The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1897-01-16
CHURCH DOINGS
AND RELIGIOUS TALK
Happenings of Particular Interest to
Church.Going People.
WILL SCRANTON LOSE DR.. DIXON

clines to Talk About It--First
Presbyterians Want a Parsonage.
Religious News Notes--Tomor-
rows Church Services.
Rev. Joseph x. Dixon is evidently in
urgent demand by the First Baptist
congregation of Brooklyn. The New
York Tribune of recent date says:
THE First Baptist church of the East
ern district, formerly in charge of the
Rev. Dr. Daniel Eddy. has sent an ul-
tinatum to the Rev. Joseph X. Dixon
of the Penn Avenue Baptist church in
Scranton, Pa, giving until February l
next for DR.. Dixon to accept or de-
cline the call recently extended to him.
This places DR.. Dixon in peculiar
position. His friends say that he was
in hopes of having the time extended
for several months, in order to make
it easier for him to sever his relations
with the Scranton church. DR.. Dixon
accepted a call to the church in Scran-
ton shortly after the death of Dr. Eddy
last year, going there on September l.
Before he left ne was informally told
that the vacant pulpit in the First
church was his if he would accept it.
He wanted to accept, but as he had al
ready accepted the Scranton call, he
could not see his way clear. Then he
tried as delicately as possible to get
release from the Scranton people, but
they We're apparently steadfast in the
belief that DR.. Dixon was an acceptable
preacher, and would not release him.
Now comes the Imperative demand from
the Brooklyn church for a decisive an
swer. 1t is likely that DR.. Dixon will
repeat his request to the Scranton
church to release him. The First church
pulpit is a desirable one. The church
is at Lee avenue and keaD street. 1t
was organized in 1889, and it's present
membership is about five hundred. The
Sunday school has a membership of 3SS.
The church has 500 sittings and the
chapel 700"
Dr. Dixon declines to be interviewed.
In response to a reporters inquiry he
assumed the evasive and would neither
affirm or deny the truth of the New
York Tribune's article.
There will be a special meeting of
the First Presbyterian church congre
cation Tuesday evening, Feb. 2, for the
purpose Of planning to secure parson-
age. a committee is now at work pre-
pairing to present the matter in detail
at the meeting. 1t is possible that
any one of three plans, the purchase of a
house and lot, the buying of a lot and
the building of a structure or the erec-
ton of a parsonage on the church site,
corner of Madison avenue and Olive
street, may be adopted.
e
Bible class study meetings for Sab
bath school teachers and Bible students
of the Young Mems Christian associa-
tion in the association parlors. The
meetings will be held each alternate
Tuesday afternoon at $50 o'clock. The
leader is James McConkey, Princeton
graduate, of Wrightsvlle. He is teach
ing twelve similar classes in Eastern
Pennsylvania. The idea is commend
able and calculated to materially bene-
fit those persons for whom the study
is arranged.
Recognition services of Rev. Thomas
ae Gruchey pastor of II Jackson Street
Baptist church, We're held Monday
evening at the church The order of
service included special singing and
addresses by Revs. w. j. Ford, DR..
Joseph X. Dixon. DIR. II. II. Harris, S.
F.. Mathews, w. S. Jones, Thomas Bell,
j. r. Sweet and j. p. Moffat The pre-
siding officer was Rev w. G. Watkins.
of the North End. Tuesday night a roll
call of the members of the church was
conducted This tended to draw closer
together the members of the church.
Refreshments We're served.
The arrangements have been COM
pleted for the interdenominational mis-
sionary rally. 1t will take place next
Wednesday evening in Elm Park
church, beginning at 7.4j o'clock. Siml-
lar meetings are to be held throughout
the United States and Canada.
At the recognition service rendered
him Monday evening Rev. Thomas de
Gruchy, pastor of the Jackson Street
Baptist church, said something of in
terest to ministers of the Gospel. After
alluding to the easy way the Methodsts
use in getting rid of pastor Mr.. de
Gruchy Gaid about as follows Il
don't know how long I'll stay here" re-
ferring to his church; but | do know
that at other places where | have been
some people have said, Wen give him
three months. | stayed the three
months and then they'd say, Well, let's
give him three months of grace; he
won't hold out long. And so it went on
until nine and twelve months We're
passed and l was still there"
one of the opening meetings of the
state convention Young Women's Chris
tian association at Harrisburg, Pa,
was an "EXpectation Meeting" Some
one said, "Our Gospel service on Sun
day afternoon is always an expectation
meeting" We who have been attend
ing them have not been disappointed.
Now, we desire that very many of the
young women of the city will avail
themselves of th1s opportunity and
come Sunday afternoon January II at
345. All young women will be well
come.
The regular meeting of the Scranton
Primary Sunday School Teachers union
will be held this afternoon at the First
Presbyterian church at 4 o'clock. The
lesson for Sunday, "A Multitude Con-
Verted" Will be taught by Miss Della
=. Evans. The topic will be given by
Miss Grace Peck. Teachers of primary
and intermediate classes are cordially
invited to attend,
Mr.. Chance has arranged the follow
ing musical prelude to the evening SER
vices at he Second Presbyterian church:
Organ voluntary, Salome; song prelude,
hymn tune, Stebbins; organ response.
Rink anthem for full choir, Rubin
M ms nj at "a n,