The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-10

The Methodist ministers held their
first meeting of the year in the Ep-
worth League rooms Of Elm Park
church yesterday morning. Rev. Joseph
Madison presided. Among those pres
ent were Presiding Elder Austin Grif.
fin, Revs. Van cleft, Sweet, Horns, j.
G.. Smith Joseph Bennirger J. Race,
William Edgar A. +. Chaflee, j. NJ.
Howell s. Guy Snowden, William
Frisby, II. q. Harmed. f. r. Doty, q.
c. Lyman. T.. l.. Santee, l. NJ. Worley.
Rev. DR.. Y. G. Smith offered prayer
and Presiding Elder Austin Griffin
gave the address of the morning on
THE outlook of Mcthodsm in the
Wyoming District" He spoke of his
intense interest i'm the success of the
work and the comfort Of the workers
on the Wyoming District. He deplored
the restlessncS9 evident among both
pastors and people and believed that
the machinery should move with
noiselessross and with little or no
friction
In too man! cases the people have
been brought into the church by alb
normal methods, and these persons are
frequently not in sympathy with
Methudistic teachings. Tie regarded it
impossible to work on in the polity Of
the church without beneath it all
genuine Methodist experience" in pull
pit and pew.
The dignity and responsibility that
come to the Methodist minister should
be more appreciated. I'm Christ's
stead" should be ever in the preach
| ers thought. Thus shall he he held
| from STOPPING to methods. out of har-
mony with Methodism. \ clearer con-
! ception of this supreme responsibility
| should Ne cultivated The class meet
| ing is now too often regarded as an an
| tiquatcd means of grace
\ METHODIST CLAIM.
Methodist ministers claim pre-emin-
| emily that they are called of God to
| the work. Thus there is no excuse for
| them to lie lukewarm in service. The
| speaker then referred to the chaling
! which seems to exist with regard to
the itineranCy. In this veXed question
he also held that a definite Chrstian's
experience will be a queting influence
He then spoke of revival meetings
| and spoke in favor of the evident ten
dency to call in the churches to the
! aid of the pastors, but not to invite
| other helpers from outside He advised
| that until the modern methods Were
| found to entirely surpass the old in
! results to not discard thosc-which had
| made the church great. He was IL
| favor of insisting that the Epwortl
LeaguoTs duty did not end with at
tending the half past six meeting ur
| sunday evening, but that earnest sup.
port of the regular service and thu
prayer and class meetings should be
expected. In conclusion he argued NOR,
entire conservation.
| 4 discussion followed in which Revs
| Chaffee. Santee and Harmed partici
pated, the latter uttered u caution re
| garding the danger of the church il
becoming too gilt-edged and $50 nice
| Rev. DR.. Griffin was thanked for hi
address and he read a communication
from James Shepherd asking for 60
operation to effect a Methodist Uniol
in the city Monday evening. Januar.
80, was fixed as the date. when com
mttees from the quarterly conference
will meet in Elm Park church.
At the next minister's meeting Rev
q. \. Place of Carhondale will fur
nish the paper of the morning.