The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-10-20
FIFTY YEARS
AGO IT WAS
ORGANIZED

name Of our city changed with the IN
crease Of population from Slocum iio'-
low. or Deep Hollow cup to lsio. WIN d
population OF 1000, to Scrahton'a' va,
rison. and again Scrantonia' IN succeed ,s.,
ing years, aud finally scranton, III ,,ry, ,,S,,
OF those times, one writer REMARKS; .,,'
village laid no claim to petN, an" 'na''
while Providence. or RaHorNu'c' % %tun
tanned dozen houses poS'o''ice, So
mill. an axe factory, ana thre" ooc,o'S
two stores aud a Methodist ciiape' ~
had no regular minister OF rehg'on' anu
for - time. instead OF rengiouS ~
on sundays. horse racing cH'i''e" ,n' n'
tontion of most OF the people ,'t '",
influence of the CHRISTIAN 'ea'h'''ss W..
former days. ana all adown tne Nru.S
was seen and felt III no snhi' ,ne"su.e'
The Methodsts ProsbNterians' oaP,Mls's' M
Morarians and Roman 'a'mo,'cS' 'u,,, .
the first. had brought tn" iiEht W ,ue
Gospel and tho cross OF ,hrist W s,,, .
upon the waste places ana u, 'ne ' ,",o"
hearts OF the peoples, ana Schoo' "o"','.'
barns. the shelter OF trees as wen us ,ne
personal contact, inc eye 10 es' "P-
proach to the people by Chris, 5 arnpas
sadors. witnessed the SOWING OF 'nc soou
seed to the spiritual upliitihS Oh "'ahs
souls
AT tho close or tha' irst pup'.c s.rErc. ,.
by tho Rev. MI. Long, III 'he Me'"ou'S'
chapel on Aug. j. 1S'l meeting OF ms
people was held, and a parish orEaniza-
ticn formed. ana caleo 81. Luke
church, with MeSsrs. EIisna tiitchcoc.
ana j. {. burgess as WaruehS. anu
t,harles swift JACOB W. Ncrii.'' or, 80, -.
ll Throop, l.. y. 'iilrk ana t'' .. vi. '''''
NcStrymen. An appicatioh LOT the li'cor-
poration of the church was made IN NO.
Nembcr following, granted by decree Oh
court. January i" 1882, ana oulE rccoFueu
July .. 1852.
During this time. ana untll rnnrrh
huiiding was erected, services uhdcr 'ne
ministration OF Rev. Mr Long were heid
at various times in the little nan nscd
by the Odd teilows.. III vacant rooms.
over stores, IN the Methodist chapei near
the corner of Adams ana iackawahha
avenues, as well as in private houses.
ON Easter day. 49,, KEY. Mr.. Long as
sumed charge of the parish as rector. IN
connection with ms MISSIONARY Work IN
Tittston. Hyde Park. providence ana
Dunmore. AT thht period. the popuiation
or Scranton was something less than 3'ooo,
nut increasing at the rate OF 'oo or No per
year. To enable MIN to concentrate ms
labors upon the work of the church in
TINS growing community. he decided TO
yield the Pittston charge. and thus
avoid. in measure as he said. 'thht
gong about Whch was announcement ana
Il great drawback upon the advancement
or the parish.
Largely through his efforts. two lots
'''''' ~ '-' ''' '''
aud Coal company for church ana rec
tory on the east side OF Penn avenue ne
tween J l.ackawanna avenue ana spruce
street subscription for tn" purpose
had been so !ar H''ccessfnl that ground
was broken for the church on Easter
Monday. 1S5" and its corner stone laid
on April 10. following. At this ceremony,
there were present, hcsid" the rector. the
ReV. George d. Miles. OF Nllkes-Barre: e.:
Rev q. NJ. Skinner, OF New Milford; Rev
r. \. Mendcnhal'. of Salem. and the
Rev. Mr.. ltull, of Elmira. y. Y, with a
goodly attendance of citizens. Through
the efforts OF Rector Long. ana the Kind
ly offices and gifts of the Rev. G. T.
Bedell. of Ascension church. New York.
and the ladies of his parish. and those Of
ST. stephens, Wilkes Barre. ana from
friends in Philadelphia. baltimore and
other places, added to those o! his own
men and women. the work on tn" new
church huildinC progressed so steadily
and favorably that a first church service
and the first session of Il Sunday school
was held IN the basement on the last
Sunday OF tn" following July. We may.
to some extent realize the happiness OF
that little band in their song of Praise
God from whom all blessings fow," as
the fact OF a hahitation for Gods Wor-
ship was assured. Work continued on
the superstructur" until the following Oc-
tober. and in order to economZe. the
rector himself took in hand, as he
says. saw, hammer and nails. ard
worked as h" had time" to the best Of his
ability. the carpenters assuring him he
did no little service And | may add,
assuming no light risk. since at one time.
In his work on the roof, he unfortunately
fell to the ground with Il board in his
hand
The church was "A frame building, OF
unmatched boards. with basement of
stone ana brick. and of Gothic design