The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-10-31

over $1,000 oil 4 SloUO Dencit WAS
Pledged at the Meeting.
The annual roll call of the Penn ave-
ntie Baptist church was conducted last
night in the lower temple OF the
church when two hours and a halt
were spent by upwards of 400 of the
members Of the congregation in COM
munion one With another.
The custom of calling the roll. which
has prevailed in the past, was dis
pensed with last night on account OF
the length of time which ii requires
and the members of the conercgat ion
as they came in dropped n card in Il
basket containing his or her name.
Each was presented with card con-
tanning a most pertinent question
printed in rhyme. reading a. follows:
'Whh lind vi church
Mould tlis clInch lie.
II every church member
Were Just lihc me-
The pastor, Rev. DR.. Robert T.. y.
Fierce. welcomed the members of the
congregation and preached an eloquent
little sermon on "l'aith." q sort of a
fragment OIL ~ ulStbulSb, Dut 4uii va
original and helpful thought.
lie took up the five letters forming
the word faith" and showed that
each was the initial letter Of an cle-
ment OF faith. These tive elements are
as follows: Following God. accepting
God, inviting God, trusting God and
honuring Cod.
MUST INVITE GOD.
We must not only follow God and
accept Him but We must invite him
into our hearts. into our homes and
into all the avenues of life. If we have
Il propc,. faith in God we will invite
Him to so along with us in everything
wc do. We will invite Him int" our
homes and ask his blessing on them.
Faith is trusting. Isn't trusting in
God something stronger and deeper
than having faith in God. Faith is the
active agent Of Il Christian life. Faith
undertakes tasks. bears burdens and
conquers, but isn't Il trust in God
something deeper. In times Of trouble
and strife isn't ii glorious TO be able to
lay our head on GODS bosom and say
with resignation that We trust in Him.
"rhon again we must honor God. We
must honor Him by standing alone for
His truth. ii necessary. We must hon
or Him by our gifts. by olIr service in
His cause. by our hearts best love and
by our lips" Following DR.. Pierce's $
address those present joined three
times i'm singing the old hymn. "Faith
is the Victory"
Then Dr. Pierce invited the members
OF the congregation to talk about the
future of the Penn avenue church.
about its finances or about any other
subject connected with the work of the
church. Several responded. notably T..
:. Williams, who took up the question
of finance and expressed a wish that
the $l5O0 deficit for this year might be
raised.
ABOUT SUBSCRIPTIONS.
lie made quite a witty address bear
ing on the raising of funds for church
work in general and told a story about
one church member who said To anoth-
cr:
GLOW do YOU raise your church funds,
by voluntary subscriptions or assess
ments"
"Neither way said the other, I'VE
raise it by involuntary subscription"
"rhere is too much Involuntary sub
scribing of money for church work
and not enough of real, genuine giving
from the heart
Mr.. Williams though, ii would be a
wise thing To raise the $500 right IN
the spot and DR.. Pierce agreed with
him, reminding the members present
OF the notable occasion on which $4,000
VAS raised in Il few minutes in tho
church. William Mct'lavc declared it
was a downright shame" for any
church To have Il debt and pledged
800.
Several other members thought ii in
advisable to raise the money al that
time and Il compromise was finally cf-
fccted by agreeing IL secure preimin-
AIRY subscriptions and raise the bal
ancc next sunday morning. over
$1,000 was pledged during the next half
hour.
OTHER ADDRESSES.
Brief addresses We're ais" made by
Dr. l.. M. Gates and Luther Keller.
'rh" latter declared that what the
Penn avenue church needed most of all
was an old-taShluncd revival of rclig-
ious sentiment that would ill every
pew on sunday and make the prayc
meetings sources OF spiritual enjoy
nent to all who attended.
beginning at 10 o'clock an hour WAS
spent in social Intercourse between the
members present. oIi friendships
We're renewed ana new ones formed
and II most delightful time spent. Re-
flcshmcnts We're also served BY Il CONF
miticc of ladies.