Perth Amboy evening news., 1910-03-31
GOV. FORTS
ADDRESS TO
METHODISTS

Newark, March 31:-Criticism for
the advocates of an open Sunday
and the promoters of Sunday games
and the declaration that so long as
he was governor there would never
be Sunday bill signed, were fea-
lures of an address by Governor Fort
at the anniversary of the Centenary
Fund and Preachers Aid Society, OF
the Newark Conference, in the Cen
trail Methodist Episcopal church, in
Market street, last night.
The anniversary observance was
dampened somewhat by the serious
illness of the Rev. DR.. John A.
Gutteridge, financial secretary of the
American University, who has been
statistician of the conference for
many years. Dr. Gutteridge, who is
also secretary of the society, was to
have presided at last nights session
but word was received late in the af-
ternoon that he had suffered a
stroke of apoplexy at his home in
Ocean Grove. He is said to be in a
serious condition.
In the absence of DR.. Gutteridge
the session was presided over by
Rev. DR.. Samuel X. Doolittle, assist
ant statistician. Bishop William F.
Anderson. who was also scheduled
for an address, was unable to be
present because of pressing private
business. Rev. DR.. James H. Nc
Donald, pastor of ST. Luke's NJ. E.
church, this city, who also spoke,
took a rap" at the newspapers.
Governor Fort, in his opening re-
marks, eulogized the late William H,
Murphy, of this city, and was en-
phatic in his declaration that bet
ter Methodist or better man never
lived in this city. The centenary
fund was established largely through
the efforts of Mr.. Murphy, who, in
1906, donated $4,000, with the pro-
viso that like amount was to be
raised among the churches of the
conference. This has been raised,
with surplus.
"'It Is a great honor for me to be
here" began the governor, for / al
ways like to help good causes, and
know of no better cause than to
take care of the old or the worn-out
minister. I have obtained, through
the generosity of the legislature, a
pension fund for judges who are
more than seventy-three years old,
who may retire on one-third pay.
Now I want to tell you that / don't
believe there is anything that would
tend to stimulate minister more
than the knowledge that he was pro-
tected by retirement fund-that he
will not have to go to the poor
house.
Yesterday afternoon the anniver-
sary of the Woman's Foreign Mis-
sionary Society of the conference
was observed. The observance,
which was presided over by Mrs. ].
H. Knowles, conference secretary,
was featured by. the report of the
treasurer, Miss Edith L. White, and
an address by Miss Jennie v.
Hughes, missionary to China. There
was also special music and congrega-
tional singing. Miss Mary Carson,
a Chinese girl. who is at present
completing her studies in this coun-
try, proddct of the missionary
school in, .Kiu sKiang, Central China,
sang several hymns.
In her report Miss White showed
that this year $5,072 had been COL
lected over the sum realized in the
previous year. During the year ST.
$40 was received from the Elizabeth
district, 1926 from the Jersey City
district, $S,487 from the Newark dis
trict. S1,213 from the Paterson dis
trict and $1,606 contributed at
large, making total for the year Of
5000. Never has there been
more genuine enthusiasm shown in
the foreign missionary work, she
said, than during the last twelve
months. She concluded her report
with the note that $4,000 needed
for the erection Of the Ellin ].
Knowles Bible Whman's Training
in Kiu Kiang, had been
raised and that there was a surplus
of $35n-