The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-01-28

Mr.. Fellows was for several years
! prosperous business man, and only
gave UP business life and entered
Young Mems Christian association
work because of "A peculiar fitness for
such work revealed in his connection
with a western association as mem
Der of the board Of directors. The pro-
gramme is as follows:
Overture, "Choralc" unconditional
Association Orchestra.
Anthem, Brightest of the Sons Buck
Quartette and Chorus Choir of the Sec
ond Presbyterian Church.
Hymn 201, Coronation" ..........Pcrronet
Orchestra, Audience and Chorus.
Anthem, "Crossing the Bar ..SchnecNer
With Violin Obligato. by Mr. Fred II.
Wldmayer.
Scripture and Prayer.
Address
w. d. Fellows, of Fall River, Mass
Anthem, seek Ye the Lord" ....Roberts
Ouartette and Chorus Choir.
J. NJ. Chance has arranged the fol-
lowing for the evening service in the
Second Presbyterian church:
Organ Prelude .Schuman
Anthem Seek Ye the Lord" Roberts
Mr.. Beyron and Choir
Offertory Quartette softly Now the
Light of Day Bartlett
Misses Black and Garagan.
Messrs. Beynon and Morgan.
organ Postlude .......................''Ba
The proposition made by several
prominent clergymen and laymen in
terested in church work that confer
ence of religions be established in New
York state appears to have met with
wide approval. The committee having
charge of the preliminary invitations
consist of the Rev. DR.. James NJ. Will
ton, editor of the Outlook: the Rev.
DIR. Leighton Williams, of the Amity
Baptist church; the Rev. Dr. X. Heher
Newton, of All Souls church, the Rev.
Samuel T. Carter. editor of the Church
Union and the Rev. Dr. w c. Jannett
of Rochester, n. Y. Representatives
pf all denominations have been asked
10 offer suggestions for meeting and
TO attend it and take an active part
in the discussion of religious subjects.
AS now planned, a biennial conference
will be held in New York city. In it's
I Aletter concerning the project, the COM
Rnittee says: "If liberation in religion
S the best fruit of the last four CEN
turies, should not the beginning of the
twentieth century mark an advance to
Ia still noble position, that of reciprocal
4 tion in religion and of interrelgiOus co.
operation, the attitude of men OPEN
minded, spiritual and loving enough to
acknowledge that there is truth to be
learned from as well as truth to be
offered to neighbors, and that a great
deal of good now undone in the world
waits for the hour when the churches
ball join hands in a new brotherhood?
bhe immediate organic unity of the
fhurches is impossible, however desir-
hble, but could they not set the eX-
ample of good will and good deed re-
'lations. instead of continuing the long
lasting, historic example of indifference
and even hostility to each other?"
The Longswamp Reformed church.
near Mertztown, Pa, recently Cele-
brated its sesqui-centennial, when spe-
cial services We're held under the direc-
ton of the pastor. the Rev. Nevin w.
Helfrich. An interesting fact in con-
nection with this church is that for
more than one hundred years Hell
frichs have been it's pastors The first
was appointed in 1774, when the pas
tor, the Rev. Jacob Michael went off
to fight in the Revolutionary army. In
the latter part of the last century. the
Rev. j. Henry Helfrich was appointed
to the charge ana retained the place
until 1910, when his death occurred In
'Sl5 the Rev. john Helfrich, a son of
the deceased, was made pastor and
served for thirty-five years, when he
was succeeded by a son, who in turn
was succeeded by a son. the present
pastor. In 1890 it was decided to build
a new church. but dissensions arose.
The members divided into different
factions, each faction desiring the
church built where its members thought
best. The pastor was q diplomat. and
suggested that the old German way of
voting be used. each man to throw his
hat where he desired the church built.
and wherever the most hats fell there
it was to be built. This was accepted,
and on a certain day all the members
gathered and the great hat throwing
contest began. Hats fell in every direc-
ton. All the hats We're counted, and
II was found that the western corner
had the most hats gathered on it, and
there the church was erected in per-
feet amity.
In his interesting and important re-
port on conditions in Porto Rico, Father
H. HoiiViiiicAil say y lidL the state
of religion on the island is very un-
satisfactory. Though every town of any
size has a large and fine church, the
services are very poorly attended.
With few exceptions the inhabitants
~ 'are Roman Catholics but very few OF
4 the men are more than Roman Catho-
/ lie in name. The extent of their Catho-
licism appears TO be baptism, marriage
and burial by a priest. The Roman
Catholic church has been 80 united
with the state and so identified with it
In the eyes of the people, that it must
share the "odium with which the Span
ish rule is commonly regarded" The
sacrament of confirmation has not been
administered in many years in a great
part Of the island. Father Sherman's
look into the future is far from being
q happy one. 1T would seem," says
he, that change in the ecclesiastical
system was too sudden, causing a kind
of paralysis and CONSERVATION among
n a body of men accustomed to lean on
u the government and find i'm it their
normal means of support. Religion is
dead on the island. Whether it can be
revived as living influence is highly
problematical"