Belmont chronicle. [volume] (St. Clairsville, Ohio) 1855-1973, 1885-12-03

S2155 or 81 cents per member, Cleveland
S25S4 or Al per member, Canton S3l57 OF
So per member, New Philadelphia 5000
or u per member, Steubenville, includ,
ing q bequest of S75 from Margaret Win
tiers, gave S207I or SO per member and
Youngstown District S1343 or 27 per
member.
This comparison does not make quite
SO good showing for Barnesville Dis>
trict as we would wish. While we are
in third rank of contribution, We drop to
fourth rank per capita, leaving COnton
District to lead both in the amount per
capita and contribution, while Akron
comes from fourth rank in contribution
to second rank per capita, crowding
Cleveland back from second to third and
Baruesville from third TO fourth. If we
could have kept the rank per capita that
we reached in contribution, we should
have given S2S60. Or, if We had taken
first rank per capita and given only fifty
three cents per member, we would have
gone quite above the million dollar line"
for Barnesville District and given ia
round numbers $1,000, and been first in
rank of contribution. And We should
either unload ourselves of rubbish or 50
spiritualiZe the dead weights, as that We
shall reach an average of 80 cents per
member In the year before US. But
think, will you, if we had followed the
example of Brother Haskell and the st.
Clairsville Church, how We should have
given S6362, and thus been clear out of
sight of our sister districts; and who
will dare say that amount is more than
the Great Head of the church asks of US,
But, of course, when our outlying poor
charges reach such state Of grace, clas-
sic and generous ST. Clairsyille will be
still nearer the throne.
1t is gratifying to know that each of
the districts of the East Ohio Conference
held so well up to the figures of 1884.
Cleveland District gives 1897 less than
in 1884. when she had beQuest of $1,000,
so that her collections are really SIO3
greater. Akron suffers decrease of SIS
New Philadelphia and Steubenville about
hold their own with an upward look,
while Bsrnesville, Cambridge and
youngstown make handsome advances,
and Canton District takes leap upward
of Sl001. Here again, if thirty-tve per
csnt of an advance upon the collections
reach the million dollar line" then Can
ton District by the aid of the eloquence
of McCabe, and thousand from Canton
First Church, more than reached that
point. But if the figures of the chart are
TO guide US. SITS more money was need
ed before the shout of victory could be
raised.
We presume this review, tedious as it
may appear, is not yet complete, without
a notice of what the WOmans' Foreign
Missionary Society did within the bounds
Of GAINESVILLE District in 1885. Nine
out of the twenty one charges of the
district gave TO this board S527. Arm
strong's gave $50, GAINESVILLE 500, Bel
laire Sl26, Fairview S44, Hendrysburg
$24, st. Clairsville $50, Somerton SO,
Washington $97 and Winchester So.
These gifts added to the contributions
of the parent board, make total collec-
tion in Barnesville District of $1,000 in
1885, against S2623 in 1884. In this re-
view of what was done by the noble wo-
men of Gainesville District we are lit
tie mortified to discover that in two int
stances they seem to have had more zeal
than those to whom was intrusted the
lUICNSoIS VI IhO pdi OhG OOdlus
The fact that the Sunday Schools gave
about one fourth of the contributions
gives us hope that in the succeeding gen.
GRAFTON there shall be doubling of gifts
and energy in this cause.
While we feel ashamed that we did not
reach the "million dollar line" justice to
all parties demands that it here be said
that we made an advance in the face of
most discouraging circumstances. OuI
farmers never met with sldder reverseS
The long continued drought, followed by
The long and exceedingly severe winter,
were serious Affections to the farming
community. But it was not a time to
withhold from the treasury of the Lord.
Past accumulations and present credit
were to be drawn upon rather than in
suit God, by breaking our VOWS and with.
holding from him what was our duty to
give. But not only did the farmers suf-
fer. Our manufacturing interests were
at verse loss. The fires were out, the
mills were stopped, and many were out
of employ. These things had to he met,
and they were troublesome factors to
meet. And with gratitude, we record
that we met them even SO we'll as we did
Yet, if we could have secured that which
could and should have been given and
was not contributed, we should have
reached an average of at least fifty five
cents per member.
Sc much for GAINESVILLE District and
Missions" looking backward. But what
shall we say, looking forward? We have
now to face about, from what we have
done 10 what ws propose to do, and must
do, if We properly meet this great and
growing question. How great and grow
sing l will leave for the platform meeting
of this evening to answer. When we
remember that there are but four charg-
rs in barnesville District which did not
receive new pastor at the last session
of our Annual Conference, and that
three of these four receive their pastor
only the second year, the question of
what we will do, becomes exceedingly
interesting. But, of course, the charges
that met or went above their assessment
last year, do not mean to 90 backwar
Aud those charges which come short
will do better. Bellaire, with Keeler
to manage her boat, and her fires ali
blazing and her steam whistles all blows
ing, will come back to her grander work
of 1882 and give S30S. South Bellaire,
with Smith who knows to strike when
the iron is hot. will at least reach her
assessment. Powhatan. under the inhu-
ence of WeSt(ern) wood, will assert her
privilege to take away the discredit in
her columns of benevolence. While
HOllet, whose energy aud prudence ena-
blsd him 10 reach the million dollar
line" at Centerville, will dig out of Mon
roe hills or gather up from the beautiful
valley of the Ohio the three dollars that
Garrett did not hnd. James Ezra Gar
rett will lind the a match for the S175,
hat another James Ezra gathered out of
Guernsey hills about Washington -on-the-
pike. Winchester will find such COM
bination of law and gospel, in Matthew
Moses, as to be glad TO give the 500
asked of her. Fisher will so angle about
The saltwater valleys as to fisb nm a