The citizen. (Honesdale, Pa.) 1908-1914, 1912-03-27

shortly after the opening of the new
Conference year. This people have
labored heroically and are worthy of
the sympathy and help of the strong
er charges of the Conference.
"Peckville has been the recipient
of several special gifts. From the es-
tate of the late G. B. Newton, the
trustees received bequest of $500,
the income from which is to be used
toward paying the insurance prem
iums for the church. From the es-
tate of the late Anna A. Swingle, the
Ladies' Aid society received 500,
and $25 was left for the trustees. j.
ID. Peck. an official member of the
church for over forty years, in Janu-
airy of this year cancelled a note of
the trustees for $500. on which $27
interest was then due. The total of
these benefactions to this church dur
ing the year amounted to $653.
White Mills, which started out
with Cherry Ridge and Hoadleys as
a new charge last Spring, has demon
strated the wisdom of this arrange
ment. They have paid the pastor
salary of 500 with house rent, and
are now planning to build addition
to their church. This promises to be
one of our flourshing charges.
Pastoral support.
Thirteen charges during the year
have increased the salary of their
pastors. an amount aggregating ST.
925. This increase is especially graf
flying, as it follows an increase of
more than $4,000 which was made
last year But we still have several
charges on the district that are pay
ing salaries too small to furnish
comfortable support to a minister
and his family. 1t is gratifying to
note that the churches are coming
to realize more fully their obligation
to orr retired ministers.
Missions and Benevolences.
" The cause of missions and the
/ various church benevolences have
been faithfully represented, and
! there will be a good increase in the
amounts paid to these causes this
year We have some princely givers
within this district what joy will
come when al, have learned the bless
edness of this means of grace.
Three very spiritual and inspir-
! ing meetings of our District Minis
terial association have been held dur
! ing the year. We have held no
camp-meetings within the bonds of
the district. Several years ago meet
! ings were discontinued and the Sa-
/ lem Grove camp properties were sold.
! have not discovered, as yet, any
evidence of strong, general desire to
inaugurate this form of religious ac-
tivity anywhere within our territory,
but am hoping that every charge may
be filled with the spirit that made
In closing, / think l may say for
myself and every co-laborer that we
have striven to do better, and hoped
| to accomplish more. We have had a
vision of the field and have felt the
burden of our duty. Our limitations
! have not been in weak purpose, or
wrong intent. We have tried to do
our best, and we give over our i'm
perfect work, into His hands, who
maketh perfect, with humble trust" "
WiIkes-Barre District.
Conference gave careful attention
TO the excellent report submitted by
Rev. Hugh c. McDermott, ID. D., su-
perintendent of the WilkesBarre dis
trict. Attention was called to the fact
that the district has two cities; two
country towns; thirteen other towns
|
teen thousand and six smaller towns
with a population ranging from two
to four thousand each. In all but
four churches have been established.
Eight of the ten delegates who
will represent the Wyoming confer
ence at the general conference OF the
Methodist Episcopal church were
elected Friday afternoon by the lay
/ frtn Nf hn q
and afterward all delegates listen
ed to an address by Bishop Earl
Cranston, d. D., LII. D., who came
forth as an advocate of changing the
rules of the church so that 1aymen
may have a seat in the annual min
isterial conferences. Bishop Grams
toms address was strong. He told
the place of the laymen, and the
place of the minister, decrying both
the bull-dozer of the pulpit and the
self-Willed obstinate layman.
Bishops Cranston's address to the
laymen and ministers at the joint
session of the two electoral confer
ences was a masterful exposition OF
the relationship of the minister to
the laymen, the laymen to the min
lister and of both to the church. The
bishop called the session together
, and invited Thomas Henwood, presi'
dent of the lay electoral conference
to take a seat on the platform. Rev
i. Austin Griffin, ID. D., of Oneonta, Of
fered prayer and then the bishop
opened the meeting. He said that
there would be no similarity to a
political convention as there was nc
cut and dried program for the ses'
sion. Mr.. Henwood replied to the
greetings of the bishop, saying thai
he was proud of the high standards
of the church and wished to see then
maintained.
The five lay delegates to the gen
eral conference were introduced. G
l.. Peck, of Simpson church, West
Scranton, said that it was a new ex
; perience for him to stand before the
bar of conference, as two others haC
,, been elected general lay delegates fol
the second term. These two broth
ers who have been chosen again are
! fortunate" Mr.. Peck said, " in tha
they had not announced four years
ago that they would under no cir
cumstances accept a denomination