The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-04-28

when she was toiling and contriving
and murmuring not through the weary
years. Let us hope that somewhere.
whence she has gone, neither her sue
cessor nor the memoir read at the
annual conference. telling of her poor
little life and her virtues, trouble her
eternal bliss.
Marriage is encouraged among the
clergy of the Methodist church. In
fact. man who isn't married or has
no prospective bride at the time of
his ordination as a minister is regard
ed with suspicion. One young man
who had, attained to the ripe age OF
20 years without any apparent matri-
monial intentions was looked upon
with extreme disfavor the other day
In conference. When he coyly ad-
mited that he had no special attach
ment for any young lady, the dis
approval became more marked. "Just
think Of it," exclaimed one Of his
ministerial brethren, the tone of his
voice betraying his condemnation
Just think of it.! Twenty-nine years
old and never paid attention to n
girl-never walked home with one
from meeting or anything" and a
contemptuous sniff expressing a great
deal, closed his remarks
At any rate the would-be clergyman
was requested to wait until next year
for admission and no doubt his abnor-
NAL unappreciativeness of femininity
entered considerably into the situation.
1t is just possible that he will find his
rating perceptibly advanced when he
enters upon his work this year
where he is to supply the
pulpit. He is very good looking
and the intelligence which will soon
be diffused over the conference regard
ing his unsusceptibility will doubtless
increase the interest of his fair single
parishloners, and he will be the re-
cipient of many sofa pillows, embroid-
cred suspenders and mouchoir cases
There was class Of young minis
ters ordained at the Methodist con-
ference. To all who had not already
taken wives, it was indirectly suggest
ed that marriage was an honorable
estate. One couldn't but think o
their future and of those prospective
| brides. They are sure to be fair, gen
| tie, gracious young women, the cream
| of whatever society in school or pas
| torate into which the young men have
| been thrown. Providence certainly in
terferes in most apparent fashion II
| the selection of ministers wives, 81
| seldom are they frivolous or vain o
| foolish, or anything but blessed swee
! helpmates. They marry these preach
| erlngs, young beardless fellows, thei
faces illumined by holy resolves ant
! the divine enthusiasm of early man
! hood For years the lot of these girl
wives must be hard, for the younges
! members of the conference seldom
drop into fat appointments, of whicl
! there are few indeed. Their brida
robes will not have changed in fash
ion until the dreary, hard-life of self
denial begins TO show itself in its tru
light. and they must take up the bur
den as best they may. How beauti
| fully they do it--every one almos
without exception. More than ono
their grace, their tact, their de
! votion and help are the keys that IN
lock the golden gate of distinction 70
their husbands and bring them to
proud place in the ministry, and the
when it is all done there is left tn
! memoirs at the general conference
to perhaps, though, whence they hav
gone they still wait-close to the doc
for the coming of the feet they hav
so long helped over the hard place.
Saucy Bess.