The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1900-04-25

There were fewer changes than usual
this year in the Wyoming conference.
Two years ago the entire conference
was more or less disarranged by the
advent of two or three transferred
men. The effects of these additions
still assert themselves over the vari-
Gus districts. The regular members Of
the conference do not welcome such
importations with any too evident ef-
fusiveness, for as rule the trans
ferred men are given places pretty well
at the top and this naturally causes
some heart-burnings among the older
residents of the conference. There are
but a limited number of appointments
which pay a thousand a year or over.
In one district, in fact, the average
salary is about 1869.
There was great surprise when the
appointment of Rev. DR.. II. II. Dresser
to Ashley was announced. DR.. Dresser
is somewhat broken in health, and is
reaching an age where he is scarcely
able to do heavy work. Another sur
prise was the appointment of DR.. M.
ID. Fuller to Jermyn. 1t was generally
believed that he would go to Norwich,
although 1t was well-known that he
desired to be sent to High street, Bing-
hamton. There Is, however, an opin-
ion among those who are supposed to
know that he took this charge with the
understanding that next year he will
be made presiding elder
Rev. William Edgar had also desired
to go to High street, but is probably
well contented to be in Owego which
has a good church, fine old colonial
parsonage, and one of the most desir-
able congregations in the conference.
A number of clergymen who wers
anxious to move to pastures new, were
told by the bishop to be at peace where
they were. The theory which seemed
| to prevail was when the people did not
earnestly clamor for change the pas
tor had to remain. When the people
did express a longing for another shep.
| herd, why another was sent, and the
| one they designated.
General approval is expressed at the
| selection of general conference dele.
| gates, both ministerial and lay. They
are considered as fitting representa-.
| tives of so great conference as Wyo.
ming. and it is hoped that thev will
distinguish themselves in the delibera.
| tions at Chicago.
| Bishop Foss made strong appeal foi
caution in breaking down the time
| limit. He warned the conference sol.
| emnly that he foresees danger, anC
| his forebodings are well founded ir
| the experience already seen in the
| five-year rule. When three years con.
stituted the limit of a pastors stay
| the people were 10th to offer complaint
| for the trifling shortcomings of theil
| spiritual leader. IT'S only for three
| years" they said, and then their pas.
| tor, unless he was absolutely incom
| patible with his charge, was given the
| compliment of a recall until the limi
was reached. Now, five years stretches
on to interminable length, in the i'm
agination of both pastor and people
They grow restive and impatient under
the slightest friction. Consequently
there are now innumerable changes
after a single year of service, and thu
reports show that the five year records
are few and far between. The propo
sition to still further increase the tim,
limit is looked upon with apprehension
by the thoughtful.
The Wyoming conference did no
place itself on record regarding tn,
amusement clause in the discipline.