Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1900-05-31
REMOVAL OF TIE TIME-LlMlT
SURPRISED Members OF the VIII
sg smington Conference.
SOME PASTORS ARE GLAODENE[
Others Are Saddened by the
(, b, Abolition.
For t.,s Minister in the City Pulpit, the
New Plan is Good Thing; But for the
Munster In the Back Woods and swamps,
tits Horrible to Contemplate.

The action OF the General Conference
Of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
last week, in abolishing the pastoral
time-limft, announcement of which was
made in an Associated Press dispatch
TO The Gazette, surprised nienhars
Of the Wilmington Conference. Most
Of them expected that the five-year
limit would be continued. Those who
thought there would be a change
looked for return to the three year
limit, or the making of n 10-year limit.
The news of the action of the
General Conference glsddened some
members Of the Wilmington Con.
ference, and saddened others.
The removal of the time limit,
Methodists say, does not destroy the
itineracy, but Is return to primitive
Metbodism. In Bishop Asbury's days,
there WAS no pastoral time-iimit. Sub
sequently, one-year limit was made;
next, q two-year limit; later, three
year limit, and finally, a five-year
limit. When the pastoral limit was
changed from three to five years. the
presiding eldership limit was changed
from four to six years. The removal
Of the pastoral time limit, 1t is claimed,
also removes the presiding eldersbip
time. limit.
\ Pastoral assignments will be made
annuHlly, as heretofore. To illustrate
the ELAN, take the next session of the
Wilmington Conference. Or. King has
served Grace Church for one year,
rendering SERVICE acceptable TO the
membefs, to the bishop acting as presi-
dent Of the conference, and to the
presiding elders, who constitute the
bishops cabinet, or advisers. Grace
desires DIR. King to return to its
pastornte, and DR.. King is willing !;
Or. King is resppointed. A year later,
under like conditions, DR.. King is re-
appointed for another year. Thus, the
fehppointments may continuesfor an in
definite period. possibly lifetime. So
with the presiding elder; If no OBJ
lection is made. he may continue In
Office indefinitely.
The removal of the time-limit
presents interesting phases.
For the minister in the city, it is a
good thing it permits him to remain
in the city. For the minister in the
town, il he Is satisfied TO remain there,
1t Is also good thing. For the min
lister Id the country, who aspires to a
town or alcity pastorate, il may prove
stumbling block. For the minister in
the back woods or swamps, 1t is horri-
bls to contemplate; it may keep bin
there lifetime. The minister in the
city pulpit, who has a fine church and
parsonage, and who receives fat salary,
SO long as he renders acceptable SER
vice, has nothing to fear from the re-
rnosal Of the time limit: indeed. to
him the abolition of the time limit is
blessing. But to the minister on the
circuit or in Sockum, who receives for
his labor salary anywhere from $3.50
to $3.50, the removal Of the time limit
is not encouraging. One good feature
Of the time limits abolition lit will
teach the minister filing an humble
appointment that TO rise 10 the pas
total ranks he must have merit,
III the members of tho Wilmington
Conference had known that the General
| Conference would remove the time
limit, the late session of the local con-
fei ence probably would have teen more
exciting. 1t is limited that there would
have been q hustle for better appoint
ments, with the hope of retaining them
after the abolition of the time-limit.
| The next session of the Wilmington
| Conference doubtless will be lively, hut
the succeeding sessions will be devoid
| Of wirepulling and eleorioneering such
as have characterized past sessions,
when presiding elders were to be APP
pointed and desirable pastorates were
vacant The abolition of the time.
limit, ii is said, will smash the com
binations and discourage the attempts
Of the ambitious minister to get on the
| soft side Of his presiding elder.
AT present, 1T is not known whether
a majority Of the ministers of the Will
mington Conference favor the removal
of the time-limit. Samuel II. Baynard,
q prominent lGyman, says the laity are
willing to test the new plan; and ii
| it is not beneficial, 1t can DO remedied
at the next session Of the General Con.
ference. Mr.. Baynard believes the
plan will benefit the Wilmington Con.
ference 1t will, in his opinion, ri We
strong appointments to the strong min.
listers OF the Wilmington Conference,
thereby ietaining them in this confer.
ence, and prevent strong ministers Of
other confer ences coming here.
| The new plan is OF special interest to
the Rev. W. L. s. Murray, ID. D., Of
| st. Pau's Church, the Rev. e. Il.
| White Of Silverbrook Church, the Rev.
II. 8. Thompson of Delaware City, the
Rev J, Il. Graham of Wyoming, the
Rev. r. X. Stephenson of Seaford and
the Rev. @. W. Prettyman, ID. D., OF
Salisbury, who are finishing the fifth
year ut their respective charges. Had
the time-limit not been removed, they
would be ineligible for reappoint,
ment next March; under the new plan,
1 1T Is possible for them to return.