Smyrna times., 1892-03-09

The oath session of the Wilmington
Conference is one week off from to-day.
The Conference Chronicle predicts that
there will not be any great gladiator
ial exhibition at the Conference, but
that few strong natured impulsive
men may let drop some ill-advised
words, will not be surprising" This
is simply a cautionary editorial plati-
tude, as becomes a sheet of its charac-
ter, but there is nothing to indicate
that the cause for anticipated trouble
has been removed. The man who
raised the storm has it in his power
more than anyone else to allay it.
There is no evidence that this is being
done. On the contrary the statement
comes from Presiding Elder Wilson's
nearest friends that he is ready for the
fray, expects to be triumphantly vim
dieated, and returned to Dover Dis
trict. The further characteristic state
ment is made, that there are only two
or three little places kicking up fuss,
when there were representatives from
fifteen or as some said seventeen places
that laid their grievances before
Bishop Andrews. When a powder
magazine is in the way of an advancing
column, the only method to get it out
of the way as an element of danger i;
to remove it or explode it. Such seem:
to be the situation of the Wilmington
Conference. The Morning NelOs from
which we have previously quoted, and
which looks at the difficulty from al
eminence, as it were, with a powerful
glass, says:
As nearly as we can make out, Mr.
Wilson wishes to be made the presid
ing Elder of Wilmington district. ThI
seems to be the only rational explana
ton of the interview between BishO
Andrews, while he was in this cit
last week, and a committee represent
ing several of the Methodist EpiscOps
churches of this city.
He knows that the impression of hi
unfitness which was produced by hi
career here at Asbury church some te
years ago has been confirmed by th
disaffection and difficulties which a.
tended his work in various parts of th
Peninsula since then. Yet he is nC
abashed, or eOnfOunded or disturbed
any wise. In fact he seems to be mol
eager to get at his foes" 80 that b
can teach them their place. Obvious
only ruin of all the interests of IL
Methodist Episcopal Church in this pa
of the Peninsula can result from pc
mitting Mr.. Wilson to have his OV
way in the matter.
Upon what grouud can he expect
to have his own way? Solely upon
power as church extOrtiOner. Wh
are the material results of his wO
during the last ten years ia the low
part Of the Peninsula? Has he ma
the church which he represents mO
respected, more loved, more unite
more useful as one of the great rel
ious organizations of our day? Not
any of these particulars has he be
efficient. On the contrary, he has CT
ried jealousies, disputes, eonteuti
and factionalism with him wheFe'
he has labOred, and has thus weaken
the Methodist Episcopal church /
meDselv, hOth in the confidence a
affection Of its members, aud in
respect and esteem of the eOmmun
at large. He has, however. seco
plished one thing. He has slightly
creased rae regular church cOllectiO
he has wrung sums of money a tr
larger than heretofore from chul
societies which made these contri
tiOns unwillingly, because 10 ms
cases, they were too poor to mi
them at all; he has deprived the pas
and his family, in certain cases, OF
decent hire to which the Scrlptr
say that all labOreTs are entitled;
he has used his official power. Y
brutal and senseless pertiDaeity, al
be believed that Christ died in Orde
make large church collections. Th
the net result of Mr.. Wilson's lat
during the last eight or ten years,
in our Judgment the value recei
is altogether too small for the
paid.
The remedy, then, in our judgm
for the avowed difficulties of the M
odist Episcopal Church on the Pc
sula. is not for Mr.. Wilson to be n
a pastor-that would he like curin
man of the headache by driving
pain in his leg. The only permai
remedy is for Mr.. Wilson to go o
into some other conference, where
people are richer than they are
and where there would be a bro
field for the qualification of his a
tious desires.