, Miss Anna Hughes, Mrs
James r. Hughes, Mrs. w. N. Chase
Miss Margaret Crawford, Miss Ma
| Jones and John j. f. York.
| PROVIDENCE CHURCH.
In the Providence Methodist Episco
pal church services commemorative o
| the anniversary We're held. Harr
| Kemmerling had charge of the pre-
gramme which had been prepared b.
W w A w