The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-02-10

the members of his own congrega-
ton fully appreciate the remark
u able gifts which Rev. DR.. G. NJ.
Gifin, pastor of Elm Park church.
possesses. The people hear him sun
day after Sunday. The evening SER
vice is attended by vast thronss not
there in the morning. They listen with
the utmost interest and go away To
talk about his address during the week.
hut they have all grown SO accustomed
to the brilliant flashes of thought. the
keen. analytical judgment, the richness
of mind that they scarcely realize what
a marvellous intellect is the heritage of
this clergyman. His Sunday morning
sermons are models of spiritual help
fulness. The satisfying faith. the
originality of view, the transcendant
genius which illumines these discourses
make them not alone a mental feast.
but powerful incentive toward reach
ing the happy optimistic plane upon
which he dwels.
Dr. Gifn's evening addresses par
take more of the lecture form and are
intensely interesting. The swiftness
of his thought, the cleverness of his
comparisons and the endless resources
Of his logic are sometimes almost start
ling, and, in short. his versatility and
directness of application battles a lucid
explanation of his methods. and yet
he is in no sense n sensational preach
or. If he We're pastor of a great city
church, as he might be whenever it
pleased him to accept such a call, he
would be the man to whom the masses
would flock. and not alone. for with
them would go the most cultured and
exclusive. for he has a message for
each. That more universal sentiment
Is not openly expressed in concurrence
with these comments Is because of the
characteristic unresnonsiveness OF
Scranton people. In their religion. as in
everything else, they are not given to
active demonstrations.
The central city pulpits are all filled
with men of uncommon ability. DR..
McLeod's forceful, deep and earnest
exposition of Sacred Writ would make
a noble impression upon any intelli-
gent congregation. and that he is ap-
preciated by his people is incontrovert
ible. Rev. Rogers 1srael's deep spirit
uality and impassioned haste to bring
souls into the kingdom are almost like
a divine endowment. Rev. DR.. r. +.
Y. Pierce has a gift of language that
In itself aside from his earnestness of
purpose, would attract thronSs wher-
ever ne might be. Rev. DR.. C. +.
Robinson. with his scholarly attain
ments. has soul of such purity and
a heart that it so touched by the in
firmities of the great, sad world that
he is given rare power with the people
of every class. Rev. Mr.. Alrich with
his intensity of religious fervor and
exceptional ability in gospel preach
ing wields wide influence beyond his
little flock. The same can be said of
the Lutheran and other clergymen.
We have all heard these men speak.
Perhaps now and then a member Of
the congregation says to the p,stor:
"You did well this day. The sermon
helped me-" But why do we not say
this oftener and why do we not go to
others outside of the church and speak
proudly Of the man who is striving
with all his might to make us better
men and women? Why do we not Of
toncr sound the praises of these bril-
liant. capable pastors Of ours, who are
the laborer, who may sit in the back
pew and who slips quietly out Of
church after the sermon? We could
make our ministers and our churches
popular if we praised them and boasted
of their worth as we sound the tocsin
for our business interests, our friends
popularity, our charitable fads.
ReNivals and evangelists. according
tn the popular acceptance of the term
are not in especial favor in this COM
munity Quietly and. with unheralded
eifects the work of the Old-time revi-
Nalist is being done by the pastors
AS was remarked in Elm Park church
on Sunday last If after a revival of four
or five weeks duration. twenty con-
Nerts had been recorded, the fact would
have been sounded abroad in all the
church papers. and it would have been
considered an indication of signal Pen
tccostal grace, but twenty persons pre-
scnted themselves at the altar on that
day as candidates for admission to the
church on probation and otherwise, but
hothing was said about the matter as
1t is an ordinary occurrence for the
first Sunday in the month.
The Worlds Student Christian Fsd
Grafton has appointed February IL as
IA special day of prayer for students
This organization includes 300 stu.
dent societies, with q membership OF
over 5000 students and professors in
America. Great Britain, Canada,
Europe. Africa, India. Ceylon. Japan.
China and other lands. A convention
OF this student federation is to he held
in France in the summer of 1900 The
past year has seen marked progress
in the Christian work and influence in
the institutions of learning. Sunday
will be observed as day of praise for
the number of students who have ac-
cepted Christ, for the increased inter-
est in Bible study. and for the
strengthening of the bonds uniting
students of all races and lands; and
as a day of supplcation for continue 4
and greater interest in the work Of
bringing students to Christ who shall
devote their lives to His service.
The plans are now being formed
for a great state convention OF
Methodists, layn,en and clergy
men. to be held in October next
4; for the purpose OF considering
the interests OF the denomination with
in the lines of Pennsylvania. The
proposition, in which thousands of
<Methodists throughout Pennsylvania
are deeply interested. is now going the
rounds of the various preachers meat
ines, and will also ne submilted to the