The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-11


In the perfection of details looking to-
ward the future it is unsurpassed by
any in the country. The good it may
accomplish no one can foretell.
The formal presentation and bene-
diction of the building We're celebrated
yesterday morning in the presence of a
concourse of clergymen, parishioners
and guests. The exercises of the day
began at : a. IN. with Holy Commun-
ion. At 1890 the auditorium presented
q beautiful appearance. The stage,
whose fittings had been delayed in ar
rivqI was lavlshly decorated with
nalms and blossoming plants, and the
rosy gleam of the footlights cast
warm glow over the white robes of the
clergy and choir. a feature of the au-
ditorium was the large opening at the
left of the stage, permitting the organ
to be used with as excellent effect as
for the church service.
OPENING ADDRESS.
After the Professional and the COL
Iects and Graces. Rev. Rogers Israel
gave the opening address, in which he
spoke of the realization of long
cherished dream in the completion of
the Parish house. After a brief allu-
sion to similar buildings of the past
from the accessories of Solomon's Tenn
pie and the monasteries and converts
of the middle ages to modern day con-
structions, he proceeded to give de-
scription of St Luke's Parish house
and it's admirable adaptabilities to
practical work.
In conclusion he paid an eloquent
tribute to Mrs. Mary Throop Phelps in
her great generosity asking Gods
blessing on her, on the vestry in COM
ing TO the aid of the work and upon
all the parish.
Conrad Schroeder, the master build
er. was then introduced and made
graceful little speech of presentation
of the completed structure to the ar
chitect. +. l.. Brown. The latter. in an
address. spoke Of the long struggle to
secure funds for the building and of
the great rejoicing when Mrs. Phelps
gift was announced, and in a formal
approval of the building paid grace
full compliment to Mr.. Schroeder who.
he said. had done even more than was
expected Of him. The house was then
formally presented to the church by
Everett Warren, esq, representing
Mrs. Phelps.
Mr.. Warren made brilliant address
in which he spoke of the evolution OF
the parish To it's modern condition.
The changes in the church edifice Were
recounted from its removal from Penn
avenue, the building of the present edi-
flee, when Mr.. Marple was rector the
cOmpletion Of the tower and the reduC-
ton of the debt under Mr. Pendleton;
the interior decoration, the payment or
the debt the conservation Of the church
and the construction of the new rec
tory under Dr. SwentZel.
THE PRESENT PASTOR.
For our present rector, whose indc-
fatigable efforts with heart and soul
and hodv," said Mr.. Warren, "for the
upbuilding OF our parish along spirit
ual and temporal lines, have endeared
him to every worshipper, it has been
reserved to see the complete plant. the
church, the rectory, the parish house.
We had to become gypsies, in part, and
the announcement of meetings at the
parish house. so-called, at a sunday
service in a period of few years COW
cred locations in almost every street
in the central city
He then spoke earnestly Of the noble
gift Of Mrs. Phelps and of the fitting
memorial to Dr. and Mrs. b. II. Throop
who had been so closely associated
with the parish from its earliest days,
aud related the history of the new
building, of the visits of Mr.. Wolfe
and the architect 10 New York parish
houses to secure the latest ideas. In
conclusion he expressed the hope that
God may spare Mrs. Phelps many
years to see how great a work she has
wrought.
Mr.. Warren then presented the key
which was elaborate in design, mod
ellod in gilt and containing on the OBJ
verse the emblem of st. Lukes, on the
reverse a portion of the inscription
which is continued on ribbcn about
the stem.
Junior Warden \. u. Holland re-
spondcd for the parish. His address
was valuable in a historical sense and
was cOuched in graceful terms. In
part, he said:
"The parish house, with its new and
larger ideas has come to stay, because
the cid church recognizes her duty to
her children and the truth that there
is q time to laugh, as well as a time to
weep, a time TO play as we'll as Il time
10 work Here, if you please, is a club
house ?or the we'll behaved men, wo-
men and children, who may care 10
avail themselves of its privileges and
all under the blessed influence of the
Christian religion"
DIR. THROOP EULOGIZED.
Mr., Holland then spoke in eulogistic
terms of DR.. Throop who, he said, was
for more than half a century the most
widely known man in the city, When
the old st. I.uke's church was aban-
doned he bought the property, paying
for it a higher price than could be Sc
cured elsewhere at that time and con-
| vcrted it into a free hospital for acci-
! dent and emergency cases, a charity
| of which Scranton had long been in
| need.
| It's necessity was so soon manifest
| that DR., Throop did not have to stand
alone in its support. Among his CO.
/ workers were the late Joseph II.
! Scranton, Thomas Dickson, e. c. Full
! Ter, Theodore Il. Hunt, w. F. Hallstead,
| w. K. Storrs and Hon. Z. n. Willard.
After the destruction of the church by
| fire the present site of the Lackawan-
| ma hospital was secured, the original
building forming a part of the present
| group.