Staunton vindicator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1860-1896, 1886-03-19


provided for. He had heard some mention
of the pay of missionaries and he had
taken the trouble to look at what tney
really did get. 1t proved that the average
pay of missionaries Of the M. E. Church,
South. was $3.50 per annum And yet
some one had said, why could not salaries
be retrenched. DR.. Kelly gave most
affecting account of a missionary's family
in Mexico. which on "retrenchment'' by
the church. had had to sell their cows.
Conference after hearing DR.. K. IS state
ment of how the new debt incurred in
tbs centennial Year, had been brought
about, resolved to advance such portion
OF their missionary fund as would be COL
lected, so as to tide over the Board and
get 1t in position in which it could sail
along easier.
Monday.
The opening services of Monday were
conducted by Rev Jos. J. Garden.
W. L. Lynch was appointed Treasurer
to collect the rest of the subscription, and
the assumed amounts of the Paine Insti-
'tute fund, which we're pledged Saturday.
ROCKINGHAM DISTRICT
was then called. ]. S. Gardner, W. L.
Lynch, II. A. Gaver, c. A. Joyce, J. H.
Temple, Il. T. D. Collins, Henry A.
Brown. A. M. Cackley. H. D. Bishop, R.
Il. Watson and R. NJ. Whe eler, of Rock
ingham, were passed Hearing the report
OF Mr.. Wheeler, the Bishop said, "You
have good Stewards. Both you and Way
nesboro Mission have good Stewards.
Presiding Elder Dice.-Yes, and they
have good preachers too.
The Bishop.-I don't know that the
Domestic Missionaries whose wages have
been cut down TO 50 per cent. would think
SO. must call your attention to this.
We say to our brethren you 60 and work
ID the barren fields and we who work in
the fertile fields will send you aid. When
report comes in, however, we now see that
the preachers in the fertile fields have
their salaries paid in full, and the contri-
button for the payment of Domestic Mis-
sionaries falls far short of the assessment.
Now how do you expect the laborers in
the sterile fields to be paid ? Is there any
reserve fund ?
A Voice.-There is none.
The Bishop.-Well what will the breth-
rem in the bad fields do? Charges pay
their pastors in full, and yet pay into the
Domestic Missionary fund only Is cents
in the dollar Of what is necessary to sup
port the others, and of what they are
assessed. 1t is a serious matter.
The names Of Fl. M. Stricken, l.. L.
Lloyd, q. G. Linthicum, J. H. Davidson,
j. S. Hopkins, were passed. The name of
F. A. Mercer, OF Newmarket. was passed,
but it was stated also that his health had
failed.
sTAUNTON STATION.
DR.. Gardner, pastor of the Stanton
church, reported: Membership, 439; added
during the year. 57-2S by certificate and
20 Oy profession of faith; removed by
death, Z; by certificate. %; without certi-
ficate, 8; by withdrawal, 6; baptisms-in-
FAINT, 10; adult, 8; two churches, estimated
value, $4,000; parsonage, value, So 600;
raised for church improvement, ST. 800;
for parsonag e. 500; Sunday schools, 8;
scholars, eachers and officers, 427; con-
versions in Sunday schools, IA; volumes In
library, 400; Sunday school expenses, $165.
All of the assessments were paid as fol-
lows: Pastor, $1,000; Presiding Elder,
$l64; Bishops fund, $40; superannuated,
SIP; education, $50; foreign missions,
STA; domestic missions, $63; church ex-
tension, $4S. The busy Bees" raised
$40. Whole amount raised for all pur-
poses, 81 200.
A VETERAN OF 50 YEARS SERVICE RE-
TIRES FROM THE FIELD.
Rev. Nelson Head. of Christiansburg,
when his name was called, said he had
been in the itinerant ministry ffty-two
years. He had, in that time, never been
seriously sick or had to take vacation.
In every charge he had had, the Lord had
given seed to his ministry, as many as 900
at one place and $50 at another. But now
he felt assured, after deliberation and
prayer, that the time had come when he
should cease from the active work of the
itinerant ministry. In the seventy-sixth
year of his age, he would now ask his
brethren to place him in the superannua-
ted relation. He could say that he felt
personal assurance of redemption
through the blood of the Lord Jesus
Christ, and trusted to meet his brethren
iE the end on the sun lighted shore.
The Bishop-It is not often our privi-
lege to hear minister who has lived 80
long, and done such valuable service make
such a request. Will you pass his char
acter for the last time?
DR.. Head.-One more remark; wish 60
make for the benefit of the younger men,
hers of Conference. I have attended fifty
two annual Conferences and in all but
one, was present at the first roll call. I
have always been at my post on the COM
mlttees and never been hard to find dur
ing the session.
The Bishop.-Will you grant the request
of DR.. Head and refer his name to the
committee for the superanuated relation.
THE vote so to do was unanimous. We
are all obliged to Brother Head for giving
his experience in punctuality for the ben
eft of this Conference. 1t is an impor-
tant characteristic.
AN OLDER VETERAN APPEARS ON THE
SCENE
Just as DR.. Head took his seat, the VEN
cradle A. A Eskridge, of SLaunton, the
Oldest minister of Baltimore Conference
came in with his wife. Seats of honor
was placed for them near the pulpit, which
they occupied. Many ministers went up
to the venerable servant of God, who en-
tered the ministry fttY-six years ago, and
took him by the hand. He was looking