The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-10-17


ter than other people to be enlightened
on religious topics on a week night.
Rev. nr. F. NJ. North who spoke last
evening in Elm Park church in the in.
terests of city evangelization was
heard by a small audience, chiefly
made up of clergymen. although gem
eral notice had been given in the Meth
odist churches of the city
Rev. DIR. GifFin presided over the
meeting and made q brief Introductory
address. The church cuartette ac-
companied by Professor Pennington,
sang an anthem.
Dr. North is the corresponding secre-
tary of the National City Evengeliza-
tion Union. which was formed in Pitts
burg nine years ago, since which time
forty local unions in various cities
have been organized. The ninth con-
Vention will be held in Philadelphia
November 90 and "a. The discourse of
the evening was an ardent appeal for
mere home missionary work for de-
termined united effort az improving the
moral life in the cities 400 of which
have been built in the century. The
population in the cities is thirty per
cent of the whole. In 1920 there will
be ten million more people in the cities
than in the rural districts. Six per
cent of these people have no interest in
! the property which constitutes theiD
| homes. When thirty-two families live
in the same house. using the same front
door the same playground. the same
| coal cellar, the question of "meum and
| teum" becomes vital one.
| The people who have no part in own
ership in property in the great cities
are the ones who are presenting a prob
| lem to the moral life of the commun-
! ity. The speaker then said:
FINAL TEST OF GOVERNMENT.
Perhaps you know nothing of bosses
in Scranton, In New York they have
a boss. He is not responsible to any
one but himself. When he mods gov
ernment mods. He controls everything.
We often think the test Of democracy
is being made in the far off Philippines
or in Cuba, but the real and final test
of our government is in the cities. I'm
| less We can demonstrate that the city
Is equal to self contral unless we can
prove that the government is by the
people of the people and for the people
and is as powerful in cities as in the
nation the government of democracy
1
a certain form Of government is doing
in beautiful France as in our Anglo
Saxon cities. although Mr.. Dcoley has
given views of what an Anglo Saxon
is which may differ from those scner-
ally accepted but in the cities which
we call Anglo -SaXon-ttere is the test.
THE question is whether we feel that
we have any personal relations to this
matter.
THE isolation of the individual
church is q menace to it's success. It is
a fault of Methodism. There should be
more united effort. Methodism in a city
ought to be one with a common cause,
common motive. Concentration is
necessary. The work for the foreign
ers should be taken up by Methodists
In city like this. The advantage of
klndergartens among the Italians in
New York was commended and an
impassioned appeal was made for these
stranger peoples who are sent here not
as menace but by Gods order
The president Of this society, who
Is now in Japan, writes not to dis
courage foreign work, but from a sens
of what might be needed at home he
believes there is as great work in New
York city as lies before the missionary
in the heather lands. 1t is important
to build up great missions in the cities
and teach foreigners what American
religion is, to bring them up to noble
citizenship.
THOSE AT OUR DOOPS.
DR.. North closed his remarks by say
ing: Daily We see the thousand
with all kinds of beliefs and with AL
kinds of misconceptions of Chris s.ianitv
floating past our churches as IL nj
churches are there. What will the
master say to us if we neglect these
|, at our doors"
At the conclusion of the addr 4ss
Rev. w. G. Simpson pronoun ,ed thc
benediction, after which ]. G. Shep
herd presided over a meeting of pas
tors and official members. He stated
that a city union existed, but has moi
, yet done any practical work. DR.
, North was invited to give his adVlc,
as to future movements. He described
, some Of the plans pursued in variou!
; cities. Kipling's story of How tn,
r Ship Found ITSELF is the idea needed
for each church to realize that il /!
but a part of the whole The bJJ,
, of Methodsm finds itself" when {,
has something definite to do. Wort
, among foreigners, securing propert!
, where later on a church may be bull
as advance Of civilization demands
helping feeble churches, establishing