The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-16
FIRST SESSION
OF PRESBYTERY
sEMI.ANNUAL MEETING WAS
OPENED LAST NIGHT.
Large Number of Delegates Gathered
in First Presbyterian Church and
Listened to an Eloquent Sermon by
the Retiring Moderator, Rev. q.
w. Funk--Rev. Dr.. J. s. Stewart
Elected Moderator for Next Six
Administrations to Be Continued
Today.

Lackawanna Presbytery was opened
last night in the First Presbyterian
church. and will be continued during
the best part of the week. The at
tendance was especially large for an
opening session and the interest dis.
played was marked.
The meeting was called to order By
the retiring moderator, Rev. w. G.
Funk, of Iackawanna, who, after
prayer had beenofYered, preached
most interesting and eloquent sermon.
recounting the changed conditions
wrought in the family life and the
religious life during the past century.
He told of the circumscribed family
life in the early days of the Nineteenth
century, when the interests OF men
and women were centered almost ex-
clusively upon their homes. This
life," said he. produced hardy, vigor-
GUS men and pious, lovable women"
The progress of the last century. he
said, has so reduced the home inf'u-
ence that 1t is now hardly felt. "The
people of the present day have lost
the happiness of the people of a hum
dred years ago." said he, "because
they are not contented.
1.-THE church n hundred years ago"
he said. twas as self centered as the
home. There were no missionary So
cieties, no Christian Endeavor societies
and no similar organizations to bind
the interests of the individual churches
together. The principal result of the
progress in this direction is to be
found in the broad tolerance which
now exists between the various de-
nominations.
SPIRIT OF UNREST.
"'rhe last one hundred years has
seen a revision of everything relig-
iOus except the confession OF faith.
This wanton spirit of unrest which has
picked flaws in the Bible has passed
over the creed. The committee Of the
general assembly, to which was re-
ferred the question of tlie revision OF
| the creed, has a great task on hand.
None of the members seem to be
| agreed, one with the other.
"To my mind. the only question
which has to be answered is this: Does
| the creed in it's present form accur-
ately summarize the truths of God?
| We know that the truths Of God can
| never be changed by time, but is this
| true of the language in which these
truths are expressed? I think not. We
all know that a set phrase which may
| mean one thing at a certain time, may
| mean something entirely different to
| another generation"
The moderator referred briefly to
some of the serious problems which are
| confronting the church at the opening
of the new century, and which must
| be met with the spirit of true Chris
| tian courage. Some of these questions
| We're the desecration of the Sabbath,
| the recklessness and scurrility OF mod
ern yellow journalism and the growing
| practice of inebriety among women.
After the moderator's sermon the
| election of a new modera tor took place.
| There were several delegates present
| who had candidates for the place, whom
| they desired to have chosen, but as
opposition to the election of the first
man nominated is contrary to the rules
of Presbytery etiquette everyone strove
| to he recognized first by the chairman
when he called for nominations. There
We're four or five on their feet at the
same time. but the moderator decided
| that DR.. Mcleod was the first up.
DIR. STEWART NAMED.
| The doctor placed the name of REV.
| DR.. J. S. Stewart. of Towanda, in non-
| ination and he was elected by unani-
| nous rising vote. The doctor is one
| of the oldest clergymen in the Presby
terry but has never been moderator
| before. He was handed the book of
rules and gavel by the retiring mod
| orator, who explained that it was in
deed a. high honor TO be chosen to
| preside over the sessions of Pres
| bytery which included more churches
| than many synods.
| DIR. Stewart made a brief speech of
| acceptance expressing his qualification
at the honor bestowed upon him. He
said he would relgiously observe that
| section of the rules which provides
| that when two or more members are
seeking recognition by the chair, the
one farthest back shall be heard first.
| l.. r. Mates, chairman of the local
committee of arrangements. welcomed
| the delegates to the church, and en-
| planned some of the comforts which
had been prepared for them. DIR. Nc
| Leod of the same committee presented
| the order of exercises Drenarad and
| these We're adopted as presented.
The sessions are to begin in the
| morning at 9 o'clock and in the after
noon at o'clock. The evening ses-
| sions are TO begin at s o'clock. To-
| night Rev. DR.. William II. Weaver, a
| colorcd clergyman, and secretary of
| the Freedman's society, will deliver a
lecture on the work being done among
the colored people, and tomorrow night
Rev. Dir. Charles Thompson, secretary