Evening journal., 1917-03-29

Ncfo mas uftN toulincuuanle hCblf
ity I'M the direction of debt-paying and
Improvements The total debt on
church property as reported in last
years minutes was Sls3 $3.50 and Of this
amount $4,000 was on Wilmington dis
trict A determined effort has been put
forth this wear TO lessen that amount
and not without success.
"A brief summary Of what has been
done is worth while. The largest
amount provided for is at McCabe
Memorial. where the Rev. James W.
Easlcy. with his accustomed energy
and perseverance, led the way, until
the $1,000 that had grown TO be a
burden. was covered with cash ana
reliable subscriptions. This church is
destined to become second TO none in
the city, and when it comes into its
own the name OF James w. Easley
Will have a large place in its history.
Next is Epworth, Rev. j Howard
Gray. pastor A more discouraging
task than that which confronted
Brother Gray last spring on assuming
the burden of Epworths pastOrate can
scarcely be imagined This was a
Nnnt MNNAN AiAN AAAhlEnA AAuu htAARM VI
the face OF the mortgage. But so he
roically did pastor and people at
tack this debt that every dollar is
provided for, and this fine property IS
ereed at last from its burdensome
encumbranco And the work was
done so quietly and unostentatiously
that without ado the victory was
achieved.
Under the never say die manage
ment OF the Rev George White Daw-
sonl, Asbury. mother OF Wilmington
Methodism. is debt free for the first
time in many years.
"This we'll nigh hopeless debt was
lifted and the mortgage burned amidst
shouts of JOY. In addition TO this the
pastor has begun an endowment fund
to provide for the perpetuation Of this
mother church OF Wilmington Method
ism. Only those close to this tire
less and indefatigable pastor can
have tho remotest notion OF the al
most super-human energy required
to accomplish this seemingly impos-
sihle task. Endowed with a rugged
body and an optimistic temperament
Brother Dawson's pastorate has saved
this downtown church and put II on
firm basis; it's future Is secured.
"rhe Rcv. j. l.. Johnson had not
been long at Scott Church before he
determined to rid his beautiful and
commodious parsonage OF debt
Erected during the pastorate OF DR.
Robert Is. Stephenson. Il is one of the
best parsonages on the district, and
under Brother Johnson's leadership
the debt has disappeared. and the
membership greatly increased. and
the Sabbath school nearly doubled In
membership.
"Ono thousand dollars has been
taken from tho debt that has crippled
81. Paups. DR.. V. S. Collins has strug.
gled against heavy odds in this criti.
cal situation, hut not in vain. The
church is in better shape financially
than at any time since It's dedication
Trinity, where the Rev r. nigh Adam
has toiled patiently and we'll, has pai
| $4,000 on its mortgage A like amour
has been paid at Perryville. Much @
tho credit for this Is duo 10 the car
able management OF the Rev. G.. "
| Bounds. whose quiet. steady sticktO
! itiveness always wins. Or. Roberts
who has tho honor to represent Meth
odism IN the only college town In Della
ware, reports that $1,000 has heoi
paid on the debt DR. Roberts is re
spected and honored by all churche
and Methodism finds in him a worth.
representative. At Richardson Park
the Rev. l.. ! McDougle, pastor, $40
was raised on debts. The Rev. B. II
Conuolley. at Colora, reports tn
church free from debt, $3.50 havinl
been raised and paid. Let 1t not b.
thought that these smaller amount
are less worth of mention than th
larger sums. They not infrequen
lily represent greater sacrifices tina
where the amount paid as much more
"The total for debts and improve
ments will exceed 100000, and a larg
prospect for the coming year.
"a property has been secured a
Holly Oak for Sunday School pur
pose at a cost OF $4,000. This was mad
possible by foresight of the pastor, th
Rev II b. Kelso, the loyal support {
his faithful helpers and a gonerou
gift from John S. Mullin. The toti
for debts and improvements will b
nearly 100000.
mo man on the district has face
more disheartening odds than the Re
f.. X Moore at Port Deposit, but
goes beyond last year in the benev
lent offerings and has a remarkab
grip on the whole situation If the
, is a more discouraging field on Il
district than Elk Neck, ] have n
. seen Il, yet with moro than a thi
Of the year gone and little done in Il
way OF church work, the Rev O.
= James has had 50 conversions and
, creased the offerings 10 over 100 p
cent. Delaware City led by the Re
; T. n. Given forges ahead, and Char,
town responds 10 the leadership
the Rev. w. b. HOrner with a decid
advance in everything. The Rev.
c. Mccoy. who has been out OF
pulpit for months comes with beti
ID report than last year; what cou
- speak in greater praise OF loyalty a
d grit than this showing? The Rev.
p. Prettyman at Rising Sun also {
D cells the record of last year, a pl
r. nomenal achievement The Rev.
I W. Gray at Ebenezer. one of the me
difficult fields on the district goes
ahead of last year.
- "In addition to the payment or det
o very considerable has been done
! the way of church improvements. n
r ministry of the Rev. T. Il. Wan ~
at Mt Salem has been so successi
that IL has been found necessary
IS materially increase the seating caps
% ity OF the church. A two story adj
.e ton 50X50 feet is now well under wa
St When completed Mt Salem will
ne equal to the best in the city in the WI
lg, OF equipment The cost OF this Il
he provement will reach about S14 .0OC