Smyrna times., 1891-10-28
Treachery's Fatal Stab.
REV. BENJAMIN C. WARREN'S SEVERE AR
RAIGNMENT OF CERTAIN MINISTERS.

REV. BENJAMIN C. wARREN's SEVERE AR
RAIGNMENT OF CERTAIN MINISTER'S.
Editor Peninsula Methodist.
DEAR BROTHER II was verv much
panied to- see, in your last issue a notice
Ofthe dea tn Of our dear Brother. Rev n
o. Ayres. l feel that l have the RIGHT
perhaps as much so rs any other ministers
in our church, to make some observations
as to what / knew of this good man.
When l entered the Wilmington Confer
ence in 80, he was one of the committee
that examined our class. Again in 1873 at
Cambridge, his smiling face and ready
pencil were prominent features of the or
deal through which we were to pass.
1t was not, however, until the spring of
81 that l came to know him fully. 1t was
then just after the celebrated Crisfeld Com
ference tina, that became pastor of Deals
Island Church. and he, as presiding elder
came down to take charge of poor,
doomed death Salisbury District.
For three years, as elder and pastor we
labored together and l am u witness to his
abundant labors and earnest toll to ad-
vance the Masters cause along all lines.
Especially was he devoted to the Mission
arg cause, and it was largely his conEecra-
ted and Vigilant effort that encouraged the
pastors to roll up as they did, for that
cause, the largest collections received in
the history of Salisbury District Alas for
his rea0Grdl We also became acquainted
with his genial and hOspitable family. As
u preacher, Brother Ayres POSSESSED a STYLE
peculiar to himself, but characterized by
great strength and vigoT At times his
pathos was melting Contrary to the
statements made by his traducers, it was
| the more educated people who were most
likely to be reached by his preaching. In
proof of which fact when he came up here
TO Saratoga and preached in our church.
the people were delighted; and his terse
| eplgrammatlc style, resembling much that
Of Rev. Sam Jones, received many kind
| words OF commendation and praise from
/ the Saratoga Editors
We have not yet learned the immediate
cause OF our brothers DEATH but we well
| remember the hour when we sat in his
home IN Salisbury, Md, and looked upon
his bleached cheek and quivering lin ms he
| spoke to us Of the treachery of some of the
! brethren toward him. (this was his first
| discovery of the sort and we have since
| wondered how he did to live through all
the trouble that has fallen on him until
now our wonder in this direction has for
| ever ceased. 1t is with sadness of heart
that we think of him to-day. for oh how
! we loved him No more shall we take him
| by the hand or see his pleasant smile in this
world; but IN the Better Land we hope to
| meet him. AT the next session of your
Conference you will read his memoir. Bet
ter build his sepulcher also, for doubtless
| ye have a right
All yes, you official men Of Annamessex
and of Stockton Circuits who signed that
paper when it was presented to you by
your pastor, paper traducing your pre-
! siding elder, paper that ,0as tCyittea by
the Uery hd'ld that graspcd his place. come
up to your Annual Conference next spring
and in company with other men, no better
than yourselves, 6uild ye his SepuLcher.
why we see no wounds" An no. he
lies upon them, they are IN his back. And
you, riding upon the high places of eccle-
sIastlcal power, you who sent his letters
that burned with Indignation against the
injustice you were doing him9who sent
those letters together with copies ofthe Pen
1ns!aG Methodist to Bishop Fowler last
spring down, say, from your lofty
station and stand beside his lowIy resting
place and duild Ills sepulcher. Grave
charges these" l know it, but thew are
the truth and we stand ready to face them
IN any place OfjustiCe, human or Divine.
BENJAMIN G. WARREN.
| Sheffield, Mass.