Evening journal., 1917-03-29


Easton. with the assistance OF Bishop
J. W Hamilton, succeeded in wiping
out the debt OF S2.25O that stood
against the church there. Other
charges report the following amounts
paid on old Indebtedness: Still Pond,
$3.50: Tilghman. S720; st. Michaels,
$375. Middlotown. S252; Bayside,
Sl9S; Hillsboro. $50; Centreville,
800: oxford. $50; Piney Neck, $40;
Royal Oak S35; Marydel. S2S Hen
derson S25 Total, $2,S33
"Eastcn officials at last rightly CON
cluded that their preachers home Is
far from being model comfortable or
in keeping with other properties I'm
that beautiful county seat For sew
eral weeks past the trustees there
have found themselves in somewhat
Of strait betwiX three: not know
ING whether TO rebuild in part. sell
ont and buy elsewhere. or tear down
and build anew. Whatever the de-
cision Easton has determined to do
something, and that something will
mean q parsonage that will be worth
while, the final analysis OF which
viii prove rival TO The best within
the Conference bounds
Praises Ladies' Aid.
I'm this connection # should ba
said that all too little recognition is
given the Ladies' Aid societies Of our
churches. Pre- eminontly optimistic,
progressive and dependable, the work
of these consecrated, sclf.sacriiicing
women is more largely seen and felt
than a few facts or figures can ever
express on Easton district this year
the aggregate sums collected and
CLEANED by these societies reaches the
splendid amount of S93i0 The in
dividual society outlay ranges from
! $19 90 S1S2; while the total expended
! by them I'm church and parsonage
improvements and comforts approx
mates $500. Moreover, almost every
society reports a fine balance in hand
with which TO begin another years
work. Few other organizations of the
church can. make such creditable
showing What would the average
Methodist parsonage and its inmates
do were it not for the touches Of these
tircless, self-donying women?
1.-TWO churches, Denton and Odessa
rejoice over the Introduction of new
/ financial systems this year. In both
cases the results have been most
gratifying Budgets have been read
/ lily covered. bills regularly met, pas
tors promptly paid, and with case
larger contributions than for years
have been made TO the general benOv-
olences Each Of these churches
have breathed freely during the year
and are part cularly happy over neat
balances with which TO continue the
good work. AS much should be said
of Easton and Smyrna, where all OBJ
/ legations of the year were promptly
and systematically covered Salaries
were advanced and collections all re-
ported mp to apportionments, some
exceeding the high marks OF one year
ago. and no one has been heard
complaining OF any hardship having
been inflicted upon the membership
by excessive apportionments. Pastors
are popular and the people happ.
under the existing circumstances.
Need Adequate Salaries.
perhaps today, as never before
there is need OF keener conscience oi
the part OF the oflciary and member
ship Of the churches regarding th
proper and adequate support of thl
ministry Some things that transpir'
in quarterly conferences under the
call of the seventeenth question, woult
not look we'll in print, and. perhaps
should not be referred to here but
the fact remains, that some Of tho
churches still insist upon beggarini
their pastors. and even after the.
have done their work WELL virtual,
compel them TO go around the com
munity asking aims. During the YEA
1t has been pathetic and painful {,
meet such conditions. In spite o
the fabulous prices realized by SOM
Of our people for their work and pro
duce, and, notwithstanding the hiPhl.
D. strenuous living demands OF today /
: has been somewhat disheartening Il
note how first quarterly conference
, work shy OF the sixteenth question
I BY vote deliberately defer action
4 thereon unto the second ant
o third. not a few absent themselve
!, from both of these, and then at tn
n fourth. with practically no effort Lay
d ing been made TO collect funds, pu
3 up the plea that no estimate has eve
y been made for the support and cons,
~ Quenty they have nothing 10 work L
You well know what that sort {
l- maneuvering means for the unpr
it tected and unfortunate pastor. Th
r. want of workable financial syster
~ and a Rilling-tO-work official board
both of which all too many OF Ol
churches are found wanting. is q
"a answer to the query as to why son
n pastors are not better paid. Possib
at 10 OF the "A charges on this distri
IN follow the plan OF the discipline {
le parD i'm the matter OF pastoral su
A. port and i'm each case where followo
~ the value OF the plan is clearly demo
Us strated. BY II the pastor is plac
r upon footing with men of other ca
e ings. and receives his weekly
> monthly allowance with some degr
y of regularity
"Whereas. in almost every other
. stance he is required TO wait and WI
N long. too, for what is due him, a
:, what he needs, in order to mainta
y his self-respcct and credit in the Co
n munity. as well as shield those
:, pendent upon him from the Ike
~ sense OF pinch. The following charg
!, increased their estimate this yea
- Easton. Cenireville and Denton. 81
\, each: Kenton, $50; Smyrna Circu
&, S135; Clayton. Smyrna and Tilghmi
y, 500 each Several others have sigl
ID fed their purpose Of increasing in {
y coming year Pastor support on q
~ district ranges from 5000 TO Sl5'
the average (supplies included bel
NJ $3.50. about S270 per day. or 20 p
ar cent. less than the present day wag
he of the hod-carrier Still the appeal
.ly for better preaching, better pasto
at higher grade men"
-