The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-05-24

~ vast congregation filled the First
Presbyterian church last night to be
present at the ordination of one Of
the church's favorite sons. Both the
First and Second churches united in
tho service. The great attendance was
not due alone to church pride in send
ing forth a minister of God from its
membership, nor from the fact that
the prominence of the family thus dis
tinguished naturally attracted q large
circle of friends, hut that the nobility
of character and the splendid promise
of the young man himself have so
impressed the community that a more
than ordinary interest was felt in the
occasion.
Rev. Thomas F'rothingham Archibald
is the youngest son of Mr.. and Mrs
James Archibald, of this city. He is
endowed with q fine mind and has had
exceptional advantages of culture. His
scholarship at Yale gave him high
standing in the university and his ac-
tive religious life had a remarkable
influence upon his associates. The
past year spent in travel abroad has
added to his breadth OF thought and
feeling. His call to Cuba, N. Y, in
the Steuben Presbytery, is looked
upon as the beginning of a useful and
devoted clerical career. He will oc-
cupy that pulpit for the first time
as pastor June II. Next Sunday he
will Preach in the First Presbyterian
church.
THE SERVICES.
The services last night were of the
most impressive character. In the
~, % =, I L.,
the friends of his earliest childhood
who are the companions of his matur-
ity, he took the solemn VOWS in an
atmosphere charged with the hopes
and prayers of numberless hearts.
Midway down the left aisle were his
father and mother, with his fiance,
Miss Damn, of Buffalo. n. Y, Miss
Archibald, Misses Augusta and Ruth
Archibald. At the right were Judge
and Mrs. r. w. Archibald. while sew
eral other members of the family were
also present.
The moderator, Rev. S. G. Hodge,
d. D., of Tuhkhannock, offered the
invocation following the congrega-
tional singing Of the DuXology. Rev.
w. S. Sites, of Wyoming, read from
Hebrews ii. The choir composed of
Mrs. Keller, Miss Lydia Sailer, ]. r.
Watkins and David Stevens, with Miss
Richmond at the organ, rendered
Mendelssohn's "Tlow Lovely are the
Messengers" Rev. Charles Lee, of
Honesdale, offered prayer, after which
Rev. James Mcleod. d. D., delivered
the sermon. His text was from Ephe-
slams v:25. Christ also so loved the
church and gave himself for it,
The speaker opened the subject by
reference to the rodny discussions
arouslng the religious thought Of to-
day and spoke oc the claims of GER
tain Sects to the exclusive right OF
the name of "The Churcn." Presby-
terians, he said, were more sorry than
surprised at the diversity OF opinions
thus occaSioned. He defined the name
of the church according to the classic
idea of "ecclesia," and declared that
the application of the term to a place
of worship was never intended at the
beginning.
NOT THE BUILDING.
1t was the worshippers, not the build
ing, that constituted the church. There
Is nothing said in the New Testament
of high or low church of the Greek
Latin, Roman Catholic or Protestant
churches. The church of Christ is
higher, lower, broader, more Catholic,
more Protestant than some of the sects
would be willing to admit. There are
those who insist that rubics and
ecclesiastical millinery are necessary
adjuncts, the sine quo non of the
church. Such an attitude is not a credit
to this end of the century, if ever there
was an apology for it in the dark ages
The church's claim upon Christ is
recognized by him in the most en-.
dearing terms by which He called it,
"The Flock of God" "The Fold Of
Christ" "The Kings Daughter" 1.-THE
Spouse" "The Bride" "The Lambs
Wife," He said, Husbands, love your
wives, even as Christ also loved the
church and gave Himself for it," II
husbands did love their wives accord
ing to this injunction, the occupation
or the divorce court judges, like
Othello's, would be gone.
The strength in union with the
church is recognized as a great aid. II
is larger than sect or denomination.
Indeed, many whom sects might eX-
clude may belong to the true church.
and some of those found on our rolls
may perhaps never be numbered with
the church of the kingdom. But the
sinner who sincerely loves God will
gain entrance where, when love is alb
sent, the name will not be recorded in
the church invisible. The thief on the
cross was not admitted by any church
session, but that day he was with the
Lord in Paradise.