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

wished to show how absolutely indis-
pensable church life and influences are
TO those of less mature years, and in
particular of these influences in this
church.
In the first place the church should
be to all a spiritual home, a source Of
inspiration and a guide into all that
is pure and true and good. The speaker
continued:
But | do not wish so much to speak OF
the church as an administer of punish-
mcnt, as a dispenser of spiritual good for
the young under its care. Our Lord left
a direct command that these young mem
bers should be fed. In his last command
to Peter lie twice told him ito feed his
sheep, but the third time 1t was to feed
his lambs For our Lord ven knew that
they were most likely to go astray ana
needed the most assidGOus and painstak-
ing direction.
But while the church must give to its
Young people the right sort of spiritual
food. 1t must set before them high Ideals
of Christian living and thinking, the mere
gospel preaching from sabbath to Sab
bath. or the eXhorta tionS to purer and
nobler lives given in the Sunday school
will not produce their legitimate fruits
unless those 50 cxhorted see in the lives
about them monuments of grace and CN-
emplifCatons of all that Christ does by
his word or spirit in renewing the whole
man after the image of God.
But while high ideals are TO he gained
they must at the same time be correct
ideals. The revealed word of God is the
highest ideal in life and if church holds
ont such "A life before it's young people,
always urging Jesus Christ as the model.
then that church will be doing mankind
the highest service. This is the relation
a church may bear toward its young peo-
pie.
CARED FOR THE NOl NG.
This church has from the beginning
maintained splendid nursery for the
young. In the Sunday schools it has uve'-
seen the training of hundreds of children.
The untiring efforts of devoted men and
women in this department of our church
deserve all praise. Some already reap the
reward of their earthly labOTs, Others
continue these duties and privileges with
the one great desire in their hearts of
saving souls. The amount Of good thus
done is incalcuablc.
Has this church put before the young
the example of Christian living? Has it
been possible TO see Ecrc what it means
to obey our Lords command, 'FolloH
mc?" Indeed it has. | could name over
very many in whose lives a daily OBJ
server could see the marks telling of a
life hid with Christ in God.
| remember that as boy this element
of our church was pecially impressive tC
me as | looked at this or that ore, either
my Sunday school teacher or our pastor
or saw others on Sunday or at the We'd
n,sday night service with the greatest
regularity ana promptncSs taking theil
accustomed places ana lending to these
services that calm dignity so impressive
To those of younger years.
In conclusion he said fcrvently. "God
bless this branch of his nlanting and
grant that in the future, as in the past
she may fulfill her God-given mission
i'm bringing in and training immortal
souls to the praise and honor of oul
Lord and Savior Jesus Christ"
What the Young People Should Be
to the Church" was the subject of ar
address by Thomas r, Archibald HC
said:
Lord BCaconsiicld has said: "rhc his
Tory Of heroes is the history Of youth ,
and long has been its hero roll since the
day when the boy David killed the cncm,
of his country with his sling. Until thcs
recent days of our own history when Sucl
young heroes as Ensign BaGlcy and Lieu
tenant Hobson freely gave themselves 70,
their country. How much has been don,
by youth in every field of noble though
and service! Raphael had finished TIA,
painting of the frcsCoes at 81, Mozar
composed his operas before he was S6