The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-31

The members of the congregation OF
the Green Ridge Baptist church now
have church home Of which they
may we'll be proud. The handsome
new church building on Monsey ave-
ntte. between Green Ridge and Marion
streets, was yesterday formally dedi-
Gated with appropriate services to the
worship of Almighty God.
The dedication services proper were
held in the morning, beginning at 1890
O'Clock, In the presence Of congre-
cation which completely filled the
bright and cheerful interior with its
subdued color scheme. A great pro-
fusion of palms, generously furnished
by Florist McClintock, were banked in
front of the pulpit platform and gar
lands of smilax were twined about the
front of the spacious choir gallery.
The dedicatory sermon was preached
by Rev. Dr. Warren G. Partridge, of
Cincinnati. o.. who found the theme
for most eloquent discourse in II
Cor. vii:9: For they kept the feast
OF the dedication of the altar seven
days" The prayer of conservation was
delivered by Rev. w. B. Grow, Of Car
bondale, who is eishty-tive years old,
but whose step is elastic and whose
voice is as powerful as lnanya younger
mans.
AFTERNOON EXERCISES.
In the afternoon there was a special
Sunday school session, attended by the
children of the Sunday school and a
large number of the older members Of
the congregation. Rev. Mr.. Grow gave
a most inspiring little talk, full of the
spirit of the Lord, and Rev. DR.. Rob-
ert f. Y. Pierce, pastor of the Penn
avenue church. gave one of his famous
chalk talks, illustrating gospel truths
with cleverand lightning-like sketches
The evening service was entirely in
charge of Rev. DR.. Partridge. who de-
livered. with his characteristic power
and force, a sermon based on Mat
thew. xii:12: 'How much is a man
better than a sheep" Ie spoke, in
part, as follows:
"Pantheism regards man as insignifi-
cant; materialism regards him as
part of nature and proclams that he
really belongs with the beasts. Among
many ancient notions, the individual
was almost a nonenity, but the state
was everything. The individual was
sacrificed for the state.
plato and Aristotle advocated the
killing of weak children and decrepit
old people by exposure. for the purpose
of ridding society and the state of n
useless burden. Christ, on the con-
tlary. taught that man is q being of
infinite Importance to God. 1t Is a
mystery to us why God estimates man
so highly.
He has the companionshipo angels.
arrhangels. the cherubim and seraphim.
These beautiful and intelligent heaven
ly beings are sinless. In their purity,
holiness and intelligence they are never
disobedient to God. They always serve,
please and obey their heavenly father.
God has also infinite sources of JOY
in Himself and in His universe. Yet
Jesus brought a strange and wonder
full truth to this world. Christ declared
that man was a being of infinite value
to the Almighty. The Greeks and
Romans believed that their gods and
goddesses dwelt on Mt. Olympus and
enjoyed each others society, taking
little interest in human beings In
their system it was necessary to pla-
cate the anger of the gods with sac
rifices.
VALUE OF MAN.
Christ emphasized the inestima BILE
value of the individual man. Redemp-
ton also reveals the worth of the in
dividual man. We would not let our
child risk it's life for a pet animal. God
would not permit His Son to suffer and
die for the beasts. If man is simply Il
brute he must perish like the animals.
God would not let His Son die upon the
cross for such a being. Calvary is
Gods estimate of mans value.
God also desires mans society for
eternity. Redeemed men are to have
glorified bodies and will resemble the
risen Christ.
"Christ also set high value on man
as personality. Why did Jesus
preach the gospel to the poor? He did
not consider poverty a virtue, but pow
erty represented man stripped of all
outward eXcellencies. We begin to be
interested in man when he has high !
birth. social position, political influence
or great riches. "A mere man is So
cial nobody The greatness of Jesus
appears by His ability to discover in |
the naked personality of mere man, ir- |
respective of wealth, birth. office or
position.
"Christ also valued man when de- |
void not only of possessions. but OF |
character. Christ loved the depraved |
because He saw in them latent spirit
ual powers
1.-The doctrine of immortality springs |
out of the dignity and worth of human
nature. The twentieth century church |
must do more for humanity, The street |
h1nn<a1 n ~