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

The business of the Wyoming COM
ference which is i'm session at Kingston
was about a day behind yesterday
morning, owing to Bishop Newmans
feeble condition, as there has been no
rushing in the order Of affairs. II
vast amount Of work cannot be
crowded into this mornings session
the conference cannot adjourn on
Monday. Bishop Joyce having taken
the chair yesterday, there was a
change in procedure and few delays
ensued.
Bishop Joyce was elected in 1883 at
the general conference in New York.
One of the strongest agencies in force
which placed him IN the position he
now occupies was set in motion by
Rev. DIR. c. NJ. Giffin, of Elm Park
church, who was at that time in Gin
cinnati in a church which had a pow
erful influence.
Bishop Joyce's greatest success has
been in his evangelistic powers. He
speaks with fervor of old time Metho-
dism and his words flow like a torrent.
He is a man OF distinguished appear
| ance, his face the counterpart of the
strong portraits of the giants in
the early days of the church,
smooth shaven and with power
full mouth. The most unobservant
would at once be stricken with the
surprising gentleness evident in this
much loved member of the episcopacy.
His eXtemporaneous address to
the ministers at the close of the morn
ing session was a genuine surprise.
He made statement which few of the
great dignitaries Of the church have
ever been heard to utter when he said
with intense feeling.
THEY ARE ALL PREACHERS.
Preachers when they become pre-
siding elders and bishops have not
ceased to be preachers. They sim
ply hold office, and as men may help
their brothers, for we are all one great
brotherhood that now girdles the
globe. l want you preachers to come
to me about anything you please Tell
me your troubles, tell me about your
families, your churches, your hopes
and your fears. Tell me of the bur-
| dens that weigh you down and take
| my word for it this heart and this
hand are yours in any way they can
help you"
The deep earnestness and even ten
derness with which he said these
| words brought tears to the eyes Of
many a man who sat in the pews, as
he thought of the hard struggle of
all the years, of the bleak, forlorn
outlook for the years to come when
| past his powers of labor he would be
| left by the way to exist as best he
might, and, perhaps, like the little
! group of superannuates, await with
| gratitude the meagre pittance doled
out from the general fund to keen
| soul and body together.
Rev. Thomas Harroun conducted the
| devotional exercises of the morning.
| Bishop Joyce presided over the bust
ness session. After the reading Of
the minutes by Secretary J. B. Sweet,
Rev. Dr. Austin Griffin. presiding elder
| of the Wyoming district. read his re-
| port, which was heard with interest
| 1t began with a touching reference ia
| DR.. Eckman, who penned the last re-
| port, but has since passed away. In
part he said:
THE DISTRICT REPORT,
1t has not been an easy task to uathe,
| up the threads SO rudely and suddenly
| broken and take UP the unfinished work
| OF my brother. l desire here to record
my hearts high appreciation of the kind.
ly reception have received at the hands
| of both the pastors and the churches O!
the district. They could not have done
| more in word or deed than they have
done to relieve me Of all embarrassment
and assure me of their confidence and af.
| fection.
Our district ranks with the strong dis.
| trtcts of Methodism and is regarded as
the great district of our conference. Il
| reports for the past year fifty charges
While Oneonta has thirty-two ChenangC
| thirty-one, Honesdale and OweSo thirty,
three respectively and Binghamton thirty,
| six. Its area is about twenty-four miles
| by twenty. 1t embraces the cities ol
Scranton and WilkesB Barre with all The
populous towns of the Wyoming valley
1t embraces two churches that takes ranl
among the great churches Of our denomi
nation, Elm Park, Scranton. and Firs
| church, Wilkes-Barre. 1t also contain!
a number of churches beside which il
wealth, social influence and number!
| compare well with the prominen
churches of Methodism
But while we make mention Of thcs,
strong churches we have some very veal
churches, indeed the weakest Chu.cn..
inns we nave illlt '.lt4'1lt!
| or PASTORAL charges where the saidrN
does not exceed $500 and five pay thct
pastors less than that sum. Were it no
that these strong churches bear the in
tirmities of the weak, these small charge,
| could not pay even the small salary re
ceived by their pastors.
The fact is portions of the Wyomng
and Lackawanna valleys are just al
| really missionary ground as any portion
OF this country living between the oceans
We have a teeming population of tens o
! thousands of semi -harbarouS, ungOSpellC,
foreigners, among US, with all the ignur
ance, superstition and vices of the sub
merged millions Of the old world. Thes
multitudes are surgng through our val
ley. They make the nights hidcOus will
their drunken orgies. They flaunt thei
vices in the faces Of our children an,
poison the very atmosphere with thci
profanity and vulgarty.
a PRESSING DEMAND.
These people should be subjects 70
missionary effort. l do not know whcr
you can find a more pressing deman,
or God-gven opportunity Our common
wealth has filled her prisons and aims
houses, shot a number and hung a few
And we the people give the Italians
Poles and Huns rum according to law
Then for their crimes we give them tn
bullet and the gibbet.
For the sake of the cross and the Cruel
fled let us give give them our gospel.
hope 10 see deaconess' home estab
i lished within the bounds of this district
A half dozen OF consecrated women wear
ing the deacOness' garb for their pro
! n "a "a hnhga nf l,olp init -