The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-02-28

Those Who Discussed His Address.
Programme for Today.
The opening meeting of the one hun
dred and fitiy-second session of the
Wyoming District Ministerial associa-
tion was held in Simpson Methodist
Episcopal church, West Scranton, last
evening. Rev. Austin Griffin, II. D.,
presiding elder of the district presided,
and Rev. Frank w. Young, secretary
was also present.
The devotional exercises We're in
charge Of Rev. William Edgar, Of the
Providence Methodist Episcopal church,
who responded to the duties in the abb
sence OF Rev. Will II. Hitler, the regu-
larly assigned speaker.
The Simpson male quartette, cont
posed of w. w. Jones, first tenor; Thos.
Abrams. second tenor; Harry Wrigley
first bass, and win Whitman, second
bass, sang a selection, with Miss Grace
ACker as aCcompanist.
Rev. II. II. Wilbur, who was assigned
at the last meeting to make the asso~
citation address, had previously notified
the presiding elder that he could not
attend and the alternate, Rev. John
Bradshaw, of Pittston, acceptably filled
his place, taking for his topic, why :
am a Methodist"
In the course of his remarks Rev
Bradshaw referred to the origin of
Methodism in the days of John Wesley,
and said there is a great analogy be-
tween the Christian church and .the
Methodist church. He spoke of the
methods of the church regarding bap-
tism, and referred to the immersion OF
infants, which was begun long before
Methodism was known. For twelve
hundred years not a word was spoken
against infant baptism and there is
nothing now in Methodism against it.
Immersion, sprinklng or baptism is
| done according to the wishes of the
individual.
WHAT HE BELIEVES.
He believes the ministers of today
should preach the grand old doctrines
that our foreiathers preached; that the
soul must be born again and there
ought to be plenty of reference to hell
fire and Satan, as there cannot be any
heaven without a he'll no more than a
peacc-loving community can get along
without jail. The need of the Chris
tian church is not so much new mem
| bers, but the divine Amounting among
| those now in the church.
Rev. Mr.. Bradshaw referred to tho
| bishops, elders, deacons, ministers and
| members Of the church and said he
| liked Mcthodism for their revival meet
| ings and the care they take of the
children in the Sunday schools. He
| liked the educational interests of the
church, and said it is easier for young
| men and women to obtain an eduCa-
| tion through the Methodist church than
| in any other church, and he repudiated
| the statement that the Methodist
church did not believe in education.
'rhc speaker also believed in theiI
attitude on the slave question and thu
intemperance question, and referred t,
their loyalty to the flag. When tn.
| ministers of the church and the mem.
bers Of the congregation entered the
| service of the United States they were
found loyal and patriotic and stood by
the Union. lie pointed with pride e
these facts, but wanted TO irrpress hi,
hearers with the fact that there was
the Methodists, and closed with the
expressed wish that they would Away!
be fOunG true to the cause.
After the singing Of the hymn d"
| Love Thy Church. Q God" Rev. DR.
Griffin stated that it was customalN
for the ministers TO criticize the ad
dress and in consequence of this called
upon the members of the associa tloi
to express their views on the suhiecc
Rev. William Edgar, Rev. James Ben
ninger and Rev. DIR. Griffin spok,
briefly and the session was closed Will
the rendition of The Savior Calls" b,
the quartette.
CLERGYMEN PRESENT.
Among the members of the assoc'a
ton present last evening We're motto aC
the following: Rev. ]. f. Warner. .
Wilkes-Barre Rev. Philip Houck, o
West Nanticoke; Rev. f. d. Cornell
Of Lackawanna: Rev. j. *. Peck, o
Kingston; Rev. j. r. Wagner, OF Lu
2erne; Rev. Frank Youngs, of Clark
Green; Rev. John Bradshaw, of Pitts
ton; Rev. n. j. Hawley. of AsKam
Rev. q. II. Price, of Dallas; Rev. ].
w. karschner, of Yatesville: Rev. {
B. Henry, Of Anderson; Rev. j. NJ
Jones, of Yatesville; Rev. Rogers, o
Brooklyn; Rev. Crandall of Kingston
Rev. j. B. Sweet. Of Simpson church
Rev. James Benninger, of Hampto
street church; Rev Joseph Madison, 0
Green Ridge; Rev. A. f. Ghaffce, 0
Asbury church: Rev. +. l.. Dory. o
Cedar avenue church; Rev. VI. g. Har
ned and Rev. Austin Griffin, Of thi
city. Rev. L. e. Sanford, of LAX
Ariel, Of the Honesdale district wer
also present.
This mornings session will open =
Q o'clock. Devotional exercises will h
led by Rev. A. Wrigley and the regu
lar business meeting will follow.
symposium on MethOdism will be hel
and the past, present and future wi
be discussed by Rev. n. J. HAVE,
Rev, c. b. Henry and Rev. l.. T. Va
Hoesen. The discussion following wi
| be led by Rev. c. NJ. GifIin.
The ladies Of the church will serv
dinner in the lecture room at the moo
: hour and the Epworth league will plc
! | vide luncheon at 6 o'clock.
p The afternoon and evening session
will be devoted to the reports of pa.
tors, reading Of essays, praise and dt
? | votional exercises, and an address Il
5 Rev. j. f. Warner at p. m. TT
} public are cordially invited to all III
, sessions.