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

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pace with 1t. and grew with It's growth.
IL has pleased God to bless this church
from Its very beginning. II Is In no spirit
or vain glory, but In humility, and with
devout thankfulness to Almighty God.
that we are able to say of this church,
that from Its organization until this day y,
III mas been u power for good III this
community, and In the regions beyond
0iod has used II for the conversion OF SIN
ners and for the edIhcatlon of saints.
The seventeen charter members of this
church are all gone. Two only of those
VINO We're present at It's organization, but
VINO were not enrolled as members. are
with us today, Mr.. and Mrs. Richard W.
Olmstead, and long may they live among
us, to adcin the doctrines of God our
savior. and TO bless tho church which
they love.
Throughout its history. this church has
been thoroughly Presbyterian In respect
Of doctrine, poity, and an evangelical
spirit 1t has been faithful to the spirit
OF ITS peerless constitution, and its aim
has always been obe true to the truth.
The Presbyterian church holds certain
| doctrines In common with all evangelical
churches; and 1t maintains certain dis
tinctive principles which differcntiate It
the Scriptures of the Old aud New Tcs.
| tainents to be the word of God, the only
| from other churches. To these doctrines
| and principles. this church has always
clnng with steadfast loyalty. All It's min
listers and ruling elders have publicly
and solemnly declared that they believed
| infallible rule of faith and practice"
| They also In the same manner said that
| they sincerely received and adopted the
confession of faith OF this church Ohe
| PresDytefian) as containing the system Of
doctrine taught in the Holy Scriptures"
and further that they approved of the
government and discipline of the Pros
| bNtpliun rhllrrb tbpsu Initial jni
Have Never Swerved.
From these doctrines and principles this
| pulpit ana the elders of this church have
never swervcd There may have been,
| from time to time, some differences OF in
| depreciation, but all were loyal to the
| blue banner. On all proper occasions. the
principles peculiar TO our branch of the
church. have been vigorously defended by
| this pulpit. and by this church's rcpresen-
| tatives in presbytery, in synod and in
the general assembly.
This church has always chung to the
good truth, that Christianity IS a TAR
| larger and a far more comprehensive
term than Presbyterianism or than any
other "ism.' Hence this church has
throughout its history manifested a spirit
| of broad catholicity toward all other
Christian denominations. This church al
ways has believed, believes now, and It
is fondly hoped always will believe in that
grand old motto: "ln essentials unity. in
non-eSsentials liberty. and in all things
| charity" We believe In Christian unity:
we are no great admirers of church uni
formity. We know church history too
well. to boast of the beauty of church uni
formity. If we want to see the beauties
of uniformity We have only to go to the
gravcyard-thcrc YOU have Uniformity
but 1t is uniformity of death. So. after
he first glow of Pentecostal days, the
church, when most boastful of outward
uniformity was most spiritually dead 1t
was when the church took the most pride
In her uniformity that she proved herself
most unchristian. 1t was during her ef-
forts to maintain uniformity that she
brea thed out threatenings and slaughter
against those who questioned her au-
thority. History has tested and tasted
the ripe fruit of the tree of church uni
formity, and it's just verdict is, that the
fruit is neither sweet nor wholesome.
We believe with all our hearts in Chris
tion unity, but that is very different
thing from church uniformity.
This church of ours has always be- |
lieved in a broad orthodoXy-an ortho
doXy as broad as the Bible and Just as
narrow. We belong to q most liberal
school, but We have never felt that We |
would be justified in taking such liberty !
with the inspired word as to misconstrue |
1t, and thus change the truth of God into |
a lie. We belong to a most rational |
school, but we have never believed that
we should oppose our fallible reason to
Gods infallble revelation. In our OK |
treme liberality we adopt the language Of |
st. Paul and say: 'Gracc be with all |
them that love the Lord Jesus Christ in |
sincerity All such are welcome TO our |
Fellowship. All who desire to do so can |
step over that low fence. that Gods love
has erected, and enter, at once. into the |
lingdo moi God.
What It Will Do.
We also adopt another striking sentence |
from the same holy apostle, namely: III |
any man love not the Lord Jesus Christ. |
let him be !Anathema Maranatha." That
is fence so high that it will exclude
from Gods kingdom all who refuse to
comply with the simple and most reason
able conditions which the Savior has
specified. and which he has a just right
to demand.
In addition to the broadncss of it's or
thodoXy, this church has aIawys been
characterized by n phianthropic and mis-
Sionary spirit. The cause of Christian
missions both at home and abroad, has
always had a warm place in the heart OF
this church. The large sums that nave
been contributed to home and foreign
missions and to the other boards of our
church by the various societies of this or
interest taken in causes which are so dear
to tho heart OF Christ.
Our records show that up TO the present
time, this church has contributed for
church purposes s'iSSGi3 and that of this
sum, moro than $50, 900 was for objects of
benevocncc, outside that given for the
support OF our church. But that does not
tell more than half the story; that is only
what appears in the reports of our gem
cral assembly. Thousands upon thou
sands of dollars have been given by MEM
bcrs of this church and congregation for
church and charitable objects, of which
there is no record save that which is kept
on high. He for whose sake these larger
and smaller sums were given, knows all
about them. and he will not forget his
devoted servants on that day when he
will reward every man, according to his
work
Patriotism is closely connected with
Dety--if IL be patriotism of the sterling
kind, and II is but truth to say that this
pulpit and these pews have not been lack
ng in patriotism. Rebellion and lawlcss-
hess never found any sympathy here.
When riotous crowds gathered in the
streets of this city, and threatened to in
lure the persons and the property of cit
zens, the bell of this churcn rang out tho
alarm, and patriots rushed To the rescue ,
and to their credit he it said they dia !
heir work quickly, wisely and we'll. Ana !
n our great war for the preservation of +,
he Union, this church furnished it's full !
Iuota of brave men who fought ana were y
'eady 10 die for their country.
Influence Exerted.
The influence cNerted by this church in G
his community cannot be measured | y
from it have gone forth godly mon and |
,odly women to bless other churches and $
hli I'ram pnn