Evening journal., 1896-03-14
FROM ANOTHER COUNTY
Methodist Paper Takes Up
Conference Trouble.
THE BISHOP HAS ACTED UNFAIRLY

He Has Patted on the Back the Fellows
who Raised Much Missionary Money to
the Disadvantage Of other Ministers
Not So Good for DIR. CorkrsR's District.
Bishop II. w. Warren. presiding
officer Of the coming Wilmington Confer
ence session, whose Arm belief In minis
ters who can raise collections lead him 10
lean toward Ex-Presiding Elder Wilson,
Is attacked by the Peninsula Methodist
OF to day, whose editor says In part;
"In the Baltimore Methodist appears
communication BY Bishop Warren ad
dressed to the three conferences which
are allotted him as his diocese for the
current ecclesiastical year-the Baltimore
/ Washington and Wilmington.
How disappointing Is 1t then, to find a
mere tabulatlon Of members and collec
tions In the several conferences by
| districts, In which losses aud gains are
given for each year In the last semi
decennial
Easy Thing Tor Anyone TO Lie.
''There is a current phrase to the
effect that figures won't lie, aud this may
be true; but 1t is very easy thing for
any one to lie by the use he makes Of
II
accurately presented, and there Is no
mistake in their arrangement, what do
they amount TOT Do they shed one
scintila Of light on the vital questions
i that determine tho merit or demerit of
the worker, (pRstor or presiding elder)
whose returns to conference are the
subjects of episcopal animadversion2
| How far do these figures enlighten any
one, as to the self denying and holy
| devotion Of the givers, and the equally
worthy zeal and unpaid labors OF the
faithful pastors who have made these
collectionsg
Practice Pinohing Economy.
1t may not be strictly true. that many
OF our pastors and people have cast In
all their living, yet 1t is true, that
under tbe'pressure that Is brought to.bear
upon them, with steadily increasing
weight, there are not few pastors who
have very slender living left, after they
have made up their apportionments, 'slles,
the tax levy and not a few OF our people
have TO practice severe self-denial In
meeting the heavy drafts upon their
limited means for local church expenses
and correctional collections. In many
cases, the small returns cost the pastor
aud bis people more toll and sacrifice
than it does In. other cases to make
large returns.
Renewing the Old Conference Trouble.
Bat In this conference. the tabulation
process by which a mans measure is to
bs taken and his fitness for official station,
OF professional promotion, is specially
mal-odorous. It revives painful memo
ries; for It is not SO long siaoe sn elaborate
attempt on this line was aimed at one OF
our most beloved and faithful pastors
(since translated to that fellowship
where righteousness relgns); for the
purpose OF showing his unhtness
for q position OF honor and RESPONSE
bility, for which both ministers
and lsymen Of the district heartily nomi-
mated him. and the booming OF one Of our
districts, In comparison With the others
savors 80 much Of the same kind Of
work, that Il Is quite generally asked,
What can this mean? Are the tactics Of
~ and 92 again coming into voguei
Why such comparisons on the eve Of
General Conference elCctlons2 Are oar
outside friends who take 80 much In
terest in manning our districts as to
volunteer their aid In advising the pre-
siding bishop again at werkI
1T would be rscreant to duty and
unworthy the confidence of It's friends
did II not raise a signal flag to warn OF
impending danger. We have silently
endured the Misrepresentation and
antagonlsms that have proved how ten
acious Of life Is the animoslty OF former
days; and we would not now speak we're
not the best interests OF the churches
and pastors on this Peninsula in danger
OF return to the discarded methods,
that obtained so long previous to %.
, Puts Or. Oorkran's District In the shade
/ "Our figures here given are for the
same fve years, and bear upon the duty
: Of C'providing for ones own, y which St
D Paul says one cannot fail to do without
denying the faith and being worse than
an inhdsl
Paid on Church Improvements and
Debts