The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-05-13

Eloquently-Brief Remarks Made
by James G. Shepherd.
| The twelfth anniversary of the or
ganization of the Epworth league was
observed last night in the Elm Park
Methodist Episcopal church with a spe.
cial service, the principal feature OF
which was a splendid address by
Thomas Fl. Dale on the lesson to be
learned and the inspiration to be drawn
from the life of st. Paul.
There was an especially large con-
| gregation present and after several Sc.
lections by the quartette the pastor
Rev. DR.. c. NJ. Gifln, introduced as
the first speaker James G. Shepherd
| the president of the Elm Park Ep-
worth league
Mr.. Shepherd spoke but very few
minutes and his address was princ-
| pally devoted to a brief summary of
| the work accomplished by the Elm
| Park league. He told of the weekly
devotional meetings conducted with an
average attendance of between 200 and
800, and of the work OF the Mercy and
Help band, the members of which visit
| the hospitals and the homes of the af-
flicted, bringing good cheer and sun
| shine.
He spoke of the wonderful growth
of the organization, with it's twenty
seven members in 1889 and it's 1000, 900
members today. "The Epworth league
is no fad" said he," it is not expert
ment. 1t has been for ten years and
is today concreting Christian doctrine
into right conduct and real service"
A SPLENDID ADDRESS.
Mr.. Dale spoke for nearly three
quarters of an hour upon the life of
Paul of Tarsus, and held the atten-
tion of his auditors until the last syl-
liable of the last word. 1t was revela-
tion to many in the congregation to
hear this man of business and of at
fairs talk so ably. so earnestly and
so sincerely upon a religious topic and
talk as he did with an eloquence that
was powerful because it was simple
Paul, he said, was the one Christian
whose theology is today the dominant
theology Of all Christendom. He traced
the story of his early years, dwelling
especially upon the religious environ
ments with which he was surrounded
from the very dawn of his reason, his
father being a Pharisee of the Phari-
sees.
He referred in BRIEF to the young
mems training in the great Jewish
university at Jerusalem and to the
wonderful story of his conversion while
on the road to Damascus. He said
that Of the twenty-seven books in the
ty, were written by Paul and so deep
an impression has the apostle made
upon the mind of some of the German
rationalists that several have not hesi-
tated to express their belief that he
and not Christ was the real founder
of Christianity This Mr.. Dale took
occasion to refute.
THINKER AND ORATOR.
"UneXcelled as writer and thinker"
said Mr. Dale, "St. Paul was no less
noted as an orator." He spoke briefly
of his two most celebrated orations,
his address to King Agrippa and his
speech to the philosophers and scholars
of Athens and analyzed them carefully
and Interestingly. "These orations,"
said he, "are unsurpassed and unsur-
passable. They are models which are
worthy of the closest study and the
most studious insight"
"How few really classical figures
there are in profane history" said he
How few there are who have STAMPED
the age or epoch in which they lived
with the imprint of their own person.
ality. They can, when sifted down, be
counted upon the fingers of one hand.
Alexander, Julius Caesar, Charlie
magne. Napoleon and Washington.
"Our own hero, Paul, however. Is
greater than any of these. They
sought empire and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.
Paul sought only righteousness and
the conversion of the world. His
glowing words have brought hope,
cheer and consolation to thousands
who have scarcely ever heard of the
others / have mentioned. Paul
stormed the very citdel of wrong and
planted the banner of truth upon the
topmost wall"
He pictured most graphically the
scene as Paul was led a captive along
the Appian way and into the Eternal
City and told of the final conquest of
Christianity over the standards of the
Roman empire.
MEN LIKE PAUL NEEDED.
"In these later days" said he. we
demand men like Paul, abounding in
love and mighty in intellect and out
Of such organizations as this Epworth
league will they come to inspire a
deeper piety and equipped to wage a
successful fight against the powers of
evil"
In conclusion Mr.. Dale showed that
he is CHEEKY optimist of a most pro-
nounced type. In fancy he gave his
a glance down the vista OF
the coming years and pictured the
vice, intemperance and wickedness
which will then exist as they exist
now. To combat these forces, he said,
he could see vision of Christion
churches dotting the land and spread
ing the influence of the gospel over all
lands.
Seeing no fear for the future" said
he, Il come down from my vision