The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1919-03-20
Great Diversity Of Pro-
fessions Represented
Among Leaders.
VIVA. looms UP large
Work for the Campaign is
Progressing in a Sat-
isfactory Manner.
(By Associated Press)

centenary program OF the Methodist
church is evident from a survey of the
leaders in the various departments of
the campaign. Manufacturers, bank
ers, lawyers, educators and represen-
tatiVes of practically every profession
are represented.
In no branch Of the campaign is
there such diversity Of professions
represented as among the Minute
Men. District leaders Of the Minute
Non In the Pittsburgh area are typi-
cal Of this.
William Budetter Matthews, chair
man Of the Minute Men Of the Char
lesion district, is clerk of the SUI
preme Court Of Appeals Of West Vir-
gtnia. He served as state director of
the Four Minute Men Of West Vir-
Btnia during the war. He has peen
a resident Of Charleston, W. Va, fur
the past 20 years. He was twice a
lay delegate to the general conference
and was president Of the Washington,
D. c., district of the Epworth League
and Of the West Virginia conference
Epworth League. He was a director
Of the Charleston Y. M. C. A. for ten
years and one Of the founders of the
Union Mission settlement of his city.
He was trustee of West Virginia
Wesleyan college.
Claude e. Towner, chairman of the
Washington district, is one of the
leading business men of Washington
county. He has been a resident of
Monongahela City, Pa, for % years.
He was born in West Virginia and
spent his boyhood there. Mr.. Town
er is As years old. He was a member
Of the Methodist general conference
Of 1912 and has been an earnest sup
porter Of foreign missions and lead
er in church and reform movements.
He had charge of the last Liberty
loan in his district and served four
months as a building secretary in
armys with the Y M. C. A. He was
on the faculty of Ridgeway Institute
since its inception until 1917. Mr..
Tcwner heads 800 Minute Men in his
district.
Edgar T. WEIGH, chairman of the
Erie district, is a son of the founder
OF the WEIGH Grape Juice company.
He is vice president, secretary and
treasurer of the company. Mr.. WEIGH
was born in 1881 at Vineland, N. j.
His grandfather, DR.. T. B WEIGH, and
his father, G. E. WEIGH, were associat-
ed in the starting of the WEIGH grape
juice concern there in 1869. His
grandfather, as a steward OF the Meth
odist church at Vineland, refused to
supply alcoholic wine for use at COM
munion and first made unfermented
grape juice for this purpose. The
company moved to Westfeld, N. Y,
in 1897, and Edgar T. WEIGH has
since resided there.
Charles A. Washington, chairman
OF the Pittsburgh district, is super
visor Of agents for the Provident Life
and Trust company. For Is years he
has been active in the Epworth
League, the Mems Forward Move
ment and the Laymen's Missionary
Movement. He resides in Wilkins
burg, Pa, an is member of the
Ross Avenue church and teacher of
the Mems Bible class there.
Peterson Frederick G. Henke.
leader in the Meadville district, was
born in Alden, Iowa, in 1876. Since
the fall of 1914 he has been connect
ed with Allegheny College at Mead
vile, Pa, where he holds the Truman
D. Collins professorship of philosophy
and education. He received the de-
gree Of bachelor of arts from Morn
ingside college in 1897. In 1900 he
sailed for China as a Methodist mis-
sionary. He served as pastor Of st.
Paul's church in Kin Kiang and as
district superintendent Of the Kin
Kiang district. He was vice presi-
dent Of William Mast College. Re-
turning on furlough, he entered
Northwestern University and received
the degree Of master Of arts in 1908.
In 1909 and 1910 he was a student
in the University of Chicago, where
he was decorated doctor Of philoso-
ply. At the request OF the trustees
and board Of managers Of the Uni
versity OF Marking, he returned to
China as professor of philosophy and
psychology In that institution and
established the first psychological lab
oratory in China. He is a member
of the Religious Education Associa-
ton, the American Philosophical as
ISOLATION, theq Royal Asiatic Society
and other learned societies.
G. w. Flesher, chairman Of the
Buckhannon district, is referee in
bankruptcy for the Southern district
of West Virginia. He was born in
Peasants county. West Virginia, in
1890, and was graduated at the State
Normal school at Fairmont in 1894.
He was elected principal of the gram
mar schools of Fairmont shortly after
his graduation and held this position
until 1896, when he was elected prin-
cipal Of the City schools of Elkins.
He studied law and after removing to
Knoxville, Tenn, was admitted to the
bar there in 1901. Returning to
West Virginia, he located in Casa
way in 1906 and took up the prac-
tice Of law. Mr.. Flesher was instru-
mental in organizing the Laymen's
Association Of the West Virginia con-
ference and has been president since
its organization. He was elected a
member of the general conference for
1912 and 1916.