The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-11-27

pfesslVe ana highly Interesting sermon,
The church was filled to overlooking
long before the opening services and
presented pretty aspect, being decor
ated by committee from the lodge in
simple and attractive manner, the
decorations consisting entirely of
flags, which were profusely scattered
along the walls and choir loft, while
a large flag was attached to rfle top
of the auditorium and looped up di-
rectly over the seats occupied by the
visiting lodge men, who represented
over two-thirds of their membership.
The pulpit was enveloped with a large
flag, also, one of the chief emblems Of
the fraternity, for which Rev. Van
Cleft delivered his address.
Rev. Mr.. Van Clefts topic was "The
Dawn of New Era" and he took for
his text the words found in Ecclesias-
tes, seventh chapter and tenth verse:
SAY not thou what is the cause tina.
the former days were better than
these, for thou dost not inquire wisely
concerning this" Mr.. Van Cleft sail:
Ecclesiastes is wonderful book But
there seems to be a difference of opinion
regarding its authorship and the perioc
In which IL was written. As the author
calls himself the Son of David and the
King of Jerusalem most people believe
Solomon wrote it. Others think it must
have been written in a later period and
attribute 1t to IIezekiah, others to Isaiah
and others to Il still later period
The author styles himself "The Preach
err so it has been called Solomon's SER
mon. 1t is claimed he prepared it when
he was an old man and when he returned
to God after having been led into sin
~ 81 Flfr wiz IIs 1,1I t,,1
the world for years and now saw his folly
and said Vanity of vanties, all is van.
ity."
ARE ALL SET FORTH.
This seems to have been the text for
his most excellent sermon. The utter
insutliciency of the world to make us
happy; the vileneSS of sin and its cer>
tainty to make us miserable; the wisdom
of being religious; the solid comfort and
satisfaction that are to be had in doing
our duty to God and man are all set forth
in this most remarkable book.
But however men may differ about the
authorship and the principle of interpre-
tation it has generally been accorde0
the place 1t holds among the sacred
books of the Bible. Nor do they affect
either the character, Importance or utll-
ity of the book itself, AS DR.. Adam
Clarke said, at is a production of singu-
have of the wisdom of the ancients cX-
Cept the book of job"
In the text there seems to be a dia-
logue between the writer and what to-
day We call a pessimist This man, like
many others, evidently thought he had
been born too late in the worlds history.
HE looked around and saw nothing
but wickedness. He loo,cd backward
and saw nothing but goodness. Ad-
Vantages and opportunities were not as
great as in former times.
1t appears the tendency to paint the
past in glowing colors, is of ancient date
and it may be 1t 1t is n consequence
Of human nature tsclf. Job was not the
first nor the last who cried out "Oh that
I were as In months past" Probably
Jacob was in a similar mood of mind
when he heard Of SimOn's detention in
Tgvpt and of Judan's proposal to take
Ben 'lmin down thore. The old man who
wept at the foundation Of the second
temple certainly believed that the Gays
when the first temple was standing were
incomparably more respieudent than
those in which they lived.
There are politicians in whose opinion
the country was more happy and more
prosperous in former days than now;
That the statesmen We're more honest,
sincere and capable, that the judges were
more true and upright; that we had bet.
ter laws and they were better inter-
preted and enforced; that there were
Grants in those day, mon of great abil-
ity and unflinching integrity.
I believe there are as many Grants in
the world To-Day as there ever were.
ARE IN HIMSELF.
often the change for the worse is not
| in q mans surroundings but in himself
Leaving his youth and prime behind him
L.. lee l.
| power of mastery and of enjoyment, the
| times are wei enough but he himself
| is failing and he sees through eyes grow
| ing dim with years. But he recalls the
| days of his youth and paints the scenes
| and experiences of bygOne times in col
| ors supplied by fond deceptive fancy.
| With some this strong imaginative fac
| ulty rcpros sents to themselves & state Of
| the world ard a condition of society, q
| phase Of the church which never had a
| real existence. By figuring all prosper
| ity and happiness to have belonged to a
| past age they remove their fancies from
| the range of contradiction, All things
| to their vision become lustrous and fair
with the flight that never was on land
| or sea-"
If we look around us carefully we will
| find the present age as good, yea better
| than any which has preceded it. What
| a contrast in the methods of travel. A
| hundred years ago it took week or more
| to so to New York. Now we can reach
! the city in a few hours. 1t took six weeks
! to cross the Atlantic. Now we can cross
| II in as many days. Ii took nearly a
month to get an answer from Boston
! by mail for which they had to pay rs
| cents postage. Now you can receive it in
| twenty-four hours, Or you can call the
| party to the phone and talk with him in
a few moments.
The first religious newspaper published
| in this country was the Recorder" by
| Rev. John Andrews in 1914. The first
daily of the world was published in Lon-
don in 1903 and the first one in New
| York was the journal and Register" 4"
| I'm l7SS. 1t was not until 1910, twenty-five
years after it was started, before it could
| secure a circulation Of two thousand
| copies. What a change during the CEN
| tury. l think we are tending towards
| the era, for ii seems to be dawnng,
| which was predicted by the prophet,
| when nations shall learn war no more. "
| The peace congress recently held at The
| Hague call together by the car of the
| Russias is at least suggestive and pro-
| phetic. | had hoped we had reached the
age of peace before the British Boer or
our late Spanish-American war. But
while America drew the sword it was in
| the cause of freedom and for the up-
| pressed. Never before has the world
| witnessed such an exhibition as our ma
| ton gave when II declared war In the
| interests of a foreign but downtrodden
people, I thank God that our armies
| were successful.
] have no sympathy with the critics
who condemn this government for its
| position I'm the Philippincs | do NOT see