Evening journal., 1919-03-27
Dr. Watt Tells of Remarkable Year in Methodist Church
Activities the Wilmington District Old Debts Paid Of

ian Heller the district mas raised IN
cash and pledges. mostly In cash, for
all purposes 100000 or an average OF
over $4,000 year
"rhe great bulk OF this was for To-
cal needs. about $4,000 for the general
church. Not that the amount given
for local purposes was any too large.
but the amount given for The general
interests was sadly inadequate. When
We are told that In the church al largs
one-llfth Of our membership last year
gave threo-fOurths OF our benovOlcnccs,
The necessity OF reaching the n0n-giy-
ing church is st3rtlngly apparent We
viii never reach the nOn-giving church
by frantic efforts 10 get a few people
90 do 70 an That there should BE-
larger giNers we do not for a moment
question. but our immediate task and
our everlasting task until something
like The ideal is reached will be 10
reach the slackers.
while this movement has brought b.
The church Us crOwning opportunitv.
70 brings also rs crownlng test. For
this has brought the church face 10
face with certain great outstanding
facts which have never in any large
way been embodied in The activities "
the church our real hindrancc was
our unpreparcdness.
"FOr a time was almost distract
cd. For weeks afler our training con-
ference ] did not have a normal nights
sleep. The burden became almost un-
hearablc I knew that the loyalty OF
our people and ministers was unqucs-
Toned. How 90 meet the issue from
The standpoint OF a reasonable success
was the question. After much prayer
and dIligent and widespread inquiry
wo agrecd that our plan Nsas 10 make
the budget carry the Centenary o.
work 70 on the financial side in that
way. n becomes increasingly apparent
that This is The way out for us and the
charges have responded n1bly. Unless
some error IN our calculations has oc-
CURED. our benevolent budget VIII
reach $4,000 as against about $4,000
last year. and this does not count Si0-
000 In Community Houses already in
sight. and more 90 follow, nor does IL
include The development at Asbury
where our Good VIII Industries arc
rapidly taking shape.
"Our plans already maturing contem-
plate an expenditure OF at least $780,
600 in Community Houses. lf The
church does not show a disposition to
care for the rccrcational instincts OF
her young people, its grip On them will
weaken. We cannot hope 20 build
Christian character ON a negative. No
where in lhc Scripture is this attempts
ed. over against the cross and self
denial as taught by the Master and his
disciples Is the Golden Rule which fur
nlshcs "a cree dso benencont and prac-
/ teal iaht IFS practice will revolutions
izc the world Then. 70. when the sa-
Ions shall close. the church vii be face
90 face with "a problem from which Is
(, cannot escape nor cvade The church
. must relate itself 20 the community
2 life In such helpful fashion that the
I community VIII see that the church is
r. yilally Interested In the we'll being OF
- those who have FOR wears regarded the
" church as either Indifferent or hor /.
+ II the Centenary docs no greater
e vice than teach the church 20 re-defn.
u It's mission 10 will be worth while
1T is a matter Of profound rcsrei
that we did not reach the minimum of
20 per cent 81 our membership in
the stewardship drive
As a matter OF history The follow
| ing churches report the number or
! 'slOrchOuse Christians as follows. 81.
Paul's leads with i22; Grace, 90; Union.
GO; Mldeley SO, Nj. salem, 30; Silver
brook. %; Harrison street. 20; kings
wood. %; McCabe, 20; Brandywine, A.,
Brandywine has not made its canvass
yeD HIllcrest. D. Epworth. az; scott.
-; MI Lebanon, 3 MI. Pleasant, IS,
Goodman, %; New Castle, 3Os -.
Georges and Summit. %; hsing sun,
II; Asbury 6; Richardson Park, 7.
Rcvirals Successful
"ln the midst OF a multitude ~ d.
verse and varying claims the spiritual
| side Of our problem has not been neg
lccled. While there have been few
/ striking revivals. as the phrase goes,
tire have not been wanting seasons OF
refreshing from the presence OF the
Lord. While I am unable To- give the
exact number OF accessions, they Wi
equal last year, I doubt not.
I'VE are face TO face today with two
facts from which there is no escape
One is that we must he honest with
] God. Then, in the next place thera
{ must be a redistribution OF the spir-
D itual activities Of the church. me
y preacher must ever be the leader. no
p must have initiative. push. ener6y,
i tact. patience. or nc will head towsln
G The ecclesiastical scrap heap But uli
- llcss he can show his flock tlat iass
d Too have a responsibility and ,,i On op
n portunily they viii drift into ,,il splTi'u,ss
! rridiiv and scores and hundreds are ..J
q hem wiil lose touch win Goa 'n'
n backslide. -