The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-04-23
THE FAMINE in INDIA.
Stirring Sermon Delivered by Rev.
r. F. Y. Pierce, D. D., in Penn
Avenue Baptist Church.

There We're probably 1,200 persons in
the Penn Avenue Baptist church last
night at the special services held, t.
raise funds for the starving people of
India. Rev. r. f. Y. Pierce spoke
upon the subject of "Help for the
Starving Millions. or Humanity's Cry
and Americas Answer"
He called the attention of his hearers
to the terrible state of affairs existing,
by narrating a few instances of the
horrible conditions prevailing. Food
is 50 scarce" he said. that parents
eat their own children.
Returning missionaries tell of one
instance, where a father and mother
We're starving together with their
children. The father imprisoned two
of the children in a cage, he construct
ed and then boiled and ate the other
child. The mother for mothers are
the same in India as they are here,
could not eat of the horrible repast,
and the children We're at last rescued.
Think of it, my friends, women SELL
ing their children for thirty cents, at
the very highest, think of girls being
sold to Mahommedans for four cents,
and God Almighty knows what Ma
hommedans do with girls"
Lawrence's orchestra was in attend
ance at the services and rendered two
sacred selections. The singing of the
choir was magnificent, and Mrs. Frank
Brundo ge sang Home, Sweet Home"
in manner which went to the hearts
of everyone present. At the conClu-
sion of the services ar offering for
those rerishing in India was taken, a
very large sum being contributed. In
the course of his sermon Rev. Pierce
said in part:
when we stand at the judgment
seat and are called to account for our
earthly doings, we will be confronted
with tho hundreds of thousands who
have died clamoring for bread. Will it
| do us any good to cry Lord, they were
but heather, benighted beathen. living
| far away from us?' No! We will be
| asked, Were they flesh and blood
| Were they fashioned in thy form
| Could they speak, could they live could
| they die
Our every act is watched over by
an angel and all these deeds, which we
ourselves forget are recorded above
! All, how most OF us would like to go to
| Palestine. to the Holy Land. and see
the sacred spots and places made holy
by the presence of the Redeemer. But
the loliest land is not Palestine. 1t is
where we ourselves are. We too can
hallow tire soil where we stand by
| Christ-liSe services for humanity. Now
! heartrcnding cries are coming to us
from India, where sixty millions Of
people are starving, where at least onf
! mil NJ he
the next harvest time, unless speedy
aid comes.
MY friends. two cents will save z
life for one day and one dollar viii
be the means of saving some poor un,
fortunate for over a month.
These famines and great misfor
tunes are nothing new, 1t does no
seem So long ago tC me that this LAND
rang with the news that Chicago wa!
on fire, | will never forget the Char
lestown earthquake, and the time no
long since when a dam burst, and thu
news of the Johnstown flood sent 1
thrill to the hearts of the people o
this great nation.
THE famine in Ireland and that II
Russia are still fresh in your minds
my friends, and the aid sent both o
those suffering countries was a promp
and noble response to the call of suf
fering humanity.
1T ie both a Christian and a patriot
ic duty 10 send aid to the starving
people of India. Christians, for man!
of them have adopted the true faith
and for so doing nave been ostracize,
by their brethren, patriotic because W
stand before the world in a glitterinl
light. as it seems that God Almight.
has destined this country to be tn
granary of the whole world, and of on
abundance we surely should send som
to our starving brothers in India.
II hope that in the near future
mighty feet will leave this countr
bearing aid and succor to India
shores, end joining ith the Englis
vessels, the standards of the Unite
States and OF Great Britain will in
twine III the great work OF aiding
starving people,"