The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-06-23

torium of that building. The two former
pastors of the church, Rev. w. b. wal
Ter and Rev. N. +. Stahl, were present,
and many pleasant friendships of years
gone by were renewed.
Seated upon the stage, when the
evenings programme was opened, were
Rev. w. b. Waller, Rev. n. F. Stahl,
Rev. l. j. Lansing, d. D., the present
pastor of the church; Rev. w. j. Ford,
pastor of the Green Ridge Baptist
church, Rev. Francis Bateman, rector
of the Church of the Good Shepherd;
Rev. w. G.. Simpson, pastor of the AS
bury Methodist Episcopal church, and
A. w. Dickson, of the First Presby-
terian church.
After an organ prelude and Scrip
ture reading by Rev. l.. r. Foster, DR..
Lansing's assistant, most stirring
anthem, Praise Ye the Father" was
sung by the church choir, under the
leadership of George f. Whittemore.
Rev. DIR. Lansing then gave few In
formal words of greeting and intro
duced the pastors of the sister churches
of Green Ridge, who came to show
their brotherly feeling and to extend
the best wishes of their respective con-
gregations to the Presbyterian flock.
THE FIRST SPEAKER.
Rev. Mr.. Ford was the first speaker,
and he emphasized the fact that the
Green Ridge Presbyterian church was
a power for righteousness not only in
this city, but all down the valley. ut
has realized" he said, what should
be the ideal of every evangelical
church, a spiritual membership"
He was followed by Rev. Mr.. Simp-
son. who, after extending the we'll
wishes of the Asbury Methodist Epis-
copal church, especially praised the
philanthropic movements which have
originated in the church. He hopea
that the future years would see the
people of the two churches nearer in
congregational sympathy than they
have ever been before,
Rev. Mr.. Bateman, of the Episcopal
church, followed. He spoke briefly, but
his remarks were tinged with good
cheer and encouragement. He ex-
planned that he spoke especially out or
the fullness of his heart, as the Church
of the Good Shepherd, of which he is
now the rector was the first church
home of the Presbyterian congrega-
tion.
A. W. Dickson, of the First Presby-
terian church. who was the clerk of
the committee which organized the
Green Ridge church, and who has ac-
cordingly a great personal interest in
fits welfare was the next speaker. He
extended TO the congregation the best
wishes of the First church session, of
which the Green Ridge church is really
a daughter.
He spoke of the fact that the twenty
been in existence have been years of
harmony, and also told of the personal
experience he has had of the delightful
social life of the church and it's intense
. missionary spirit 1T is doing more
than its share" said he, "to reform the
city of Scranton"
THE FIRST PASTOR.
After Miss Martin, Mr.. Conrad and
the choir had rendered another anthem,
Rev. w. b. Waller, of New Rochelle,
the first pastor of the church, was in
troduced by DIR. Lansing. Rev. Mr..
Waller recalled many of the pleasant
"reminiscences of the old days, when
the church had a hard struggle for
existence, and when it would have
died had it not been for the faithful
work of few. From the very be-
ginning" said he, the rank and file OF
the congregation have been active in
the Lords work"
A great ovation was rendered Rev.
n. F. Stahl. now of Delaware City,
but up to four year ago the pastor of
the Green Ridge church, when he arose
to speak. The members of the congre-
cation We're so enthused that they
greeted him with quite burst of ap-
plause. 1t could be plainly seen that
Rev. Mr. Stahl was deeply touched
and it was some moments before he
could control himself sufficiently to
speak.
After telling how wondrously glad
he was to be back once more with the
members of the flock among whom he
had labored for so many years, he
said:
There is an underlying spiritual
philosophy beneath the progress of this
church. This fact is deep down in
the nature of things. There are, to
my mind, just three things which ex-
plain all that God has wrought through
this marvelously blessed church, and
each one has its own special signifi-
canoe.
."Firstly-This church is prosperous
because IL mas Deen loyal TO the lIOrd
Jeus Christ in all it's preaching, in all
its teaching and in all it's church life.
''Secondly-A most remarkable ele-
ment of brotherly love and sympathy
has characterized the lives of the men,
bers of this congregation. There has
been a wonderful unanimity in all
things. l cannot myself remember
more than two instances in which the
session during my pastorate was divid-
ed on a question.
"Thirdly-The members of this
church have been unique in that each
one has made an effort TO do his or her
individual work as the Lord called
them. There has never been a time
when the people have not rallied ts
the summons of their pastor"
OTHER ADDRESSES.
After Rev. Mr.. Stahrs address, C.
II. Pond and f. b. Sturges, represent
ing the trustees and the session re-
spectively, briefly returned the greet.
ings extended by all of the visiting
clergymen.
The large congregation present ther
filed down stairs into the parlors
where an informal social and reception
was rendered to the former pastors, q
most delightful two hours being spent
Refreshments were served by the la.
dies of the church.
The first meeting for the organization
of the church was held at the house OF
Joseph Crane, on Sanderson avenue
on Feb. IL, 1873. On May 26, of thai
wear the site of fha old church On fhs