The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-11-28

sun OF tne new udS.
BEAUTIFUL WORK.
Standing alone in 1852 this church
was the only beautiful work of art in
this wilderness. AS a wilderness 1t had
lost its beauty by the first ravages of
civilization. The pastorate of DIR. Hic-
kok extended from June 4, 1855, until
1867. 1t was during this period that
the church gained its great power as
an element in the realm of church
and social influence. The preliminary
foundations had been well laid by his
predecessors. and he had a good, en-
ergetic force at hand The busiest and
most successful men and women in
worldly affairs were the hardest and
most supporting laborers in the church
So il should always be.
Joseph II. Scranton was q tower of
strength with his grand presence, his
unique personality and his lead in the
Sabbath school for twelve years.
George w. Scranton, with his genial.
whole-souled affability, his good word
for every body, his energy and push,
gifted with high honor he was the right
hand of a scholarly devoted, energetic
pastor. Joseph G. Platt, with his apti-
tude for detail and accuracy, kept mat
ters straight. Joseph J. Albright, of
native wit, Moravian simplicity, shed
an influence as quiet as 1t was
lessness among his employees. Charles
Fuller blended a telling piety with
careful watChfulnesS over the flock
which crowned a serene old age with
glory. william w. Manness. after he
had built the church, always looked
after it's repairs and improvements.
| Charles F. Mates, the perpetual elder
and trustee, harmoni2ed all corporate
action and quieted all conflicting in
| terests Thomas Dickson, with his
| constant interest and attendance,
| brought his influence, his uncommon
| common sense. his clear judgment, the
| gift Of God. his advice and generosity
! in every emergency. All these were
men free from bigotry, free from caste,
with positive convictions. ruled not by
! Indifference, as so many are. but hold
! ing the aim and work of the church as
resting upon them.
ONLY THIRTEEN REMAIN
My acquaintance with this Congrega-
tion the great host of which are gone
| beyond the river, only thirteen of whom
remain, began thirty-eight years and
| six months ago. | left the church
where l was residing Sunday evening
TO come here Monday morning, the next
| Wednesday evening | was in the prayer
! meeting of this church. opposite the
Wyoming house, and have attended ev-
cry prayer meeting since when in town
| and when it was not more my duty
| to stay away than to come. | always
| remained through the service, except
| once. ON that occasion | was called
| out in my professional capacity to give
advice how one could save the neck O1
the worthy heroic gentleman who is
tonight our presiding officer. He was
just as obstreperous then as he is now
| He had a whole souled aversion to the
manner in which n body of laWles'
strikers had for five months paralyzet
industry terrorized over the innocen
and had generally made things unCom
Portable He had come into conhic
with few of their leaders. At GU
interview he did not propose to shov
the white feather. But they were boun'
to make finger rings of his bones. Wit
his fathers authority and mine, as
member of this church just from pray
or meeting, we persuaded him at leas
for the moment that the safest plac
for him to sleep that night was at hi
Aunt Mary DOud's house. Whether h
did or not has never transoired \
all events he is here tonight. That We
man who would have sheltered him, q
} did, was one of the active factors i
this church.
, DIR. HICKOK'S $ LABORS.
Dr. Hickok's labors here cannot b
too highly estimated. He was care
full student of the Bible, loved its his
tory and brought the experience an
philosophy of the early church, it
patriarchs, it's rulers and its civiliza
tion To bear with singular power o
every individual or national question G
religion or policy in any emergenC
. presented. He was thoroughly Convers
ant with the whole of Scripture, AN
from the old or the new he could pres
| in his grasp the leaves from that gard
a on and they would cNhale the fragranC
p which not only delighted but brouGl
- physical and spiritual health. He wa
painstaking to fault in his ureuara
< tion for the pulpit and the leCtul
$ room, thoroughly evangelistic in h
f | preaching, often SCntentiOuS and ep
, grammatic in his utterances.
Z In 1861, when the cloud of civil va
= hung heavy, he preached a sermon
great power and patriotism from IL
\ text "The Powers That Be-" etc. Il
/ placed the religion of patriotism &
= high ground. He was called on to +,
i peat it. Eight months after, after tv
. defeats of our army and fast w
s proclaimed, he preached another Ee
? mon from Judges XX: 26-2S: shall
h Uhc II Tribes yet go out to bait
Il against the children of benjamin, n
o brother; or shall cease. And the Loi
5, said so up" 1t was Il time when 20. :
= of little Bcnjamins i'm the wrong pr
J. 100000 of Israel i'm the right to nigh
:. AS DR.. HiCkOk closed that patriot
= sermon, his thrilling words will n
It sound unapt in these days of a war f
c humanity's sake. AS he gathered
d the significance of the struggle al
y. forecasted the future he SAID: 20
10 civilization is on trial. If it surVtv
d il will be a better a purer, a frecr civ
l. iZation than America has yet know
d If il fails, then Woe to the nation
W The great beacon of struggling II
W tiOnalities: the hope of the free; I
lc pOle-star of the brave; goes down
le stormy waters: and | know not 'whC
r is that Promethian fire that can tn
IN light relume.'
= GENERATION JUST CLOSED.
lc | come now to the period which GO
is ers the generation just closing. 1t
the period following the close of I
civil war. During this time what ever
have occurred in our history as
Sc church and a nation. The old m
rc of the pioneer period are II,
IN gone. save two. Many years of
le church life were spent with the
he | knew them all intimately in busin,
re and religious work. | knew their V
gh tues, the idiosyncraCies. some of tn
st failings, they knew mine, and as
he friend could give me the faith
f. wounds of a friend for which | tha
an them. They made me an elder i'm I