The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-29

Torn Down-Clos1ng Address Was
Made by Rev. DR.. s. G. Logan, the
Pastor Emeritus-Sermon by DR.
Mcleod at Morning Service.
The old First Presbyterian church, oi
North Washington arenue.was crowded
almost to overiiowing yesterday after.
| noon with worshippers who had come
to attend the last public service to be
held in the building prior to its demo.
lition.
The church property was recently
purchased by j. ID. Williams &; Bro.
who purpose tearing the building down
after the first of the new year. pre-
paratory to the erection of a large busi-
ness structure. The congregation will
worship in the auditorium of the new
Young Mems Christian association
building pending the erection of the
new church at the corner of Monroe
avenue and Olive street.
The communion service conducted yes.
terday afternoon was the last church
service to he conducted in the building
though the Sunday school will have
Christmas exercises there tomorrow
afternoon.
The old church never looked more
beautiful than it did yesterday. The
Christmas greens, which had been hung
in honor OF the new-born Christ. were
still in place and an air Of solemn im-
pressiveness was present which seemed
to have IL quietng effect upon the large
congregation. Those gathered in the
pft No, .teri,, ~
members and many members of sister
congregations.
The Opening Sermon.
The opening prayer was delivered by
Rev. Joseph II. Odell. pastor of the Sec
ond Presbyterian church. and DIR. James
Mcleod. the pastor, ofiiciated at the
communion service proper. The prayer
of conservation was offered by Rev. DR..
N. G. Parke, of Pittston, out of whose
missionary labors the First Presby-
terian church grew. DR.. Parke is SO
years old, but he seems to have the
strength and vigor of many a man
twenty years his junior, and his voice
never faltered as he said the prescribed
prayer.
After the serving of the bread and
wine. Rev. Dr.. S. c. Logan. pastor
emeritus of the church. ana whose
labors as a Christian minister were al
most entirely devoted to it's needs, was
called upon to make a closing address,
He responded In u voice trembling with
emotion and spoke. in part, asSfollows:
"Oh. how very blessed are the asso-
Citations which Gods people have ell
joyed within these walls and how He
h.1e ,,lG Or,
divine promise, LO, am with you even
to the end OF the world
How grateful we should all be as we
look back upon the history OF this
church and remember how faithfully
God has fulfilled His every promise for
us and how Jesus has walked in our
midst as He said He would. AS we
listen to the voice which says, Arise,
let us so FORTH let us remember that
we can have the influence OF the asso-
Citations formed here still with us if we
continue to live as the Father would
have us live.
Will Strengthen Faith.
''As we leave this place, where four
have found Jesus, let us
bear with us the remembrance Of what
must surely have the effect of strength
ening our faith and Of rendering us
submissive to those obligations which
He has imposed upon us.
I'VE should leave here not with sad
ness but with that cheerful obedience
which Christ requires from all who
follow Him. Let us leave here pledged
to stand together heart to heart and
soul 10 soul, wrapped up In the ties
that have bound us together in the
years gone by. and l feel confident that
our spiritual blessings will continue"
Mrs. Fl. Fl. Brady sang delightfully."-
during the service.
AT the morning service, the pastor,
Rev. James Mcleod, d. D.. preached a
sermon dealing with the history of the
church.
His text was taken from Acts, Xx:3o,
which reads as follows: "And now.
brethren, ] commend you to God, and
10 the word of His grace, which is able
10 build you up, and to give you an
inheritance among all them which are
He said:
II was to the elders of the church Of
Iphesus. that the Apostle Paul thus
,poke. fIc loved the church. lie knew the |
'ifhcultics which its members would have |
% meet and the trials they would have TO |
.Hdure; and he pointed out to them The |
'uties which they ought faithfully to dis |
'harso. He reminded the elders. and |
hrouSh them, the members of that his
oric church, of the great Christian doc. |
rlnes to which he had borne Testimony,
namely, Repentance toward God. and |
attn toward our Lord Jesus Christ IJc
'lso reminded them that It was the chicr |
'DJcct OF his ministry, and the supreme
purpose of his life. ito testify the gospol
# the grace of God" Then, having re-
LEVIED the past, and having spoken n
word of warning, and having unbounded
ontidencc in the gospel of Christ, he took
hopeful outlook of the future ana said:
And, now, brethren, j commend YOU To
iod, and to the word OF his grace, which
) able TO build YOU up, and to give you
n inheritance among all them which are
anctiiied,"
A Brief Retrospect.
1t seems in every way appropriate. in
his last Sabbath of the year, and on this
asst Sabbath OF our meeting in this old
uilding, that We should indulge in brief
euospect or our churchs past, ana in
opeful outlook touching its future.
The day when this church was organ
.ed, was, from one point of view, n day
small things. That was fifty years
60 This city was then a smalls village,
nd the wilderness in which it was plant
d, was most uninvltng. But under the
use, patient and successful enterprise of |
he early settlers. the wilderness soon be-
an to disappear. The village grew and
OR NEW 4EAR's DINNER DEs-