The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-12-17

Hoped For. -.
Seven years yesterday the "oigre-
cation of the old Adams Avenue Metho-
dist Episcopal church moved into the
magnificent architectural pile at the
corner of Jefferson avenue and Lin
den street, known as the Elm Park
church.
AS Is the annual custom one of the
former pastors was present yesterday
to join with the members of the large
congregation in celebrating the ami
versary. Rev. DR.. j. Il. Smith was the
clergyman present yesterday. He was
the pastor of the Adams Avenue church
several years ago and is now pastor 'f
the Mt. Vernon Methodist Eplscol Ill
church OF Baltimore.
He addressed two very large congre-
cations at the morning and evening
services and impressed everybody with
his wonderful eloquence. 1n- the even
ing he preached a most wonderful SER
mon of Faith" taking for his text
Epistle to the Hebrews, Xi. /: Now
faith Is the substance of things hoped
for" He spoke in part as follows:
DIR. SMITHS SERMON.
II sometimes liken the Bible to Il sort
of u gallery containing the buSts of the
| noble, of the heroic and of the chivalric
of all time. AS we walk through this
corridor we may pause ever anI anon
before the great ones whose lives were
lives Of toll and effort. We find that
history contains a record of their
deeds, but is silent as to the motive of
their efforts.
"The motive of their efforts may be
| found in faith as described in this
verse. History tells us Of the sire lrl
| of their lives; this verse tells us Of the
| spring which fed that stream. This
verse shows the nobleness and grand
eur of faith better than any other in
the Bible.
There has never been an heroic act
| unless behind it as a cause was an
| heroic faith. Faith is that which has
| sustained Christians in all ages and
| in every emergency. There is nothing
| easier than for men to sneer a. faith
| and speak of it as the essence Of the
intangible. If an act is impossible OF
absurd it is relegated by these skeptics
| to the realms of faith.
Faith is the most practical of all
| things. 1t brings harmony out of dis
| cord: it brings beauty out of deformi-
| ty: it wipes away the tears of the sor-
rowfu and gives inspiration to the de-
| feated: it lifts us to Il realization OF
| anticipated and promised enjoyments
There is no perfect happiness in
| this life. Whatever enioyments Of the
| now may be we are always looking
| forward to Il tomorrow on which We
| expected to find something rare and
| something sweeter to still the longing
of our restless hearts.
Il would call your attention TO the
uncertainty of earthly blessings. a
man thinks ofttimes that he has Sc
cured d sure footing on the slippery
slopes of fame: he reaches the top ant
just as he stretches forth his hand tc
clasp the golden prize. and just as tbs
word Eureka bursts from his lips, he
finds that he Is standing not on zoe!
| but upon the sands and he falls dowr
to the bottom. to start once more.
WHAT WITHOUT FAITH.
What would the world do without
faith: 1t is the only power that lifts
a man again to his feet and inspires
him to go onward to the goal again.
Faith is the wonderful power thai
| goes before the realization of an OBJ
ject. The primary definition of the
word is something that keeps another
thing from falling. How vast and great
| is the need of Il power that will keel
us from falling every day of our lives
There is no man who never feels the
danger of surrendering to despair.
1T was faith that made Morse p"r.
severe for years and sink his last dolla,
in his electric telegraph, until finally
success was his and the words 'Wha,
| hath God wrought We're flashed over
the wires across the country. 1t was
| faith that upheld Columbus for thos,
eighteen months, as he joulneyed from
court to court. seeking in vain to in
! terest sovereigns in his idea of a west.
ern world. 1t was faith that sustained
| him in his little cookie she!! of a boa,
with a mutinous crew, until al last ht
planted the flag of Spain on the islant
of San Domingo.
| Look at the faith that dwelt in the
soul of job. that matchless and superb
man gentle in spirit and tender o
heart, before whom the young Nor
stood up and in whose presence the ole
men We're silent. When the clouds
gathered and his house was over
turned; when his cattle We're stolen
when his children We're slain; when his
servants fled. and when he was lef
alone, what was it he said: Though
He Slay me- yet will | trust him.
SEEKING THE STONE.
"rhe world has long been seeking the
philosophers stone, one touch of which
would turn all things into gold. If The
| philosophers stone were found and Il
Alladins lamp, which we all reac
about in childhood days. was IA reality