The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-10-20
HISTORICAL SKETCH
OF ST. LUKE'S PARISH

Following is an historical sketch of
st. Luke's parish, prepared by Samuel
S. Hines. and read at the historical
meeting Saturday night:
We date our legal status from July T.
1852, and after the lapse of fifty years it
is quite proper we should celebrate this
Golden Jubilee of our existence with
thankfulness to God for many mercies
bestowed upon us, as well as for the
trials which have come from His Provi-
dence, for the Strengthening of our faith
and the setting forth of His glory.
In considering the life of our parish. 1t
will be well to turn our thoughts for a
moment to the conditions of this part Of
our state in the earlier days, in some
aspects. for realizing these we may fol-
low with added interest its infancy.
l.ackawanna county was, up to April
II. 1878, a part of Luzerne county and
Luzerne, in 1856 after the historical and
bitter controversy between Connecticut
and Pennsylvania had been settled. COM
prised what we now know as luzerne,
Susquehanna. Wyoming. Columbia and
Lycomng counties. with portions of
Bradford Sullivan and Montour
In those early days, the Protestant
Episcopal church, under the guidance Of
Bishop White. of revered memory, i'm the
state of Pennsylvania, sent out her mis-
sionaries to carry the Gospel of Christ
and TO minister 10 the people scattered
in the primitive and wild places of set
tement.
Wilkes-Barrc was the important town
of this section but contained few people,
and was not blessed with Il service of
our church until 1914. when the Rev.
Jackson Eemper was missionary. In
1917 a church organization was formed
there. and n charter of Incorporation OBJ
tanned for st. Stephens Protestant Eps-
copal church.
a church edilicc. erected shortly after,
was consecrated by Bishop White In
June, 1898.
From this time on, there were occa-
sions when the rcctors of St. Stephens
carried the good news of the Gospel and
the inspiring services of our church to
the small communities scattered through
the wilderness of what Is now Lacka-
wanna county, and adjoining counties,
but the record of them seems TO be alb
sent until 1871, when We learn of pastoral
visit' and services by the Rev. Mr.. ClaX-
ton at various times in Slocum Hollow
and Providence township, us well as by
Bishop Alonzo Potter. who held first
public service in what was known as the
Village chapel in 1915, Shortly afterward
Rev, John Long, missionary or the So
ciety for the Advancement Of Christian
ity of the Protestant Episcopal church
Lord in the scattered villages ana settle
ments in this section of Pennsylvania,
and after many changes involving dis
comforts which We of this day can hut
family appreciate. located in Montrose,
Susquehanna county, as rector of the
church there, and missionary to the little
groups of people separated in the ad-
joining counties. lie had scarcely be-
come settled in his plain home, when the
good and wise bishop" as he speaks Of
Bishop Potter. appointed him to work in
the unoocupied territory between Car
bondale and Wilkes-Ba and later,
more directly in Scranton and neighbor-
hood, Transferring his labors, therefore.
to the young and growing village of
Scranton he held services frequently in
private houses, store-roomS and halls.
and "A public service in the Methodist
chapel at. Providence on the evening of
August 8, 1851,
1t may be appropriately stated here
thar i'm that year the population In the
district now included in Scranton was
about $500. In the years previous the
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