The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-12-23
1871 PENN AVENUE.

concerning which VIC must be content to say:
God is His own interpreter"
When the Mag saw the star. they rcjoiccd
with exceeding joy' Why not? They "crc
brought into the very presence of their Sav'o.
M woiIdcr they rcjoiced and worshippcd, and be.
slowed their choicest royal gifts And who can
believe this story and love the Lord Jesus Ch,ist
in sincerity, without being filled with holy Joy?
Alas. for those upon whom the story Of rcteemihg
love has made no saving impression!
This is Il time for holy joy and for renewed
consccration; it is time for holy meditation and
for active Christian srrvicc it is a good time In
which TO forgive those who have done us wrong,
even as VIC ask God to pardon us for our wrong
doing. and for our sins against Him; 1t Is good
time to cherish and to put into practice that
spirit of humility and Of helpfulncss and of molly
charity that was manifest in all perfection. in
the Savior whom adore. lie says to each Of
us: "My son, my daughter, give Me thine heart.
Whatever else we fail to do. let s not fail to give
unto Him our hearts love-
Let lis rejoice today in the mystery Of Ills in.
carnation. in the beauty and holiness OF His lfc,
in the efficacy OF His death, in the all.ai'icency
of His atoncnicn, in the prevalence of His inter-
cession and in the triumphs of His rcdcemins
grace.
PENN AVENUE BAPTIST.
The choir of the Penn Avenue Bap-
tist church, under the efficient leader
sup vi IOl. w
special Christmas anthems at yester-
days services. both morning AMI
night and rendered them in the splen-
did style which has caused this choir
| tc be recognized as one of the finest in
| the city.
At the night service, the celebrat ted
Fisk Jubilee Singers, from Nashville,
Tenn, sang a number of old fashioned
hymns, with such IL depth of feeling
and with such wonderful sweetness
that the large congregation was pro-
foundly moved. These singers are
touring the East under the leadership
of John w. Work. a colored man who
is an earnest Christian and musician
of more than ordinary skill.
Rev. DR.. Robert F. Y. Pierce, pastor
of the church, preached a Christmas
sermon in the morning, taking for his
theme, "In the Starlight" his text
being found in Matthew lii 10, when
they saw the star, they rejoiced with
, exceeding great joy"
The doctor in beginning his remarks
! showed the condition of the world ut
the time of Christ's birth. The voice
of the prophets had been stilled for
400 years, he said, and Israel was
plunged in superstition, darkness and
moral despair.
Christ brought with Him." said he,
"peace and good will for all men; SAL
walton for the sinner; hope and COM
fort for the afflicted and for the lost at
| home"
WHAT 1T BROUGHT.
The light of Christianity. said the
doctor. brought all those things into
the world which make it's civilization
great today-redemption philanthropy,
education, human development, litera-
ture and invention. He sought TO
show that the coming of Christ and
the spread of Christianity has been
directly responsible for the progress of
the world along every line of develop
ment and told of the great epoch
making achievements and discoveries
which have had their being during the
list nineteen hundred years.
EVERY Christian in the starlight OF
Christmas morning" said he, should
think of three things-past achieve
| mentS. present blessings ana lutufe
glOr.I."
The choir of the Providence Metho-
dist Episcopal church rendered a choral
cantata last night, entitled THE Hope
of the World" A baritone solo was
rendered by j. Broadbent, and II soprano
solo by Mrs. Cousins. The choral work
by the choir was one of the most en-
joyable features of the programme. The
pastor, Rev. George y. Cure, delivered
Il timely sermon on the theme, Let Us
Have Peace
Atthe Providence Presbyterian church
II Christmas sentiment pervaded the
music that was rendered by the excel
lent choir under the direction of Prof
Whittemore. Christmas anthems ano
carols We're sung at both services. and
the pastor. Rev. DR.. George Il. Guild
contributed brief sermons, both morn
ing and evening, appropriate to the oc.
cuSion.