The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-06-09

4 "a trict Tuesday, Rev. Clinton b'
Henry, of Taylor, read paper
on THE Importance of Mission Wohk
in the wyoming district" He said IN
part:
This subject is one well deserving our atten'
tion # is A fertile subject, one which | hope
will create discussion and result in much good
TO a multitude of needy souls and to our De-
loved Mcthodism in this district. While heart
ily believing in mission work IN foreign heldS'
we should not forget the Masters injunction,
Witnesses unto me both in Jerusalem aud III all
Iudes and in Samaria, and unto the uttermoSt
parts of the earth" Not beginning abroad, nor
vet ending at home, the field is the world and
surely the adjacent portions should not be neg
lected. | take it that our Jerusalem is wyoming
district, which practically divides ltSclt INTO
two parts: First-rhat on and back OF the noun
tains bordering the Wyoming and Lackawanna
Valleys; second-The Valleys themselves alVe
with the activities of mining and manufacturing
industries.
The first section comprises a thickly settled
farming region, populated by well-to-do class,
many Of whom seem practically indlhercnt 10
Christianity Here is great field for united
effort on the part of the pastors in summer ana
fall campaigns and rallies, with good music ana
live speaking with which many of these ndiher-
ent ones may be interested and brought t. Christ
But suspect the committee in giving this sub
iect had in mind the larger and second class,
the unchurched souls in these thckly settled
valleys. The condition is summed up IN bet
ter manner than could by presiding elder
Dr. Griffin in his report to our conference OF one
year ago. Let me quote from that report (Conf
Min. lSO0 p 65): "A large portion of the Nyo'
ming and Lackawanna valleys are just as really
missionary ground as any portion of the country
living between the oceans" ! hope to see a
Deaconess' Home established within the bounds
OF this district; half a score of consccratcd women
wearing the Garb of dcaconeSs tor their pro-
lection and badge of their ministry fitting
among these strangers, gathering up the neglect
ed children and teaching them 50 as to reform
and elevate the degraded home life of these com
munities. I hope to see a half dozen men who
can speak the language and carry the glad It'd
ings to these pcrishinG strangers at our DOORS
under the commission and authority OF our own
church. Let me add that this marvclousy en-
dOwed church is standing face to face with the
grandest opportunities ever given TO Christian
people, for Just at our church door and beating
against our affairs are $1,000 souls from lands
beyond the seas" Again in the report given to
our last conference DIR. Griffin mentions the mat
ter and hopes that the time for such work be
not long deferred.
| suspect that this is the class most thought
of in the minds of the committee. 1t is no
wonder, either. 1t is one OF the greatest qucs.
we do with tho foreigner? While many of this
class Roman Catholics and are looked after
by the priests to 4 certain extent, there are
many who nave driftcd from Catholicism, and
have found no resting place except in inhdclity
and agnosiCism There is also quite a number
who Protestants in their own country and
hnd no church home here. Many of them, as
far as Christianity is concerned are practically
pagan.
Surely great opportunity presents itself to us
Last year there were added TO our probationary
list 2,O7j. Was there of this class among
that number? We are sending missionaries tc
lands across the seas. Why it is not possible
to reach those who come here? But some ont
,i'" u, '"rn prepare "orA'ls ioi 'n%' netu
we Nt'p ,nose W"o are 10 WorN III o,l,r ms .s
I,ngnars of ,be rcorlo a,non, whom tho7 ar,
TO work. II could lac done here. No doubt 4
would he possible in many cases to get converted
foreigners who would, with proper oversight, dc
noble work, am quite sure that an Italian
"otNst oi mat description could be procured a
oui w" I! ioiN ol! ' h"''an mission AT houerat
s,hhsth mr. hoth tor tho st1dv nf tho Ena,is, S
language and the Bible could he established h,
one or more deaconesses. Many of the foreign
ers' childen refuse to learn their native languag
and are only too glad to study English. In thi
way an entrance to many homes would be givel
anu steSt GOO goUu non', NO great outlay would b
or n,oro o,snor,,nI ,r,,"rs n,,i5 't. ""u un
movement @'N'
There is here an opportunity for the Cit
Evangclization societies or Methodist unions
sucn = Worh' ihueeu, a conm'ttee could b
o. Un ,oruaS, 's ,iI, tHo ,',I. ",u pow give
zion Of our presiding cIdrr tr,st tLat ~
shall delay no longer, hut grasp the opportunity
mako it ours, and start movement which shal
result in several workers travelling up and dow
These valleys preaching, teaching and living tn
pure ana u""uul'e'a'ed gospel OF Jesus Christ.
Inc Adams Avenue Chapel, New
YORK street, VIII on Monday and Tues