The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1899-04-15

odist union has been organized in Scran-
ton and the preliminary steps have been
taken for the same purpose in Wilkes
Barre and the union will be perfected
doubtless soon after conference
We number Il churches, valued at $72l,-
900; 80 parsonages valued at $1i2, 400; pas
tors salary and house rent last year,
S53,3il; for current expenses, $2l SSd. We
reported q year ago ,lSJ members 1915
probationers So Sunday schools, num-
hering 1i,S71: 81 Epworth league chap
ters with 1910 members; A Junior league
chapters, 2,l3l members.
ONLY SIXTY PER CENT. PAY.
| am oppressed by a sad revelation.
have discovered that out of 1900 IN an
bcrs and probatiOners only ABOUT jN7 are
identified with the real work of the
church that is its spiritual work. And
further out of this number each one haV-
ing registered a solemn vow to contrib
ute of his or her earthly substance ac-
CCrding to ability to the support of the
gospel and the various benevolent en-
terpriscs of the church, only about 20
per cent pay any attention to this sol
emn covenant with God. our duty is
plain; we must educate our people that
membership in the church of God carries
with 1t certain high and holy obligations
which cannot be uisregarded except at the
peril of our souls.
Conversions are reported from nearly
every charge. Pittston about zoo Old
Forge 50, Waname s., Carverton 10,
NoXen So First church, WilhesBarre, lJ:
Parish Street 10, Derr Memorial 80, Elm
Park So, Hampton Street A.
The district has paid about $1,000 on
old debts during the year. Kingston,
SO 900; Asbury, 81 2h0; Cedar Avenue, $50:
Court Street, N,7SJ; Parrish Street, $500;
Forty Fort, 500; Aldereon, $%o; Rend-
| n. tff, 1aaa
church and parsonage from the last dol
lar of debt, the young men at Rendham
have expended and paid about $500 on the
property this year. BY the way that
man at Rendham is a marvel lie has
preached and prayed, sung and shouted
| his way for more than fifty years
among happy converts and hopeful Chrls-
| tians. All honor to the youthful veteran,
| j. l.. Race. You will say that over his
casket some day. / will say it now.
Nearly or quite 5000 has been eN-
| pended upon our church property this
| year. \ new parsonage has been pur-
| chased at NoXer on which only about SdOO
remains unpaid. A new parsonage Is i'll
process of erection at Courtdale for the
| Courtdale and Pringleville charge. a
very commodious parsonage is nearly
completed at Clark's Summit. The new
| church enterprise under the wise anu
| iudicious management of DR.. MoES ot
| Central Wilkes-Barre is progressing
| finely. very elaborate plans have been
| adopted and work will be begun at once,
When completed this church Will be
hardly second to any church in this con-
| ference.
THE OWEGO DISTRICT.
Rev. George Forsyth reported for
the Owego district, giving an encour-
| aging account. He has attended 100
|
| times and travelled 5000 miles, chiefly
| by carriage, conversions numbered 500.
| In September the Sayre church was
sold by the sheritt and the pastor,
Rev. L. Il. Weeks, had worked heroic
ally to save it, The committee in the
matter reported in favor of immedl-
ately raising the necessary sum of $500,
| and s625 was pledged. The remainder
| probably being assured.
| The names of effective elders were
| called, their characters passed and
| their reports heard. Chancellor Day,
| Of Syracuse university, made an APP
| peal for that institution, which is
| hampered for lack of an endowment.
There are now 1900 students, which
number could be doubled if more
money were forthcoming. A descrip-
tion of the superior advantages of the
university in the way of equipment
was given. DR.. Raymond, of Wesleyan
university, also spoke in the interests
of his work.
At this point Presiding Elder For
| syth, president of the cabinet, stated
! that 1t was desired by the conference
to present a token of affection TO
! Bishop Newman on his departure and
that Rev. DR.. w. II. Pearce had offered
a souvenir in the shape Of a cane, pro-
| cured by him in the Holy Land from
the oak of Abraham anu DR.. Pearce
| advanced upon the platform with the
stick, which was highly polished and
| beautifully grained. A committee
| composed OF DIR. Pearce, the presiding
| elders and Rev. Thomas Harroun i'm
mediately called upon Bishop Newman
| at the home Of DR.. Hard. and DR..
Floyd and Rev. George Forsyth told
| of their mission. DR.. Pearce then said:
DIR. PEARCE'S REMARKS.
Bishop Newman: Beloved.
In behalf Of the conference | present
YOU this historic cane from the Old OAK
of Abraham, in Hebron, the Holy Land
! Underneath went to ard fro the feet OF
that long line of illustrous prophets anC
| saints. Ii will rest the wearincss of your
body, but the weariness of your soul viii
bc rested on that strong stay, the beloved
Nazarenc, ugun whom you lean.
AS he spoke Bishop Newman began
to show signs Of great agitation, and
at the close Of DR.. Pearce's remarks
the aged man sank back in his chain
overcome with tears. The scene was d
pathetic one. With trembling voice he
said impressively: MY next appoint
ment will be there" pointing upward
and then he thanked the men who
gathered about him, and in accents
broken by sobs stretched forth his
hands and sOlemnly pronounced 3
benediction over their bowed heads.
All felt that il would be their last
meeting. \ short time later he Went
To the train, and amid gOod-byes from
The assembled ministers, left, perhaps
on his last journey. The scene was
one which made the deepest impress
sion on all who We're present,
Later in the morning a collection
was taken in the conference will
which to secure a suitable head fol-
| the cane and an inscriptiOn The mat.