Yorkville enquirer. [volume] (Yorkville, S.C.) 1855-2006, 1905-12-15
QUESTION OF SALARY.

The Yorkville correspondent Of the
News and Courier tells Of an interest
ing development at the meeting OF
the Methodist quarterly conference In
Yorkville. involving the question Of the
presiding elders salary.
The facts Of the case escaped the
reporter for THE ENQUIRER completely,
at the time but the matter at issue
seems to be Of sufficient interest to
warrant the publication of condensed
reproduction of the story as sent
to the News and Courier by its cor
respondent.
It appears that a controversy has
developed out Of difference OF opin-
ion as to the salary that should be
paid to the presiding elder of the Rock
Hill district, that official in the opinion
Of many Of the members Of the church
now receiving rather more than his
share of pay as compared with the
pay of the average minister Of equal
ability.
Some years ago, according to the
statement as related to the cores
pondent by a churchman who Is In
close accord with the facts the district
stewards, after a conference, decided
that the presiding elder Of this dis
trict should have a salary equal to
about $1,000 and necessary expenses
and to raise this sum levied an assess
ment on the churches on a basis OF
s14.5O for each 500 paid their res
pective pastors.
AS time went on and the churches
grew in numbers and strength the SAL
ary Of the presiding elder increased to
about $4,000 and expenses, and quite a
respectable proportion Of the member
ship is beginning to arrive at con-
viction that this Is, at least quite IL
beral.
Each church holds its quarterly con-
ference, composed Of the stewards pre-
sided over by the presiding elder, and
at the last quarterly conference elects
a steward to represent 1t IN the district
conference This district conference
is charged with the supervision of dis
trict affairs generally, including the
fixing Of the pay of the presiding elder,
and 1t is understood that at the last
meeting of the quarterly conference Of
the Yorkville church, there was a pur-
pose to elect a district steward who
was in favor Of a re-adjustment Of the
salary question.
BY virtue Of his Office the presiding
elder presides over quarterly confer
ences, and 1t seems that according to
the rules of the church government, 1t
is the privilege Of the presiding elder
to nominate for district steward can
didate to be elected by the majority Of
the stewards. When the conference
reached this stage Of the proceedings the
presiding elder preferred the name Of a
steward who was understood to be
disinclined to interfere with the salary
question. The stewards voted no..
The presiding elder suggested another
nominee of presumably the same
views, with the same result and the
third effort turned out in like man.
ner.
It now being apparent that the
steward body was disinclined to ac-
cept the presiding elders suggestion,
that officer expressed himself on the
subject with some emphasis, and one
Of the stewards suggested that IL the
presiding elder would continue on
through the list, he would surely find
nominee who would prove accepta-
BILE and who would be promptly elec-
ted. The presiding elder, however, re-
fused to make any further nomina-
tions and there was no election Of dis
trict steward.
The complication raised a question
which, 1t is understood, Is altogether
new, and the issue between the presid-
ing elder and the board Of stewards,
will be considered in the state confer
ence now In session in Spartanburg.