Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1902-11-03
REPORT OF DR..
ALBERT CAMERON
OF Condition Of the M E. Church. Salts
$50, roa5;,;or of Affairs Sho,vr.

The past year has been unmarked
by death or any serious sickness In
the homes of our pastors. The
preachers have occupied their fields
to which they were assigned a year
ago, with the exception of Rev. D.
W. Rpbie who was elected Chap
lain Of the State prison and entered
upon his duties there last May.
Rev. c. G. Fart filled out the
year at Williamstown with great &C.
|ceptability.
Good revivals rewarded the et'
forts of many of the pastors. The
entire number Of pfobationers be-
ing 7z1. Ofthese about 400 were
reported as received into full mem
bership at my latest information.
In some cases the fruits of the re-
vivals do not seem to have been
properly cared for. A good revival
begins, rather than ends, the spe'
cial responsibilities of the pastor:
The district Is well supplied with
churches which are kept In fair re-
pair; though insurance Is still mucu
neglected. One new church was
built, replacing the old one at Pleas
ant Valley, D. W. Smith, pastor
The church cost ST., 900, and Is free
of debt. Brother L. D. Ashby ded.
icated the church and rendered
efficient services. Our church IN
Friendly was re,seated and other
wise repaired and beautifed Under
the pastorate of s. E. Jones. at a
cost of $500. First church at Par
kersburg expended over 81 600 in
improving the church and parson-
age. Debts were paid of on par
sonases at st. MarYs, HarrIsyllle'
Middlebourne, Belleville and Smith
field, and reduced at other places.
A new parsonage was built at
Newark, costing about $3.50, OF
which about $50 remains unpaid
This result was achieved under the
leadership o" the pastor, - J.
Metheny, and under all the condt.
lions, It Is a greater achievement
than the mere statement indicates.
Several parsonages are yet need
ed, and we hope to report increased
activity along this line In another
wear. Hebron, Friendly and Shiloh,
Pleasants, North Parkersburg, South
Parkersburg, and Riverside and
Williamstown are yet without par.
sonages. -,
The benevolent collections will
be In advance of last year, though
a few charges have fallen below
last year Parkersburg Is again to
the front with 81 900 for missions
with all other collections up In full.
Harrisville, Middlebourne, Friendly
and Shiloh, St. Mary's and Smith
Vile report all collections In full.
Some others report good gains. We
are sorry to note some deficiencies
In ministerial support, though
there will be improvement over
last year.
Sunday schools are!held In all our
churches, too many of them clos
ing In the fall. Our own literature
Is used, and a larger number than a
year ago are organized into mis-
sionary societies.
The conditions and number OF
Epworth L ague chapters have
not ma erially changed. Reports
from League chapter superinten
dents are too frequent for me to
make any reliable report In detail.
Some good junior chapters are es-
tabllshed, the best one being In
Sistersville under the wise supervi-
sion of the pastors wife.
The presiding elder desires again
to record his gratitude for courtesy
and cooperation on the part Of pas
tors and people, remembering with
encouragement to new hope and
strength that "God giveth the In
crease"
A1RERr CAMERON. P, e.