The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-04-01

T'he mass meeting" or rally which
was advertised for last evening at the
Penn Avenue Baptist church, secured
about thirty people as an audience.
The character of the meeting really de-
served a larger hearing. The speaker,
DR.. w. c. Webb, of Philadelphia, gave
"A brilliant and interesting address. AS
colleague of DIR. Josiah Strong, whose
book, "Our Country" made such a SEN
sation few years ago, his position
and talent are we'll known. Rev. j.
w. Ford presided and opened the
meeting with reading from EphcSians,
iv. Rev. G. II. Price offered prayer.
Rev. DR.. Webb then gave an eNposl-
tion of the meaning and aims OF the
Evangelical alliance. He said that a
great deal of ignorance exists with re-
gard to it's object Sometimes it has
been confused with the Christian alli-
ance which it antCdates by many
years. It's leaders have been called
faith healers and various other mis-
taken ideas have prevailed regarding
il. He then said that the Evangelical
Alliance originated in London about
fifty years ago. Eight hundred clergy
lner, representing fifty different de-
nominations, came together from all
parts of the world to promote Chris
tian unity. AS the result of their de-
iiberations they organized the Inter-
national Evangelical Alliance.
But LITTLE UNITY.
At that time there was very little
unity among the various protesting
Christians Instead of fighting the
common enemy they were engaged in
lighting each other.
Turing the Peninsular war" said
the speaker, "a captain of artillery
served a gun with admirable precision
against a body of men posted in q, wood
to his left. At the moment the great
duke rode up, looked through his field
glass in the direction Of the shot, and
then quietly remarked: We'll aimed,
captain, but no more of that! They
are our 39th.' That mistake has been
repeated too often in the history of
the church.
AS the result of the work of the
Alliance and of the Young Mems
Christian association, and in more re-
cent years of the Christian Endeavor,
Christians have come to know each
other better and to respect each other
Put we must come closer together yet
We must come together in hearty CO.
operation. We can cooperate in NOR
al reforms and in the defense of our
| cherished institutions Some of our
greater and most beloved institutions
| like the Christian Sabbath and the
| public SCHOOL system, are in danger
| IN order to save them we must edu-
cate public opinion and quicken the
vopular conscience"
| DISTRIBUTION OF LITERATURE
This the Alliance proposed to do by
| the distribution of wholesome litera-
| ture. Leaflets were being prepared by
| the brighter minds and it was prOpOs-
| ed to employ the young people to dis
tribute them. These leaflets are t.
| be translated into different languages
for the perusal of the foreigners who
come to our shores.
! Then again state Alliance had beer
| formed with view to bring the SEN
| timent Cf the better element in the
| community to bear upon state legisla-
| ton. Furthermore, the churches
should cooperate for the study of so.
| Geological and industrial problems
| The speaker referred to the unrest anG
| discomfort that pervaded society and
| claimed that the only remedy was the
application of Gospel principles to so.
| cial relations.
Pew. DIR. George Elliot will address
the meeting at the same place this
evening on the subject of Social Con.
science" DR.. Webb will speak t
clergymen this afternoon.