Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-10-03
REPORTS OF ELDERS
And Earnest Pleas for an Educated
Ministry Occupy the At
tention of
TIE PITTSBURG NJ. E. CONFERENCE.
The Hard Lot of Superannuated Preachers
FeeIingly and Ably
Discussed.
TIE PITTSBURG NJ. E. CONFERENCE.
REV. DIR. DEMPSEY'S RETIREMENT.
Condensed Accounts Of Various Interesting Events in
Nearby Towns.
lrRoM A STAFF CORRESPONDENT =

GREENSBURG, October 2.-The principal
business at the session of the Pittsburg Con-
ference of the Methodist Episcopal Church
was the hearing of the reports from the pre-
siding elders of the various districts and
the financial returns of the pastors. These
were all of an encouraging nature.
A number of the ministers whose pastoral
charges were in the country made feeling
reference to the condition of the country
roads last winter, iuasmuch as the mud
prevented the holding of the usual pro-
tracted meetings. This is new phase Of
the country road question. 1t is bad indeed
when the work of the Lord is interfered
with equally with the interests of Mammon
BY the impossible state of the highways.
LONG TERM OF SERVICE.
Presiding Elder Jones, of the Washing
ton district, announced that DR.. Dempsey,
of that district, wanted to go upon the re-
tired list, he having been in the service for 81
years. When DR.. Dempsey's report was called
lie took occasion TO speak to the brethren, max
ing feeling reference to his retirement from
regular service. He also stirred his hearers
several times with fine touches of humor.
Dr. Boyle offered resolutions expressing the
ence for the retiring brother, which we're
adopted with hearty unanlmity.
A little breeze was created by the appeal of
Rev. Josiah Mansell for admission to the trial
of his son, r. b. Mansel, the resolution of YES
terday to have the investigation behind closed
doors having been construed to exclude the
father of the accused. A resolution was offered
by Dr. Boyle that Brother Mansell be admitted
but as such a resolution would have TO go upon
the minutes it was finally decided that it was
the sense of the conference that no such ex-
Clusion was intended by the resolution of YES
ierday, and that any reference to the matter
in the minutes would be blot on the record of
the proceedings. 1t was unanimously agreed
to change the construction of yesterdays reso-
luton. as 1t was not intended by its author to
exclude Brother Mansell
Reports were heard from the presiding elders
and the pastors OF their districts in the follow
ing order: Rev I. N Eaton and pastors of the
Allegheny district, Rev s. NJ. Bell and the
Blairsville district, Rev. n. G. Miller and the
Mckeesport district Rev. j. w. Giles and the
Pittsburg district Rev. J. F. Jones and the
Washington district.
During the hearing of the reports Dr. L.
Clarke, of the New York Christian Advocate
was introduced and addressed the assembly in
the interest of his publication.
Rev. DIR. RittenhOuse of the Methodist EMS
copal Hospital. Philadelphia, addressed the
conference, giving graphic description of the
site, the plans, the aim and scope of the hos
pltal enterprise, asking rhe PiIIsburg Confer
ence to endoy bed IN the institution.
AlONS AND MONhE4S.
The session closed with an address by DR., c,
H Pane, corresponding secretary OF the Edu-
cational Society. DR.. Pane pleaded earnestly
for an educated ministry He freely admitted
thar men of great natural talent would rise un.
educated above inferior men who we're edu-
Gated, Just as lion fresh from the jungIes of
Alrlca was superior to the most educated
monkey ever seen. He admitted that if poor
material only was given to the schools tLev
could only turn out poorly-inished product but |
he hoped good material would be put in. His |
report showed material advancement of his /
society
The feature of the day was the address of |
Dr. ). Benson Hamilton. of New York. at the |
veterans meeting. The exercises were opened |
AT P. NJ. with music and prayer, the White |
brothers adding to the interest by their sing
ing. The church auditorium was crowded and
the audience included many ladies'
DIR. Hamilton opened his address by singing
ballad OF his own composition, "A Song to the
Minister" which was well received He then
compared the minister of the church to the
servant of the corporation. 1t would be not
only base ingraJltude on the part of the corDor-
alton, but folly well, to prefer the Young |
man fresh from over the sea or the fiedgeIiug |
just out of school to the old and tried man Of |
affairs in the conduct Of its business. In the |
highest calling of all such q course would |
be crying shame, infamous crime |
TIME CONTRACTS IN MARRIAGE.
The ministerial ordinance was then COM |
pared - he marriage contract In this con- |
nection hs related the anecdote of the man |
and woman who applied for marriage license |
good for two years" There could be no such |
marriage contract and no such ministerial orti- |
nance. The rejection of life partner when |
worn out in the performance of matrimonial |
and household duties fora younger ard fresher |
one, the speaker characterized as an out
lageous violation OF every right principle, and |
for servant of the church to be cast Oft in his
old age without means Of support was nothing |
short of an infamous crime.
fnrs- n 49,,
thing. The Methodist Church provided better |
for Its superannuated ministers than any other |
denomination. but was far behind the Roman |
Catholic Church in this particular. There |
were no superannuated priests left dependent |
on charity. |
The speaker said his father. Methodist |
minister, had horse which became superan- |
nuated and he placed it i'll care of a farmer |
where II was fed watered and cared for until it |
died. Once his father, while young and a |
member of the Pittsburg Conference. lad |
gone to NIL an appointment in the mountains |
ahG was caught in raging blizzard. The |
lnelteu snow froze again on his freezing form |
until he sat erect in the saddle an inanimate |
lCIcle; mat horse had carried him TO a cabin, |
slTuck ms hoot against the door and rubbed |
ms nose against the window until he aroused |
Ihe inmates who came out, took his father in /
ana thaWed him out. But they could hardly |
hoid MIN ID bed while he thawed out, he wanted |
TO go 10 the little congregation which he said /
was waiting for him to fill his appointment
PAINTED WITH HOT IRON.
He referred feelingly to DR.. Dempsey who
had taken his mother into the dear old church.
and then read a number of letters he had re-
ceiyed. telling tales of poverty and suffering
the lot Of superannuated ministers left with
out the means of subsistence He said 1t
would not do to meet this with the complaint
that these are third rate men, as they were
probably as good in their day as 'us first rate
men, In conclusion, he said there was a new
n artistic circles f,F
using brush and pencil and paint, used a red
hot poker IN this matter he would like to do
the same thing for the sake of permanency.
DR.. Hamilton then sang another of his COM
positions, The Veterans" He was followed
by several Of the veterans" who called down
blessings on his head, and resolution Of
thanks was adopted by the convention.
Chaplain McCabe spoke IN the evening to the /
societies in his usual effective man.
ner. he made some telling hits and was warm
~ received. The auditorium was hacked to its
utmost capacity and some were turned away,
though II was miserable, rainy night.
The various committees held executive ses-
slons duflhg the afternoon. behind closed doors
1t course Tomorrow forenoon will be devot-
ed to the routine and executive business of the
Conference and the afternoon and evening to
lectures, as it was to-day
Some complaint was heard about the news
paper reports OF yesterdays session. WelIitj is
no wonder if some inaccuracies do occur for
mere are fewer facilities afforded the news
satherer than at any large assemblage l have
lver atJedded.
PITTSBURG DISTRICT STATISTICS.
Following are the statistics of church pron.
rty. collections, ETC.. Of the PIttsburg district.
umber OF churches. %; probable value. s793
100: parsonagesr :; probable value, $4,000; paid
lor improvements and buildings 81 43O; paid on
Id Indebtedness, 1893; present Indebtedness
81 sos; current expenses, $l5,0 number Of |
sunday schools, 30; officers and teachers, $40:
cholars, 1888.
During the year the following collections
rere made: For missions Sl3 49S.- fnr chnrnh |