The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-08-10

| An interesting occasion was cele-
brated last evening at the Dunmorc
| Christian church when the edifice was
re-dedicated after a long abandon
ment.
More than forty years ago the little
church on Trip street was built by
small band or sect known as Chris
ttans. Death, removals and other
causes reduced the congregation as
time passed and about fifteen years
ago regular services were discontinued.
the flock scattering among other de-
nominations or going to the only other
| Christian church in this region at
| Providence. All these lonely years one
faithful disciple has looked lovingly
and with sorrow at the neglected sane
tuary and as best he could has kept
It in partial repair. This man is "El-
DER Washer and no face shone with
such gladness as his last night.
| After the opening devotional exer-
| cises in which Rev. Horace Peckover
conducted the scriptural reading. Miss
| Florence Robertson and Percy Henry
sang Lead Kindly Light"
DE. LFIAMON'S ADDRESS.
Rev. DR.. w. ]. Lhamon. of Ale
| ghcny. Pa, made the address Of the
evening, an excellent effort. His
theme Back to the Beginnings" was
| from the Epistles of John. In it's rur
s;,ancc he emphasized the great need
| Of simplicity in religion and quoted
John as the strong authority for his
statements.
Dr.. Lhamon said there is q cry to-
day Back to Christ" There is a ten
dency TO get back beyond Paul and
even the Gospels. He believed that
none of his listeners deemed them
selves too wise to learn of the gos-
pels. In getting back to the begin
nings they should go to the New Tes-
lament as it lies hidden in the old
and open in the new. The tendency
to get back to biblical beginnings is
Protestant in it's teachings. a brief
summary embodying the doctrines of
some of the great leaders of the re-
ligious movements of the past was
given.
Christ has himself placed q COM
p!ete foundation of His church. There
are myriads of truths that are not in
tended to be the foundations of church.
There are many people who are COM
ing to the belief that it is best to say
nothing about certain historic doc
trines just as the Bible said nothing
of them. 1t is said that the extreme
Of human eloquence would be between
Victor Hugo and Shakespeare, mem
t'oning Jean Vatican as the greatest
character of human fiction, yet not
for a moment would ore think of cont
pairing the character of Jean Vatican
with that of Christ.
WONDERFUL CHARACTER.
If Jesus Christ as a character is a f1c-
tion, the fisherman of the first century
have produced a fiction divine and
marvellous beyond all else ever writ
ten. The character of Jesus rises above
all others. In Eis wicked environment
He was sirless. as amid hatred He
preached love in the midst of retalia
tion He preached forgiveness. so He
was not a man, but more than a man.
This One has placed the foundation
stones of His church and has laid
them broad enough and deep enough
for all time.
In conclusion the speaker said that
the seating capacity of the churches is
not half large enough If all the people
wanted to go to church. There are not
too many churches, too many pews, too
many sermons; there are too many
saloons. To the congregation he said:
You have mourned this as a building
closed, and rejoice in it as a building
opened. You are coming here because
you want to be more Christ-lille. Say
like Ruth to Naomi, Where thou goest
I will co. and keep fast hold of your
faith"
IN Mt
made brief remarks, to which he gave
the gratifying assurance that not only
is the church clear of debt, but that
there is small sum in the treasury.
He was profoundly grateful to DIR. Van
Cleft and DR.. Peckover for their pres
ence on this occasion! He invited all
the clergymen to the platform as the
beautiful dedicatory service was re-
peated with the congregation, after
which the hymn, "All Praise the Power
of Jesus Name" was sung.
The pastor then told of the sad con-
dition of the edifice and of the resolve
made six weeks ago to renovate it. Six
disciples, representing four families,
had paid for the entire work. He asked
If another congregation in the city
could make such showing.
DIR. VAN CLEFT CONGRATULATES.
DR.. A. J. Van Cleft made a happy ad-
dress, in which he stated that he was
in the habit OF attending dedicatory
services for the purpose Of raising the
church debt. This occasion with even
small amount In the treasury was
surprise TO him. He had been sad
dcned when first coming to town by
the appearance Of the abandoned prop
erty. He felt an Interest In every
church of Jesus Christ on earth, and
he was delighted to see the good work
being done. He was glad to hear sung
that last hymn. The Free Thinkers
had convention up near Rochester
recently and thought they'd like to
open with hymn like other folks, hut
they looked all through the hymnals
and could find nothing unless it con-
tanned the name of Jesus. Finally
after a long search, they decided upon
Hold the Fort" altering the verses to
suit their sentiments. lie would like
to propose that the- sing the second
stanza:
Were a little band advancing,
Satan leading on"
Rov. Horace Peckovsr. of the Purl-
tan Congregational church, offered
congratulations. He was glad another
Christian church wss opened IN Scran-
ton, 1t was not built as a hospital to
nurse sick souls. nor as Pullman car
for sleepers with through tickets 10 the
Celestial city. II is to be q hive full
OF sweetness and busy workers He
detested sectarianism and was glad to
see the brotherly feeling with which the
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