Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1918-03-22

of high costs for everything we eat and
wear that so many of our people are con-
tent to pay IFS pastor q plttance that
would make n hod carrier or railroad
brakeman quit the job in disgust. Then.
too, the pittance that is promised is seldom
paid at regular intervals, 50 that for nine
or ten months of the conference year the
minister must live almost entirely on
credit or else borrow money and pay
interest charges.
So on nv first official round | talked,
and preached, and prayed of increases IN
salaries; and nobly did the laymen re-
spond, Twenty nine charges responded
with increased estimate for pastoral sup
port to the amount of Si,4T6 as follows
Annamessex, $500; Berlin, 500; Chm
colleague. 500; Snow Hill, 500; New
ark. $50: Pocomoke Circuit, 5000 POGO
moke CITY. $500; Girdletrec, $500;
Stockton, 500: Onancock, 500; Cape
Charles. $500; Claremont, $50; Deal $
Island 5000; Frlmtland, 500; Gumboro,
$500; Hebron, 500; Hollands Island,
$50: Mardea Springs. Sl75; Ocean View.
$50; Pittsvile, $500; Powellvlllc, SlO0;
Quantico, $50; Roxana, $500; Asbury
Salisbury, 5000; Selbyville. 500; Smith 5
k,land. 500; Tangier. $500: Nenton, $50;
Whitesville, 500. This handsome adj
vance is but the prelude of what we shall
vet see on the district. ] have set Tor
the minimum salary to be paid any
married man on Salisbury district at
81 900 and a wcll-furnished home; and
for a single man $500 minimum, and all
salaries TO be paid IN full monthly. |
believe our big-hearted people Will glad
lv aid in reaching this standard when once
they understand the needs of the minister
and the JOY of consecrated giving. 1t
will he JOY to me when | shall lie able
to report this standard fully reached by
every charge on the district.
DISTRICT SUNDAY SCHOOL INSTITUTE.
According to Bishop NJ cDowell's re-
quest. district Sunday school institute
was held November ID. 1917. in AsburN
Church, Salisbury. We were delayed IN
launching the enterprise because the
board of Sunday schools ut Chicago kept
irving to get into communication with
dear Doctor o Bricn, until it left me very
little time to plan for >the preliminary
work. However, notwithstanding tins
handicap we divided the district into eight
sub-districts, and with the chairman of
these sub-districts to aid us we succeeded
in enrolling attendants at the institute.
The whole program was OF very high
order: those who came rs instructors
were evidently masters OF their several
departments: and the after effects ot the
institute have been excellent Several
az the sunday school supcrintendcnts
have told me that they caught new VISION
Of what their work really is, and not a
few have set about Transforming their
schools so As to make way for usc of the
higher ideals and improved methods |
certainly hope that the district institute
shall bc made a regular annual affair
DIR. II G. Wilson who was in charge Of
the institute. Was a charming co-laborer
with whom il was a delight to work,
TITLES TO PROPERTY.
The general conference Of 1912 made
il one Of the duties Of the district supcrln-
tcndent 10 examine titles by which the
property OF the church IS held. In at
tempting 10 carry out this provision ot
the Discipline, have found not little
difficulty. There are l07 churches on
the district and A. parSonagcs. Several
of these charges own ccmctencs and camp
grounds. and other pieces of real estate.
- ! estimate We must have al least l75
separate pieces Of real estate whose title
papers | should examine. Although
began on my first round 10 inquire into
the matter and to request that commit
COMICS of them. to the next quarterly
conference at this writing, but deeds
have been produced for examination OF
these AZ were in due form > lack the
trust clause and ) have rcverSion clause.
One deed was executed in 1860 and was
not vet recorded in January 1918, while
some Of our strongest churches, like
Ashurv Salisbury can produce no evi-
dence of any tItlr except that OF adverse
possession The parsonage az Berlin IS
in the same fix.
This is matter Of grave moment
We ought 10 set ourselves reSoluteiN to
build no church on land that IS not decided
in fee simple to the trustees al the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church with the formal
trust clause as part Of the deed. 10
build on land virtually owned by others
Is a perversIon Of a sacred trust, ministers
and lavmcn ought 10 take a firm stand
against II Will do what can 10 secure
what property We now hold, and 10 see
that during my incumbency OF tins Of
fee Methodist money Is not invested
In buildings on land TO which we have
only a partial title
REvIyALs.
The combined influences OF war. fuel
and weather conditions have interfered
well nigh disastrously with special ser
vices throughout the district. Some
pastors. however, had hearts so brave
and warm and people 50 sympathetic
that they achieved the success denied to
Others. Roxana charge, Rev. Q. II.
Connolly, pastor, reports the largest
number Of converts on the district VIZ
rs: closely followed by Pocomoke Cir
cut. Rev. c. A. Vandernuelen, pastor,
reporting IS, and Girdletrce, Rev. W NJ.
McCann. 30; Dagsboro, Rev. j. {. Hop
kins, reports "a; Parsonsburg, Rev. d.
J. Moore. pastor, AZ; Whitesville, Rev
J. A. BIickson. pastor. Al ; Stockton, Rev.
o. B. Rice, pastor. IS Berlin, Rev. ".
+. Greenfield, pastor. 80 while Tanglcr.
Rev. r. J. Sard, pastor, and Quantico,
Rev " P. Taylor, pastor, tie at 23 each
At the time this report was written Mon
dav. March lS). but - of the IS appoint
mcnts had reported to the writer, but
Judging BY the returns at the date the
conversions on the district will approx
mate 900 for the year. ] reJoice with
the brethren To whom God has gSanted
he greatest measure Of success. and my
heart goes out in sympathy 10 other
toilers. equally faithful yet working
under adverse conditions, weather roads,
lack Of fuel. and non-sympaihctic set Of
officials have "toied all the night and
caught nothing
REPORT or CHARGES.
am aware that every pastor will have
opportunity to make his report through
the statistical columns Of the minutes;
but | am also aware that column of
statistics is dry reading for most people,
~. - ! hu to4l l-fs al