The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-05-05

the Lord" and Mrs. Powell sang a
solo in her, most pleasing way.
The sermon was preached by Rev. j.
| II. Sweet, former pastor Of the Simp-
son Methodist Episcopal church, and
now the presiding elder of the Bing-
| famton district. His effort was mas
terly one, and his theme was based OH
| u text found in the twenty-sixth chap
| ter of the Acts of the Apostles, and the
nineteenth verse, relating to the ex-
perences of the Apostle Paul. His
thought was along the line OF "rhe
Ideal Relation of Man to God and His
Obedience to Him."
During the course Of his remarks,
Dr.. Sweet said that all of us at some
time or another, have an idea or vis-
ion of what heaven is like, but few Of
us ever have the proper conception Of
the real Celestial Kingdom. He illus
trated this thought very vividly with
word pictures and dwelt upon the in
spration of music. poetry, the artistic
and beautiful, as being partial means
Of attaining Il better conception of the
higher and better life that Is to come.
POETRY OF HEAVEN.
things lifts us to Il higher revelation,
and the music of life brings the grand
est harmonies to our ears, while the
artistic visions revealed in colors APP
peal strongly to us, and the beauties
&C nature everywhere surround us, but
all these things are only ideals after
all.
We are not to be carried to the skies
on flowery beds of ease. as God has
given us all certain missions to per-
form, and If we come to the heavenly
vision 1t must be through the duties Of
righteous living. The ideal relation Of
man to God is in his faith, belief and
obedience to Him, and the grandest
and best vision that can possibly come
to anyone is that revealed in Jesus
Christ Himself.
The heavenly vision that came to the
| Apostle was the Lord Jesus Christ, that
Imomentary vision which must come to
us all if we would be saved. If we
could only hear God calling to us, what
a blessing it would be. He Is call
| ing to us through Nature. through the
birds of the air. the flowers and trees.
| He speaks to US in the warm breath Of
| the south wind, and is continually
calling on us to go forth and do his
work.
| He speaks to US through His word,
all through tine old and new Testa-
| ments, and His salvation comes to
| every man il they will but believe. God
is laced into our lives and daily eX-
perIences, and He is trying to bring
himself TO you, and you to Him. BY
these facts concerning himself we can
come to the vision. and through our
obedience to Him reach that higher
plane where parting is no more. When
God calls us to so, we had better march
right on, and be ye ready, for ye know
not the day nor the hour when the son
of man cometh.
He has prepared a place for you, and
while we don't know how God will
work out his vision, If you are obe-
dient, He will lead you. Would that
we all were obedient to Christ.
Following DR.. Sweet, an address was
made by Mr.. Powell, who again intro
duced his bonds. Incidentally, he said
that Christian character is the foun-
dalion on which we must build, and the
Embury church is planted in the right
place for God. The church is the
and if capital and labor were brought
to Christ, there would not be any
strikes and labor troubles.
The result Of Mr.. Powell's efforts in
raising funds and pledges to help de-
fray the expenses of the church greatly
encouraged the pastor and his flock,
and at the close, large sum was re-
ported as having been subscribed.
The dedicatory service was con-
Quoted by DR.. Upham, after which Mrs.
Powell sang and the congregation sang
Nearer, My God to Thee"
JUBILEE SERVICES.
The twentieth anniversary jubilee
services of the congregation will be
held during the week, with special SER.
vices every evening except Saturday.
This evening will be Epworth League
night, and ]. G. Mcconnell will pre-
side. L. F. Bower will deliver an ad-
dress on 1.-THE Days of Giants"
Tomorrow evening will be Fraternal
Night; Wednesday evening, Old Folks
Night; Thursday evening, Veterans
Night, and Friday evening, Patriotic
Night, with special addresses each
evening by number of able speakers.