The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-03-22

TE A~ltE TaDluly approaching tne
MI time of the fifty-first session of
w Wyoming conference, April 49,
at Waverly, NY The bishop TO preside
is Rev. $. NJ. Merrill whose place of
residence Is marked Chicago. ILL This
will make the sixth time that this con-
ference has been entertained in this de-
llghtful New York town, viz, in 1854,
1864 1873, 1881, 1891 and now in 1909.
Bishop James presided over the first
and second sessions; Bishop Ames, the
third: Bishop Andrews, the fourth'
Bishop Bowman, the nfth, and Bishop
Merrill to preside over the sixth, In
looking over the list we find that of the
1ifty-one sessions. counting the coming,
twenty-six have been held in Pennsyl-
yania, and twenty-five in New York
state. Wilkes-B Barre, Pa, Binghamton,
N Y, and Waverly, NJ Y, have each
entertained the conference six times.
Scranton, Pa, and Owego, N. Y, each
five times Carbondae, Pa, and Nor
wch, N. Y. each four times. Hones-
dale, Pa, West Pittston, and Oneonta
N. Y. each three times. Twenty-eight
bishops have presided, while fourteen
secretaries have looked after the 'scri-
BAL part of these fifty conferences.
This will make Bishop Merrilrs third
presidency of Wyoming conference
1877 at Honesdale, 1890 at Binghamton,
md 1902 at Waverly. n. Y.
The first session of this conference
was held in Carbondale. July Z, 1852,
and this, it's fifteth anniversary, would
have been held in that city but for the
disastrous fire which destroyed its
church. Bishop Scott presided. and
sixty-two ministers responded to their
names. AT that conference Rev. DIR. Y.
G.. Smith was received on trial: Rev. {.
J.. Rice was admitted into full connec-
ton, and Rev. G.. w. Leach was elected
and ordained elder These are the only
living members who were connected
with Wyoming at its birth. The num-
her of members and probationers were
1851. The districts We're three in num-
ber-Newark, Susouehanna and Wyo-
ming. At the close of the first session
these were increased to four, and. with
the exception of Wyoming, remained:
Bnghamton. Owego, Honesdale and
Wyoming. Our Wyoming district en-
braced a territory which in itself ap-
peared as a small conference, from
Newport on the south to Mount Pleas
ant on the north from Tunkhannock,
Mehoopany, Springville on the east to
Hawley and Beech Lake on the west.
Out of this territory, north and west,
the Honesdale district was created.
We have now six districts. there being
added to those already mentioned the
Chenango and Oneonta. The number OF
ministers is now 2S5, and of members,
46.564. In 1852 the highest salary paid
to any of it's clergymen was $3.50, by
Wilkes-Barre church. Wyoming dis
trict Rev. Nelson Rounds being the
fortunate minister. There was no Scran-
ton then. The highest salary paid in
the Newark (now the Owego) district
was $340. In the Susauehanna mow
Binghamton) district $500. Now. in the
territory of these three districts there
are. thirty-one charges, paying from
$1,000 $, to $4,000. Scranton standing
financially at the head.
In 1865 the Wyalusing district was
added: in 1862, the Lackawanna dis
trct, or the conference was readiuSted
to make six districts. Scranton, now
ELM Park, and Providence being in the
Lackawanna district, and Hyde Park
in the Wyoming. Wyoming and Iacka-
wanna together had twenty-six charges.
In 1869, by change of conference bound
aries. the Chenango and Otsego (now
''litOhldJ ulSlTlclS OJ lllt' olltlIH COIL
ference became part of the Wyoming.
Then LackaWanna was united with
Wyoming. making seven districts. until
at the close of Rev. |. r. Walkers term
as presiding elder of Wyalusing dis
trict iii 1878, that district was absorbed
blythe OWego, Binghamton and Wyo-
ming districts, and the six districts
constituted the conference then as now.
1t may be of interest to many to know
the names of the presiding elders who
have served this Wyoming district
frQmbthe first: d. A. Shepherd, George
Peek, William Wyatt. G. Peck, Reuben
Nelson, II, r. Clarke, G. p. Porter. G.
Peck, G. r. Hair, W. H. Olin, Austin
Griffin, ,R. W. Van Schoick, Nj. S. Hard,
JIG, Ecknlan a. Griffin. 1t may be os
further interest to know that only two
of these vet remain. Rev. DR.. NJ. S.
Hard who has been honored by the
churchta at large in beire elected to the
setretaiyshio of the Church Extension !
society, but whose membership is still |
with us. and our present elder, Rev.
DR.. Griffin,
In 1854 Scranton first appears in the |
minutes, Scranton and Hyde Park be-
ing marked as mission" with A. III. |