The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-12-12

6 And they went forth, and s E preached everywhere, the Lord S $ ing the word with signs follow S3 s ing. Amen. s
 
 After the reading of the foregoing seven verses, the last in the Book of Mark, Bishop Morrison at Roanoke an- nounced the assignments for the North Alabama Methodist conference
 He assigned 240 ministers to their sev- eral charges for the coming year. One hundred and seventy Of the 240 were sent into new fields. Most of them would go Into entirely new charges. where they were strangers.
 They must break up their little homes, bid good bye to the friends they have made during the past year and move into strange land. Like the wandering Arab, he must furl his tent and find new fields
 It is dramatic period in the life of the Methodist minister. One word from the bishop decides his fate for year, maybe for life. When small incidents often turn the entire course of a mans life much importance is attached to the fate pronounced by the bishop.
 I was deeply impressed with the solemn ity of the occasion. Pastors of big and wealthy churches in the city might be re- duced to smaller and less important charges. The young preacher on a small circuit might be elevated to higher places
 A young man of fine appearance and striking intelligence had just been admit ted to church relations. I was told that he had resigned a clerkship in a bank to enter the ministry. His salary in the bank was Sl5o0 year. He had promise of rapid promotion in the business world.
 But he had heard the call of Jesus Christ, "Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" He obeyed The bishop sent him to a small mountain circuit, far from his home and among strangers. The circuit has never paid its pastor as much as $500 year.
 1 tried to analyze the feeling in that young mans heart when he heard his assignment Perhaps the promise of the Living God that He would go with him filled his soul with gladness and righteous submission. To the man of the world the bishops words sounded like the verdict of a judge in condemnation.
 man who had been in the ministry for number of years reported that he received a salary for his years work of s99. 60. His wife had died a number of years ago, but he had three girls looking to him for support and education. The oldest is 16 years of age.
 How 1t had been accomplished he did not know but this oldest girl holds second-grade license to teach school, and will get frst-grade license this year. He is giving the other two children fair educations and hopes to do as well by them as the oldest but 1t is a hard strug- gle.
 Do you think 1t is miracle that a man can support and educate a family of three children on less than $100 year?
 Mir. Man of the World. do you think you would continue in a profession that paid no more money and had but little promise of increase?
 Can you question the sustaining virtue of the grace of God when such examples of privation and hardship are presented? This man had reached the meridian of life. He will continue a poor preacher to the end of his days; poor in purse but perhaps richer than the most affuent of us in soul comfort and the imperishable riches of eternal life.
 A young minister had served seven churches on circuit in the northern part of Blount county. He was changed to a circuit In the mountains of DeKalb coun-
  churches. The old circuit last year paid him a salary of $24o. The new circuit will pay about the same.
 This young man was married last Jan uary to sweet young girl residing in his pastorate. She will make her first move with her itinerant husband this winter. The young minister told me something of his home life. He had man. aged to stay out of debt, but 1t had been a struggle. After his marriage he had been compelled to buy considerable furni- ture to fit up home for his bride. He had COW and horse. He also had some chickens. The COW and chickens re- duced the cost of living, but the feeding of the horse with dollar corn was a problem.
 A small garden which he and his wife tended helped along the expense of the table. He went home from conference with s25 saved from his years work He hoped this would be sufficient to estab- fish him in his new home
 Was he satisfied and happy? I am sure I have never met happier man. When talked with him we were on the crowded train returning from the con- ference. He had heard his fate the night before and was hurrying home to tell his young wife about the conference and | discuss with her the making of new nome. They would move as early as | possible so as to get acquainted with l the people in the new charge and get l down to work early in the new year. l He was really as happy as a boy pre- l pairing to make long journey. He was full of hope for great things to be ac- complished before the next annual con l ference.
 These are only few of the incidents | and examples of ministerial life that are the rule in most of the charges in | north Alabama heard of one man l who received $11 and 8 white shirt for his years work. I was told that tnis man asked the bishop for q transfer l that a man ought to have at least two | shirts and he hoped change would | produce the goods at least. His wire could make the shirt. I hope he got | the transfer.
 | To appreciate the work the saer'