The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-03-26
REV. 0. R. BEARDSLEY
ON HIS YEARS WORK
SPOKE IN THE uNIvERsAL1sT
CHURCH YESTERDAY.


-
He Has Just Closed His First Year
as Pastor of That Church-Re.
viewed the Work Done in the Sun.
day School, in the Y. p. G. u, and
in the Church Itself and Stated
That There Is Great Demand for
universalism in This City Today
and That the Outlook Is Inviting.
Rev. O. r. Beardslcy, pastor Of All
Souls Universalist church, delivered a
sermon yesterday morning, giving "a
resume of his labors in Scranton DUR
ing the past year and telling OF the
prospects of the church for the coming
year. He took his text from Cor,
S-10:
Today closes our first year as pastor
and people. l desire to note the pleasant
union and above all the more firmly es-
tablished principles Of our glorious faith.
1t is not necessary for me to review the
history of this church prior to my coming
here. I would rather speak to you who
have begun before. not only to do but
also to be willing a year ago." When I
met you for the first time, l was told by
the one who invited me to meet you,
that here was a faithful band who had
struggled through years of toll to plant
a church in Scranton that could take the
name Liberal by holding fast to their
creed. ! do not stop to question the
methods Used before I came. the right
or wrong way of work. enough for me to
hat ~, nd
held to the faith. There is praise due to
those who struggle for the faith they
love, the value Is to them sacred who per-
severe in the face even Of defeat. / tell
you the mettle men and women are made
of is more clearly to be seen In those
who. through the changes of wisdom and
mismanagement keeps the cause to the
front than to those who have fair sailing
amid fair weather. All hail the stand
ard bearers that can keep the flag up
and at the front in seeming defeat and
success. All hail. the band that never
surrender while the banner floats.
THEIR SPECIAL WORK.
do not propose to preach at this time,
would talk in regard to our special
work, Of the present and its results and
of the future with its hopes. 1t Is we'll
for us at times to set aside special days
to take an inventory of our possessions,
and lay plans for our future procedure.
The successful business man knows at
the end of the year the business capital
he has to enter into the new year with.
His methods of work depends upon the
revelation given by the yearly inventory.
I regard 1t equally essential for a church
to know just how they stand, their pos
sessions as compared to the beginning
of the year past. Let me say right here
that estimate the value of a church not
hNy hn ,hnr of fnnt frn n pn
its massive walls. neither by the number
of it's communicates. ! would that every
church in this place had to enlarge dts
seating capacity. to accommodate church
goers. and / would that the peculiar and
distinctive doctrines that give them sep
arate names were proclaimed fearlessly
and forcibly. While remain your pas
tor desire it to be distinctly understood
that I preach every Sabbath the distinct
i've doctrine of the Universalist church
as the correct Interpretation of the Scrip
lures. In my years labor here l find in
looking over the material employed, and
now on hand that none of our number
have become fascinated by any other
doctrine, and I believe l am correct when
say that there is not one of our mum.
Der that has in the past year said to any
other pastor Of the place that they were
more in sympathy with his doctrine than
their own. but were held to our church
by social ties, etc.
Every person who was willing a year
ago to assist in building up our doctrine
in this place are more than anxious to
not weary in well doing. While church
membership has not been enlarged to my
expectancy during the year, cannot see
it in any other light than that the COM
ing year will be satisfactory in that di-
rection 1t is with joy that l speak OF
the earnestness shown by those who seek
nhN rn1, 70, .,t ThaN
must realize that their presence and
earnestncss has enkindled a. new fiame of
| hope in the hearts of those who welcome
| them to our worship. l urge parents to
present their children for baptism. / cam
not read in this earnestness of parents
| aught but a sincere desire to bring their
children up in the fear and nurture of the
| Lord. 1 believe l can read in the lives
of those parents a brighter future, a
| more earnest and consecrated life. as
| the result Of the gift to them from God
Of those bright jewels that are to the
home the central thought. and for which
life is so cheerfully given. Under the
supervision of our Sunday school superin-
tendent and his faithful teachers we have
| every reason to rejoice.
SUNDAY SCHOOL.
The Sunday school has healthy
growth, 1t is cnthused by young blood.
| we are more ana more recognizing the
fact that our doctrine Of the God love,
and the melting out in justice life's bless
| ings and life's needed chastisements to
| humanity, finds a hearty sanction in their
young minds to clearly discern right and
wrong before their minds become warped
or case hardened by circumstances and
conditions of their own life that shrink
at the thought of Justice. We do not
| have to hold back the fundamentals OF
our faith to hold the children. The
clearer we set forth the doctrine of our
church the more the children love to hear
the old, old story Of God and Jesus and
their love. We believe, because expert
ence teaches IL, that child taught in
such a way that 1t does right because 1t
loves to, not because it has to, possesses
the true spirit and gives promise of high
er spiritual development than were the
cause reversed. We believe the principle
we teach will naturally draw the child to
God in its joys and sorrows, in it's joy
in doing. and for its correction for wrong.
| We believe there Is room and need of
such teachings in this place, Our Young
Peoples Christian union, while not large
in number, Is large in conservation. We
are well aware of the good being done
and sincerely advise a closer relation OF
the older members to the work, and their
intercession among the younger to be-
come active workers. Let the younger
members cut loose the tongue and speak
the hearts sentiments and I believe IL
would tend wonderfully to not only In
crease their spirit but would increase an
interest In all being prompt at their