Evening journal., 1917-03-28
sfan Corresnnndeni


district superintendent OF Dover dis
rict was the first read at the session
of the Wilmington Methodist Episco
pal Conference here today. DR.. Now
nray told OF his first years work on
the district as follows
"Ihc year is gone all too soon. Work
is done forever, so far as this space of
time is concerned, and we come now to
make a partial report Of what has been
accompl shed on the Dover district. Par
tal II must be, because there is so much
that enters into the days work of the
church which cannot be written down
with human pen, or spoken by human
tongue. l desire first of all TO register
my profound gratitude 20 our Heavenly
Father for His abounding goodness to
me, for health and strength to prosecute
the work assigned me, for the privilege
Of having a part, though ever so small,
In advancing the interests of His king
dom on earth. Also. 10 make note Of
the very helpful attitude Of my imme-
diate predecessor in Office, who aided me
in every possible way to get hold of the
work at the earliest moment Calling
my attention to the few unfinished prob
Ions on The district, and giving me a
detailed plan of visitation fdi' the first
quarter, so that / could readily find
places, and meet the people who would he
Of great help TO me in doing my work;
and further I would like TO say here
and now what is in my heart 10 say re-
specting the brethren who have consti-
tuted the working force as the leaders
of the lords hosts in this part of His
field. They have all. without single
exception. been manly. brotherly men,
kindly disposed. accommodating and
helpful in their attitude toward me. !
have not a single word Of complaint 20
offer against any man on the Dover dis
trict. They have been self sacrifcingly
devoted TO the work in hand. though
some of them have had painfully hard
fields TO cultivate. They have gone at
it in a heroic spirit and If they have had
complaints to make they have kept
them to themselves So far as | know.
And if it were agreeable 10 them and
considered wise by the powers that be,
] should bc glad to spend whatever time
7 may have in this work in company
with these men az co-workers.
There were but few changes found
necessary in the list of appointments
as they were announced at last con-
ference Early in the year Brother
r. II. Wilson. a local preacher supply
ing Little Creek charge was compell-
ed TO relinquish his work on account
Of sickness, and Brother Thomas Par.
dee was appointed to fill the vacancy.
Milford Neck and Williamsville both
OF which were left to be supplied at
last conference. were placed in charge
or Brother 3. p Moore, a recent g~ad-
uate OF the Conference Academy at
Dover Del Brother Moore has met
this rather dificult situation with wis
dom and tact. and the work is well
done. The people desire him to return
for next conference year. On Janu-
ary s. 1917. the Rev. B. L. Mcfarland,
who was completing three very sue
cessful years at Wyoming. was trans
ferred by Bishop Mcdowell TO Wyom'
ing State Conference and stationed at
Pine Bluff. Wyoming. The Rev r. T
Coursey. conference evangelist, was
placed in charge of this work
Or. Mowbray recorded the death Of
the Rev. r. H. Lewis. on August 80
1916. and OF John Cannon Short. eX
United States Marshal and prominent
Methodist.
The Rev. T. c. Smoot met with a
very serious automobile accident in
the early winter, which has taken
him from his work most of the time
up until conference.
There have been few changes in the
pastors salaries on the district this
Wear. Advances have been made In
the following charges: Bridgeville
S200 Milford. fredericksburg. Elliott's
Island and Galestown, 500 each
Hooper's Island. Houston, Nassau and
Canterbury, $50 each and Hickman
s25.
Need Of Higher Salaries.
I'VE do not wish TO unduly raise the
question of money, but the men must
live said Dr. Mowbray. "There are
men on this district who are compel
ed to. try 10 live on as little as S45l
per year They must keep a convey
ance of some sort, in order to do theii
work at all-automobile or horse anC
buggy-and that with corn at 81 pc
bushel and gasoline at &c per gal
lon. Beside this they are men will
families TO maintain. and all this t
be done on $3.50 to $500 per year
need not tell you that this cannot b
accomplished. No, they cannot Cyei
have the bare necessities of life. The!
must needs suffer for want of foot
and clothing. This they heroically d.
in silence. Talk of the heroic day
OF the fathers land no one would les
sen the glory of that after-glow). bu
We have instances OF similar heroisn
here and now.
Il would not suggest less for hom'
missions outside our immediate bor
ders, but we ought TO have on this
district alone at least $1,000 avail
able for these pressing cases to sup
plement the shamefully low salaries
so that a man need not be compelled
10 try TO do a mans full work on {;
child's ratiOns. It is just as neces
sary for this work to be done as an
on the face OF the earth And honoi
demands that the discharge Of ou
duty mot the bestOwing OF charity
should begin at home.
THE fault does not lie with tn
men who arc on these charges. no
yet altogether with the charges them
selves, but because OF condition
which we cannot control. In part
Of the territory there has crept il
hat irresponsible, wild-fire sort Of so
called higher religion which ha
honey-combed some OF our communi
ties and weakened the church ant
The cause of true religion. Here--w
need the sound doctrines of the Gospe
Of the Son of God as presented an,
taught by the Methodist Church NOR
even than in some other more fOrtu
nate places. We need this in orde