Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1916-11-24
Wildwood. M. E. Church Makes
Fine Showing

been pastor of the Wildwood Methodist
church a number of splendid improve
ments have been made, debts have
been paid and membership increased.
Nearly nine hundred dollars has been
raised and applied to the debt on the
parsonage. The parsonage debt has
been reduced from t%wenty-six hundred
and fifty dollars to nearly seventeen
hundred dollars. The debt on the
street paving was reduced one hundred
and fifty-six dollars and that on the
Sunday-school room nearly wiped out.
A hot water heating plant has been in
stalled in the parsonage and DR.. Ed
wards raised all the money to pay for
it. The appearance of the parsonage
was transformed by receiving two coat
of paint. The newly painted parson-
age made the church look 80 badly
that the pastor hustled around and
raised money to paint the church.
The interior Of the church was also I'M
proved by having the walls beautifully
papered with tinted paper and an ORR
entally designed border. The last i'm
provement made is a steam heating
plant for the church.. Seeing how un-
comfortable his congregation was in
cold weather he obtained approval of
the official board to make q money
Cam paign for a steam heating plant.
He had all the money in bank before
the plant was installed. Nearly every
one in the church gave to the heating
plant. This fact shows. what a host of
friends he has. Not only has he q host
of friends In the church but he has a
large number who are not members of
his church, but they gave literally
toward paying for the heating plant.
DIR. Edwards, is a money raiser and an
indomitable worker. With his own
hands he built the heater room for the
parsonage heater, also built the heater
room for the steam heating plant for
the church, with a little assistance.
When the stained glass windows were
returned from Philadelphia, where they
had been sent for repairs, and were re-
placed, the gothic cash at the top of
each window was converted into a
transom SO ventilation could be had
from the top of the window. Now the
congregation can be warmed up or
cooled off at will. 1t was through the
kindness Of j.. Howard Coombs that
tho otoipnd oIoou uoro ranoir-
ed without cost to the church. Had q
charge been made the cost would not
have been less than seyenty-five dol
lars. At the quarterly conference held
Saturday night, November IS, a vote
of thanks was extended to Mr.. Coombs
for the in terest shown in the work of
the church. In his report to the quar-
terly conference DR.. Edwards spoke of
the splendid attendance of the summer
people at his church and the liberal
loose offering which they contributed.
The offering on some Sundays would
be as high as twenty-six dollars to
forty-four dollars. Last Sunday eve-
ming he preached to a full house, the
largest congregation since the season
closed. Next Sunday night he will
give an illustrated sermon. The pastor
reported that the average increase of
membership each year has been forty
five persons, or ninety persons during
the two winters. He is trying to ar
range a series of union evangelistic SER
vices and have all the churches on the
island join in the movement. At the
conference Saturday night Mrs. Mary
Sharp was confirmed as president OF
the Ladies' Aid society and she read a
fine annual report of the society. She
a also elected steward of the COM
munion service. The treasurer's report
Of the aid society showed more than
two hundred dollars on hand. AT the
quarterly conference Saturday night
Samuel Roberts, a thorough going con
sistent and reliable business mar Of
this city, was recommended as a suit.
able person to receive a license to
preach and he was confirmed as q local
preacher. Rev. George II. Neal, D. D.,
superintendent of the Bridgeton dis.
trict, who drove from Bridgeton In his
auto car Chalmers 6 to hold the confer.
ence, was entertained at the home Of
Samuel Roberts. He remained there
as their guest until Sunday afternoon,
preaching in the church Sunday morn
ing. DIR. Edwards, being invited to
return for the fourth year, accepted.