The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1879-12-07

What are now the New York, East and Troy Confer
ences were then included in the New York Confer
ence When the Troy Conference was set on DR..
Starks remained in the old conference territory for
SIX years but in 1887 he transferred to the Troy
Conference. where he has ministered for fortytree
years. so that next year will plee his half century
OF ministerial life aud labors. Dr. Starks received
liberal education in the schools of his native place
and spent few teaching before he entered the
ministry. The first nine years of his ministerial
life were spent in large circuits. for Methodism had
not then settled down to its work in single parishes
but sought to. compass oil the souls il could by
means or the itinerancy which her modern minis
ters are growing weary of. On those circuits ne
had one or two colleagues plenty OF TRAVELLING
abundance of labor and doubt not good fare as
his younger brethren in the work to-day have. but
are not thankful for.
AN HONORABLE RECORD.
During those years the doctor travelled principally
on norseoack, after the old fashion OF pioneer
and saddle bags. Between 1915 and 1S4S he pre-
siding elder of Plattsburg district, the next four
years he occupied the position IN Saratoga dis
trict; from lsG0 to 1S64 he presided the Troy
district and during the following term to 1869 he
was IN ,1e ponney Vtl district. During the re-
important stations in his conference. He was
elected delegate to the General Conference three
quadreniums i'll succession, and though having
passed the allotted years of man he has only missed
one Sabbath from his post during the past sixteen
years. This is q record tor some Younger ministers
to blush over Within his ministerial lifetime what
wonderful changes he has seen i'll Methodsm!
Thousands have been added to her communicates
socatcs in tho ministry have passed to their reward
while many whom he introduced to tho Troy Con-
ference as young ministers are showing signs OF adj
vancing years.
The celebration next Wednesday will take
religious and social form. The first will be held
in the Methodist Episcopal Church at Lansingburc
at noon. 1t will need only one person to complete
the picture. The venerable Ebert Osborne who
married DIR. Starks and his wife half century ago.
Is spending his declining years i'll Ocean Grove.
\. D., place which his son, now a missionary in
India did much to bring into prominence and re-
pute. He will not be at the golden wedding in per-
son. but his spirit and loving epistle will be there
and answer for him. The social reception will
place in the afternoon and evening at the residence
OF Mr. Felix Fountain. The first movement for this
celebration came from DR.. Starks neighbors and
friends III the conference and out OF it, who thought
this good opportunity to manifest their affection
for him. and committee OF their choosing has had
the matter Of detail in hand for some weeks. There
will be large gathering of old ministers and church
members who. though now scattered, were in other
years associated with Dr. Starks in promoting the
cause of Christ and of Methodism in this State.
Soon they will recount those scenes OF the past on
the interchangeable shore.