The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-01-02
EPM0RTH LEAGUE
And THE new YEAR
Address Delivered by James G. shep.
herd at the Watch Night Service
in Elm Park Church.

AL the watch night service in the
Elm Park church Tuesday night James
u. shepherd delivered very interest
ing talk on THE Epworth League and
the New Year" He said:
iohlGht, Us We are once more called to take n
retrospect on another year as Epworth Lcar,ers
Me cannot but say, what OF the new year that
~ so soon to dawn upon us and upon whose
threshold we are now standing?" We cannot
but pride ourselves on our greatness. and wc
nave credentials that Justly ent:tle lis TO claim,
GREATNESS, not like the lrShman who on apply.
inS tor position. told by the gentleman
'""t IL would be necessary for him to have a
recommendation, signed in proper form. lie re.
urea and in few moments returned with a
small s, paper In his hand which read as follows:
lie Is IL Jewel, sober, Industrious, honest and n
hard worker.-Signcd, Pat Maloney"
But we have not signed our own credentials.
put ~hen such men as Lecky credits Mcthodism
WIN having saved England from counte terpart
VI inc french Revolution, and Canon Farar saw.
ing and acknowledging that Methodism is a
hishty influence in advancing national and
'echh'cal education. and our own beloved Lin.
com CON saying that Mcthodism furnished and con.
tributed the largest, and more than all the com.
bned churches of other denominations II is no
longer an open question as to whether we are
cnliizins and saving power in the world We
nuniDcr tonight more than one and half mil.
hohs OF Epworth Lcaguers and more than twcn.
ty-scVen millions of members as a church Tho
peSiihist may say, even With such astounding
nsures' that we are not moving forward but
docs he realize that it took ninetv.r,ne yeors IN
grow our first 100000 of NIpthodists in America
ana that in the past thirty.six years we have
grown To number more than six millions in the
cnted states alone. Our hearts should bum
WIN the opportunities before us and we should
r"aize That lille is too short to be frittercd away
ana snail we not resolve to rise TO the call rf
the church and cndcavor to have such devotion
as was displayed few years ago at Ocean
Grove.
While vast audience was assembled in that
it was announced that vrssnl wns
wrecked oil the coast and at once the vast host
hastehcd down to the shores and there a small
crait was last going to pieces. An Old veteran
OF the late war and soldier of the cross os woll
called out for three volunteers to accompany him
as he got into life boat. Three young men
Sprane TO the boat AMI out they pushed, but,
with high sea raging, the boat was hurled back
to the shore "A number OF times, and suddenly n
boy rushed into the midst OF the
crowd and handed telegram to the old man
VINO was in command OF the lfe boat II read
tnhS' Your brother is dying. Come at once"
me OH mans strong form quivcrpd Ike :: leaf,
lhe tears rolled down his cheeks, and after n
'io'"'lts Siiehec Sllu: 'BoNS, let my brother
tie he is saved, and we can save these men
To the rescuc!
So with the church. She must throw out the
life line, launch out the life boat and get back
TO the spirituality of our fathers
We should decide tonight upon the same state.
nent that was posted few days ago at a steel
plant that had been closed down for a number Of
months, The superintendent ,yOsted this notice
'Li2ht the furnaces" for in many Of our hearts
ioes not the fires burn low and, sad to say. I
ear in some OF our hearts the fires have ceased to
'Xst and are out, We need return to the old
Evangelism, the pentecostal power and rcsist!r.s
is 1t not true that we have left the
oui-savlng largely to the pastors, the Sunday
chool teacher and the evangelist and as indiyId.
'als We make little personal and honest efforts
o win souls for Christ? DR.. j. O. Peck said
nat II he had ten years 70 win thousand souls
or Christ and could win them by preaching in
lie pulpit or by personal work, lie would leave
lie pulpit for ten years and 90 from house 10
'ousc, and by personal appeal, win men 10 God.
ly firm conviction tonight is that the trouble
hat we do not accomplish more along the line
II saving souls is not due to what we believe or
iSheleNe, but because we 10 not act consist
ntIy and live up 10 what We say we believe
Let U.S. before Gol resolve. as Epworth
'elguerS and members of the church of God, 10. |
light IN this conservation service. that we will |
move ont to the front OF the battle line and be |
etter and more yigilaat than ever