Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-08
THIS THING OF MOVING.
The Wives of Methodist Ministers Rather
Enjoy the Short Terms-varisfy In Going
From Place TO Place.

The Wives OF Methodist Ministers Rather
Enjoy the Short Terms-varisfy In Going
From Place 10 Place.
From the time became of movable age and
condemned to pack my grip at moments no.
tice for foreign parts, have placed on pedes-
tai, and surrounded with respect. admiration
and sympathy, the class of women known as
Methodist minister's wives, obliged by the
itinerancy TO move on an average once in two
years.
In my limited experience of packing, how
often have bemoaned the fact that was not
man. SO that might put fresh collar and
pair of cuffs in my coat-tail pocket, and discard
the Saratoga altogether. but think of breaking
up home and packing the entire furnishings
Of-a house once in two years or oftener.
And the packing up is not the worst of it
either. 1t is the unpacking, the ''saving the
pieces" Of some choice bit of china or dainty
bric-a.brac, examining the hicks and marks on
some cherished article of furniture that you
thought so securely wrapped, the long con-
tinued search for an almost indispensable
article that must have been lost in the pack
ing" In the face OF all these things what an
amount OF love, devotion and religion young
girl must possess who will voluntarily doom
herself to such Bohemian sort of existence.
Mistaken Idea.
The foregoing was my style of reasoning up
of these wives, knowing the coming Methodist
Conference would make great many changes,
and wondering how and in what spirit they
would accept the inevitable.
One wife said:
Why, there is something fascinating in the
prospective change. You know hope springs
eternal in the human breast and no matter
how pleasantly we may be situated, we always
expect an improvement in the rew If we are
disappointed it is gradual and we don't mind it
gO6g to psaa IN
we meet SO many characters. Human nature
is the same the world over, but we find it under
different circumstances. OF course we are
compelled to meet all of our church people on
the same basis, but there will be some con-
genial souls that will become nearer and
dearer than others; still we try not to show
a.preference for any ones society in partic-
ular
Yes, it is true the physical labor of moving
is great and the expense ditto, but where is
there professional man who is carried about
on howery beds of ease? What religious de-
nomination can boast the superb system of
supplying churches with pastors and pastors
with churches that the itinerancy does.
Other Churches No Better OF:
Investigate any other denomination, and you
will find numbers of churches without pastors,
and numbers of pastors without charges; and
then it is so unpleasant for a congregation or
committee to inform minister that they are
tired of him. In our church nothing OF that
kind is necessary, for the Presiding Elder super
vises the whole district and If the people are
dissatisfied with the pastor all they have to do
is to mention it. and at the end of the year he
is removed; but he Is still sure of pastorate,
and while he may not give satisfaction to one
congregation. in another field he may just I'LL
the bill.
The Presiding Elder endeayors to appoint
ministers to the places they are best adapted to
fill. For instance, if aschurch Is in a bad finan-
cial condition he sends some live, rustl1ng,
wide-awake man that will clear it of debt and
put 1t IN a fourishing condition. but according
to the rules they are not allowed to monopolize
him very long. Some other church needs him,
and SO in that manner all the churches have
fair show. The most unpleasant part of 1t, and
really the only unpleasant part is the breaking
of ties with kindred spirits, the saying goodby.
So said one and all of these ministers wives,
and really they take such a cheerful view of
their life am inclined to wonder If haven't
been mistaken regarding their trials and tribu-
lations in moving. THoRNE BRANCH.