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

of our reports. But although the amount
OF such gifts is unknown TO us, II Is well
known to Him for whose sake 1t IL given.
aud lie will amply reward the givers. The
blessed Master whom we serve, viii not
forget Ills faithful servants.
T. | may mention a. another noteworthy
fact, the sterling patriotism of THIS
church through mt its history. We do not
claim any mon 1poy Of patriotic 6rdor,
but, nevertheless. ON this occasion. IL is
proper to say that this pulpit has not been
silent when our country was IN danger;
and when rioters were rampant, the bell
or this church rang the alarm and calie'
patriots to the rescue. During tie war OF
the rebellion this church furnished its
fun quota OF brave men, who marched
boldly to the front, and who were ready
to die in defence Of the Union. And. dur
ing our recent war with Spain, when our
president called for volunteers, this
church again furnished it's full quota OF
brave and loyal men. as the roster of our
gallant Thirteenth regiment WITH abund-
antly testify. This church has never be-
lieved. and we do not now believe that
piety ought to be divorced from patriot
ism. ON the contrary, we believe that .ha
Christian patriot is the truest patriot,
and that those who serve their God the
best are their country's best henefactors.
INFLUENCE FOR GOOD.
5. The influence for good which thus
church has eXerted in this city, during she
past nifty years. Is simply incalculable.
From 1t have gone forth, from time to
time, valued and faithful Christian work
ers, and, as a result, other Presbyterian
churches were organized in our city.
These churches are now strong and ener.
setic, and, today, the mother church re-
ioices greatly over the health and tho
prosperity of her children. Indeed. the
church homes of the children, cast the
home of their mother completely in the
shade. They are much better furnished,
and far mOle Commodiuus and they have
much better arrangements and facilities
for their Sunday schools, and Bible
classes, and Young Peoples meetings, and
Women : Missionary meetings and for So
Cial gathe rings than the mother church.
1t must be confessed that our church
building and its appointments are sadly
defective, and far behind the times. |
do not know whether ii is possible to
hurry along the building of the hew
church for which plans have, for some
time. been prepared But 1t seems to me
that now would he good time for the
lovers of this church to put their heads
and their hearts together, and erect
building worthy Of this congregation, and
worthy of our historic position in this
goodly city.
We have abundant reason, today, to
thank God for His goodness to this church
during the fifty years of its existence.
The fGthers and the mothers who planted
and nurtrred II. have left unto us Il good
ly heritage We remember. today, those
who loved it, and who labored, and
prayed. and gave literally for its well
fare, but who are ne longer with US. We
are thankful 20 God for their StalWart
pety and for their godly example. Be 1t
ours to follow them as they followed
| Christ What the future history OF this
church will disclose. is only known to
! Him who walketh amid the golden cam
dlesticks. but this we know. that love,
| and loyalty. ana self-saCrifice for Christ,
! and His church are the best of all invest
| mcntS: and We can do no act more pleas
| Ing to the Triune God. and to the King
| and Head of the church. than, here and
now. to pledge Him our hearts best love.
| and our loyal and devoted service. This
! pledge, sincerely made. and this pledge
! faithfully redeemed will keep this church
! strong, and It will insure for II n bright
and IA blessed future. With Gods gfti-
| cious favor bestowed upon the preaChiEg &
! OF the Gospel, and upon tie other means
of grace in connection with this church,
| we may be sure that it will always be a
| blessing to this city, and. that. under
| God. 1t will continue tC he potent in
| strumen; for the extension of the Re-
deemer's kirGdom.
| DIR. PARkES REM ARkS.
After the anthem There is City
| Great and Strong" in which Mr. Wat.
kins sang a solo. Rev. DR.. Parke gave
an interesting address. which was filled
| with "reminiscences. He spoke of thu
fact that while DIR. Mcleod represented
the present. he represented the past
| He was a pioneer in church work and
| came to Scranton when Lackawanna
| avenue was a log road. fenced on either
side with stumps. The pioneer band
that had laid the foundations of the
church and community had passed
away. That they had gone forever
brought, many thoughts of sadness, but
the church did not sorrow as without
hope.
DR.. Parke came to the valley in 1874
and with DR. Dorrance .labored as a mis-.
sionary in the townships of Pittston
Lackawanna and Providence. In al
this large district there was but one
church of twenty-eight members es.
tablished in 1912 by the Presbytery oi
Susquehanna. This part of the coun,
try had house of worship i'm Hyd,
Park, where a sect, the Christians, at
tended service There was also one il
Scranton controlled by the Methodists
but not used by them. In Pittston anC
Lackawanna townships there was M
church. although preaching by travel
ing missionaries and preachers wa!
sometimes noted but the early pio
neers made a mistake in building NJ
churches.
But there came To the valley a few
men and women to make Scranton thei
home. one who founded the beginnin.
of church work. They had left HON,
of churches and at once thought t.
continue their God-fearing manner o
life, The speaker continued with
remniscencc Of his first years here
when he lived at Taylor then "Ather
, ton" The organization of this churcl
was made in the odd Fellows hall il
!S4S, when Scranton was known a
, Harrison. with eighteen members
whose names appear in another column
In the fall of 1S49 Rev. j. ID. Mitchell
; was called as pastor. This church wa
independent from the first and neve
accented the least financial aid frou
either mission board or ministerial re
lief
OTHER DENOMIN ATTONS.
The various denominations represent
ed in that early church comprised Con
gregational, Moravian, Presbyterian
. Lutheran, German Reform, from Con
r necticut, New Jersey, Southern Penn
sylvanla, Germany and Scotland, an
+ all have worked together almost with
, out friction for fifty years.
I A beautiful tribute was then paid I
, ! Elder Charles Fuller, OF sanity mem
% ory than whom no better, nobler rep
n lesentativc OF the church has liVet
= Selden y. Scranton and his wife wit