The Monitor., 1890-03-28

Forty years ago and over, perhaps fifty,
the Rev. Socrates Townsend was a young
Methodist preacher operating in portions
of this (Salem) county. The writer of
these lines has a distinct recollection Of
him and the charge he filled at that date.
Cireuit, however, would be better substi-
tuted For charge, As his itincrancy at the
time comprised number of charges (per-
| haps a duzen or more) all widely separated
and covering an area of many miles OF
country. In travelling this circuit lie would
| be absent from home some four or more
consecutive SabbathS, his pulpit the mean-
time being filled by his colleague or some
one of the several local preachers Of the
place.
This valuable and even indispensable
help to the ministry at that time, the local
preachers. have never yet. we are con-
vinced, received their full share Of credit
in this connection, laboriug as they did
without profit or reward, and often with
out thanks even, and contributing III addi-
tion their full share Of money in support
of the settled ministry. They were, fur
ther, to the preacher what the aid dc-camp
in the field is to the general IN the army,
valuable auxiliary, without which it may
be fairly assumed the Methodist plan of
itinerancy would not have been the success
it has proven.
The local preachers who filed the pulpit
at the home of Mr.. Townsend at the time
and place of which we speak were George
Gardiner, Phillip Souder, John Nelson,
Daniel VannaEan and Joseph IIackett,
and although men Of great earnestness
and much natural ability they were not
regarded as was the 'regular'' preacher in
charge, and hence preaching days, when
Mr. Townsend was present, was tie event
in the local history Of the church.
The entire member ship Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church in the United States at
that time, according to Bishop Foster, was
but 700, 900 souls, against 5000, 900 at
present, and Methodist preachers then
ware not the theoIogians that some Of
them are now. Bat if not this they
matched, and perhaps more than matched,
the generation of theologiaus of the present
in earnest self-sacrficing work, and Of
this class Mr.. Townsend was the peer of
the best of them. At that time, 1905,
Bishop Foster, then pastor Of the Mul-
berry Street Church. New York city, re-
ceived 1880 year salary, the largest
paid to any minister, bishop or book agent
in the Methodist connection, and Mr..
Townsend, as circuit preacher, received
perhaps less than 3400 per annnm all told,
house rent included. Well could he say,
or sing rather with other contemporary
brethren in the ministry
No foot OF land do possess,
No cottage in this wilderness,
poor way faring man;
and could doubtless add,
Yonders my house an portion fnir,
Ny treasure and my heart Is there,
And my abiding home.
Though not so very long ago, being dis
tinctly within the recollection of many
now living, those were in measure the
pioneer days of Methodsm in this part Of
the country. The preachers Of those days
were the vanguard of the mighty cohorts
yet to follow.
There were no Ocean Groves, no six
weeks vacation in summer TO run up the
rundown preachers OF that date No
Christian Endeavor Society, no Y. VI. G..
A., no Epworth League, no nothing of the
kind, so far as we knew. to lift q part OF
the burden from the shoulders Of the over
burdened pastor. Excursions to Wild
wood, Ocean City, etc, were unknown,
aud Monday morning "'hy" on the train
| after the exhaustive labors of tie Sabbath
| WAS I'M uuIsa ri f.f fhfn,