Evening journal., 1913-03-26

we'll looked after by one whose min
istry long since passed the expert
mental stage. Fortunate indeed, was
the church In being able 10 secure
the ministry OF Brother Smith, which
has met the crisis and enabled this
loyal people to maintain an envia-
Bile record.
The motive prompting the state
ments now made, will, / feel sure,
be fairly understood During the nine
years spent in district work | have
felt that some word Of special APP
probation was due a class Of men
among us who do the hard and diff
cult work OF the conference, often
with scanty support and Indifferent
consideration. ! refer to the circuit
preacher. One can have but little
understanding of the stress these
good men endure unless he has per-
sonally experienced Il OF come in
touch with il as an officer of the
church. There are ministers on Eas-
ton District, who in addition to driy-
ing twenty-eight miles each Sabbath
through all sorts OF roads and all
kinds OF weather, preach three times,
lead class meetings, participate in
Sabbath school work, assist in the
Young Peoples meetings. and spend
from four TO FIVE months in revival
services. driving home at night often
chilled to the bone, and for the most
part do this heroic work without
complaint. Surely such service eff
fectually disposes of the sheer some
times heard that the ministry Is
simply matter of dollars and
cents. Hardship such as this cam
not be measured by the dollar mark,
and I'm no instance Of which | have
knowledge Is the remuneration even
approximate to the labor bestowed.
Intimate fellowship with these men
has kindled anew my admiration for
the ministry and deepened my re-
spect for these modest toilers In
those exacting fields II is almost
needless 10 add that no reflection
upon or lack Of appreciation Of any
other class Of ministers is intended
All have their burdens and problems,
but &c has long been IN my heart to
voice a much deserved tribute to
the man on the circuit. that is all.
Anniversaries Observed.
The year Just closed witnessed
the bounds of the Easton district AT
ST. Michael's, Or Van p. Northrup,
pastor. the 135th anniversary OF the
founding of our church in that his
toric town was observed. For weeks
Brother Northrup and his people had
been planning TO signalize the event
by the payment of a troublesome debt
which amounted to over $500. DR..
John Krantz, a prince in MethOdism,
and a lineal successor in debt rails
ing TO the sainted DIT. Benjamin I.
Ives. was present. Dr. krantz found
we'll prepared field. AT the close
OF the day II was found that more than
the amount needed to wipe out this
annoying debt had been raised Broth
er Northrup Is deservedly popular MOI
only with his own people but is high.
/ ly esteemed by the community a.
large. There is a class meeting al
/ this place which has had a continu
Gus history of 1876 years. For noarl.
a century and half the various pas
tors who have served Sardis Chape
have led this class II ought to b.
said that the ministry of Brothe
Northrup has amply sustained tn
traditions of this historic society.
September 29th marked the OBJ
/ servance of the 10Th anniversary o
7 the Royal Oak Church. and the frs
anniversary Of the new edifce. Tit
Rev Howard Townsend Quigg wal
/ the preacher at the morning service
/ II was Brother Quiggs first visit {,
/ this church, and all were delighted
with the service he rendered amoni
whom were some who had known hil
revered and sainted father in thu
days OF his early ministry The Rev
| Ivanhoe Willis has served this charge
for two years with signal and increas
ing success.
"The second week in November wal
set apart by the Rev John b. c. Hop
lSins TO commemorate the Tooth an
niversary of the beginning of Meth
odism IN Trappe. The writer preach
ed Sabbath morning the 10th to al
audience that filled the room to tn
doors. The weeks services that fol
lowed was marked by great spiritua
fruitfulness. Brother Hopkins ha
been instant in season and out OF sea
son for three years past in develop
ing the resources of this charge. Whe
we recall the strenuous vicissitude
through which this faithful and loyi
church has passed because Of the mil
taken zeal of religious fanaticism W
can appreciate continued loyalty {
the faithful few who would not fol
sake the mother church. but who
, spite of persecution of the bitterel
description remained true to th
church OF their fathers. The mini
try of Brother Hopkins has been graz
] Ion al Of cd
of the charge have shown stead
progress from every viewpoint.
, Epworth League Conditions.
THE condition of Epworth Leagl
d on the Easton District is not as hop
! full as we would wish. In some
= the larger appointments the Semi
e League has disappeared altogeth,
n The problem confronted is a distur
ing one and its proper solution cal
for wisdom from on high for Il
wisdom OF the flesh will not sufil,
Much lies with the pastor. but
.r alone is not equal to the task IL
n self-evident fact that unless the
y is within the direct control Of {
Ia church some adequate agency for I
s. development Of its young life, ,
D. church will suffer less at a vital poi
This organization should be TO the 1
Of the young people what the ella
Z meeting once was TO the church.
should be said however, that at so
points on the district, League VIC
is fulfilling its appointed mission,
in every such instance the leaders,
- of the pastor is ably supplemented
w capable and consecrated young peoI
he IL is gratifying to report that
81 District Junior League is fiourishi
10. three new organizations have bl
10 added this year. and il won the D