The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1901-04-12

havoc in the finances Of a number OF o,ir
churches.
A number OF our pastors have also been con.
fron,ed by a rev and strange difficulty in raising
their bcnevolcnces and. although they have
worked like trojans, I fear some will be coin.
pelled to report deficientics In their nppoftion.
mcnts. There are parties who have been among
our most generous contributors To the cause oi mis-
sions giving annually from $50 TO slOO more or
less, who this year reduce their subscriptions, or
withhold altogether, because they do not arproye
the policy Of our government in the adminis,a.
tion Of affairs In our island possessions They
withhold from the cause OF missions and charge IL
up to the mistakes OF Mr.. Mckinley.
"a. ,.,. o,., ,o,.., g., +. 49,, 90.
moval from this life of some of ,ur loyu financial
supporters A little while opo Mrs I,nebcn Mel.
son, who gave annually through the Kingston
church 800 to the cause O, missions passed
away She was followed , few month. since by
Caroline pringle, a generous riycr from the
sane church E,rly in this conference wear Mrs.
Payne pettibonc. of Wyoming, was called to the
life immortal. Her regular subscription for the
cause Of mission, was $500 annually; 500 10 worn
out preachers; 5000 or onc.bal, the PASTORS sal.
ary, and all other causes in proportion. An ar.
dent and generous friend of our SEMINARY. There
has been a strange fatality in the Wyoming
church of late. Sister pcttibonc was followed by
others in rspid succession who were prominent
In church work until the membership has been
sadly depleted by death. Willie the pastor and
church have fought brayely. still there must nev-
itbalv bc A 1,rar falling off In the collections
from that church.
In common with th,. res, Of mankind o,r p,s.
tors and pcoplc have suffered from the prevailing
sickness during the winter. Revival services have
been interr,ptcd and in some instances .ac meet.
pastors laid aside temporarily from their work.
Now, although orr ranks have been depleted by
the translation OF these saints, both honored and
beloved. and we are fronting the unoward condi.
tions herein rcci;cd, still the battle is on We
arc not here with trailing harness, empty lands
and dcspoudrpt hearts We are not letc 10
mourn over churches bankrupt. congregations de.
plctcd. altars abandoned Gods praises h,,shed,
temples in ruins Sunday schools and Epworth
leagues lisbandcd and Zion laneushing But de-.
spite the labor tronblcs Mr. Mckinley, alleged
mistakes the inordate greed oi the rich the help
less poverty of the poor. the grip of the adver.
,lry. by the blessing Of our Lord fair measure
OF SUCCESS has been achieved by our workers this
year.
desire to make grateful acknowledgement Of
the tender and constant care OF our Heavenly
Father over the pastors and their families The
silcn. reaper called death has not entered a p,r-
Sonage in the district during the year. Brother
II. H. Wilbcr was stricken with typhoid fever
early in December, lust at the close of a very
successful revival resulting in the conversion Of
more than seventy souls.
He halted for month, ON tnc border Of the,
stream, Tor weeks he was near the crossing
Prayer by the church and his brethren was OF.
tered constantly in his behalf God hears prayers
Onr brother lives and is steadily and surely
nn'n.ns ",I, M n,S way o'N ron u'c n"nlierS %, .hc
c,os, o, this conjcrcn,r, Brother I, Mnrdoct h,.
had a broken tall and winter The victim Of The
grip and malaria. hc has suffered much bpt il
now ou Tho hich rood ,n ,,i,imoi, and wc honc
ncrtcrt recovery
MATERIAL PROSPERITY.
An unusual spirit OF enterprise has seemed to
rcrvalc the district A very noticeable instance
is the Pittston church. Glass No. ~ in the Sun
DAY school has raised and deposted in bank
about s. 3OD as the nucleus of fund for the com.
plete renovation OF .ha. historic old church. This
class composed OF men MANY Of whom are not
vet member, OF the church, with the pastors
wife as teacher. are certainly doing a ma~na-
cent work for Mc,bo,lism on that side OF the river
Askam has practically transformed their church
cdiiice, painted their parsonage and erected an
iron fence, expcnding altogether sI25O: Forty
Fort 1865: Dallas So11: Carycrton SISj: Court.
dale and Lsrksyillc 800: Dcrr Memorial 81 800.
Plains 500; Plymouth, Sl3o5; Stewart Memo.
rial, 81 GOO: Court street, $40; Ashurv, n new.
com,uodious and beautiful narsorage on mar.
sonage and church. S4 $50; Tunkhanrock, 81 900:
West Nanticokc, 81 400; Wavcrly, $500: Wyoming.
$500: Central church. 5000; West Pittston ST.
900; Elm Park, $1,000: First church, Wilkes
Barre, SlOO
The Central oLu,ch at Wilkes Barre, Was dedi.
Gated by Bishop Fowler, March 81, The entire
cost being about SOL. 600. 4 mode, OF heau,y and
convenience. a complete structure. parsonage and
church combined, an ornament to the city OF
Wilkes. Barre, credit to the Methodist Episcopal
cir,ich, monument 70 the faith, energy. courage
and genius of the heroic nas,or. Dr. G. T.. Morr.