The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-12-03

as the stars for ever and ever we
pray a s IL we did not expect an answer.
Who is II that would rot be at least
startled If on rising from their knees they
should see an answer to their prayers?
God is merciful, as well as just, and gives
us more than we can ask or think. lie
deals with us as loving father would
with his children. If we only turn our
face toward home he will run to meet us
and bid us welcome.
A stranger might well wonder that in
the Christian church there should be any
need of n st. Andrews brotherhood as
the obligation to bring the knowledge of
the Gospel and to bring others into the
way of salvation rests upon all who have
been signed with the sign of the cross. and
If we are not to spend our whole life IN
trying to save our own miserable souls,
and thus make Christianity selfish re-
ligion, we must pray for the extension
of Christ's kingdom and to pray for
anything is useless unless we help an
answer to our prayers by doing whatever
it may be in our power to do
THEY INVITE THEM.
] was told the other day of a certain
bank in Northeastern Pennsylvania L.
which had nearly fourteen thousand de-
positors. knowing this to be far in ex-
cess of any other similar institution in
therefor Was it due to the cashier or
president? No, it was mainly due under
their direction and management TO n
working board of directors who did not
hesitate to invite people to become pat
rons of the bank. Shall not the children
of the light in matters spiritual be as
wise?
Let us not be discouraged by the extra
ordinary zeal sometimes manifested for a
novelty in religion. 1t is said that all
new churches as they are called, have II
more Jealous membership than the old.
The Congregational church in New Eng
land is generally spoken of there as tho
Orthodox church, and the Unitarian as
the opposite. II is related that one day
the pastor of an orthodox church
meeting the pastor of the Unitarian
church inquired why the Unitarian pastor
had usually more conversions than he
had. The Unitarian preacher immediate
| ly answered that he preached fiction as II
| it was the truth, while the "OrthodoX"
| pastor preached the truth as if it was
| fiction.
This doubtless explains why there is
such a lack of interest even in true rell-
gon. We don't more than half believe
| il ouselves. We live in an environment
| of doubt, and battle is constantly go-
| ing on in the heart and conscience of the
| average man between doubt and faith,
| and one is ever striving to get the mas
| terry over the other. The warning churches
| or seCts furnish no excuse for our indif-
| ference. The church of God always had
| them to contend against, and now happi-
| ly many no longer contend about Christ
| SO much as they do for Him. We will
| look in vain for an excuse anywhere eX-
! Cept in our own hearts.
SHOULD DE LARGER.
think the Chapter of the Brotherhood
| of st. Andrew in this parish numbers
about a dozen persons. We should and
ought to have fifty members, and SUP
posing we should have fifty men who
| every day realized their responsibility for
prayer and service? Supposing each one
should make an honest effort every day to
| bring some one into the way of salvation
What a change would come over our par
| ish? How it would grow and prosper and
better still the spiritual life of all would
| he deepening. We have now about three
| thousand souls who have received the
| sacrament Of initiation into the kingdom
| OF God. We ought to double our numeri
| cal strength in the next ten years and II
We should do it tomorrow there would
still be thousands in our city unattached
to any religious body.
| There are some who say can't I be
| saved unless | 60 to church every Sun
day? or won't it do Just as we'll to &C
| Sunday night? or, need be baptized ol
| confirmed? Such people want God to DC
| "A great deal for them and they want tC
| do as little as they can help for Him, for
| getting that obedience to the church and
| the Scriptures is the highest test of love
| TO God.