The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-06-10
RELIGIOUS.

"The Romance of a Ring might very
propery designate the reading OF an
interesting chapter in the written MS
tory of the Presbyterian general as
sembly in session for eleven days IN
one Of the most beautiful cities % our
northwest, Minneapolis. The second
Thursday of the assembly was 4 field
day for foreign missions. Rev. pr
Harris, of Indiana, read the annual
report of foreign missions, whlch,
aboundlng as IL did. with suggestive
and encouraging figures, dares, pa
thetic incidents of anXleties. sacrifices
and achievements verify thrilled not
only the 635 commissioners, but a
thousand people besides wno wore pre-
S ssnt ana wfo crowded all available
space in the large auditorium Of West
minister church.
The report was followed by an elo-
quent and stirring speech by the secre-
tary of the board, Rev. DIR. Arthur
Brown. of New York. He revealed
the fact that thirty choice young men,
and women had been commissioned by
the board for foreign fields, but had
been waiting ere they could be sent
TO work, for the funds with which to
maintain them. Could not this assem-
bly, provide the money with which one
of the young men could be sent at once
to India? 1t appears that such an ap-
peal of words. of opportunity, of need,
could not be resisted. Indeed, was 1t
not the unmistakable voice, not only
of a providential circumstance, but of
n providential emergency? A willing
offering toward a fund with which
to send to Japan Rev. Mr.. Harris, of
the last class of Princeton Theological
seminary. was taken.
And now comes the romance. In the
congregation was young lady of re-
fined New England family and educat-
ed in the east, as the collection plate
came near she whispered TO a friend
next: II have no money to give, |
must give something" and with these
words she removed a plain gold ring,
the only one she wore, and quietly, un-
ostentatiously, laid it on the Masters
plate for His use.
The ring attracted no little attention
and was made the center of dramatic
scene on the following day, when an
address was made in which the speak
er said: This is worth more than
the s23 at which it is appraised. Will
not the people present redeem 1t for
its real value. The ministerial and
lay commissioners one after another
advanced to the altar and heaped upon
the moderator's table their gold and
silver and bank notes to the amount
of 1915. This offering added to the
former sum, made nearly 5000. The
whole amount was by no means fabu-
lous, it was by no means large enough
to boast of. The gift Of 5000 by the
assembly was hardly as much as
the gift of the ring by the young lady
missionary. but as a Romance of a
Ring" it altogether breathes a sweet
and refining and gladstone fragrance
and surely is worthy Of a place in the
voluminous records of Christian sacri-
flee and giving entitled "She hath done
what she could"
All who attended the X. of p. Mem
orial service at the opera house Sun
day afternoon were delighted with the
excellent sermon of the Rev. L. r
Lewis, pastor of the Congregational
church. 1t was an ideal Pythian dis
course, showing thought and research
He brought out and made clear many
facts of the Pythagorean period that
were not fully understood by the X. OF
p here. Mr.. Lewis is a clear thinker
and a logical reasoner. His many
social qualities have endeared him tC
the people of Shawnee.-The Shawnee
Journal, June 2, 1899. Mr.. Lewis was
formerly a resident of this city and
resided at 1927 Academy street.
Right Rev. Bishop Hoban will bless
an addition to St. Mary's cemetery
in Wilkes Barre this afternoon. or
Sunday morning he will administer
confirmation to a large class of chill
dren in the church in Georgetown, o
which Rev. F. p. McNally is pastor
On Sunday afternoon he will lay tht
corner stone of the new Church Of the
Immaculate Conception in Taylor, Rev
j. A. Moffitt, pastor.
The following programme of musi,
will be rendered in the Second Pres
byterian church Sunday evening:
Organ prelude.
The Day Is Ended" d"...........Ba Bartlett
(Alto solo and quartette. with violi
Obligatory
'"rhe Homeland" .............S .Stebbin
Organ postlude.
Sunday service In the Young wo
mems Christian association at "a
p. m. Mrs. Lowry will lead the ser
vice in the North Scranton branch
2O4S North Main avenue at 345 D. N
Service in the West Scranton brancl