Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1920-03-26

resulted in acquittal Of the charge Of dis
honesty, but guilty of conduct unbecom-
ing minister As the Quarterly Con-
ference was unwilling To vote any sentence
after declaring him guilty, desiring me TO
pass sentence as judge, (Which, oil course,
| could not do, / Immediately wrote TO
him | would not appoint him as supply
longer than the meeting of the Conference
Later, on advice Of the bishop, | asked
that his parchments be sent To me. This
has not yet been done. Brother Wander
muelcn thinks he has been harshly treated,
and has given notice of an appeal from the
decision of the Quarterly Conference.
These arc few OF the difficulties OF
the past year; and make mention of
them, not to stir your hearts TO sympathy,
but to give you a glimpse of the back
ground Of our endeavors on Salisbury
district II the measure of our success
does not meet the approval Of some swivel
chair artist, ! wish he would come with
me on one of my trips, wallow with me
through the mud, cat with me at some
places i cat; sleep in the various beds /
sleep in; and get a first-hand view of what
our preachers are facing-and facing on 81
salary less than those same men are pay
ing their stcnographers. How glad ] am
that we have bishop who honors us not
only with his presence on the district,
more than any bishop has ever done; but
also honors the patient, toiling pastors
by his sympathy and his prayers. Thank
God for the kind providence that put us IN
the Washington area, and sent good Bisb-
op Mcdowell as our resident bishop
during these crucial timesl
PrTrsvuhE's STAR.
last year ! reported several charges
which by their liberallty to the disclplin-
ary bcncvolences had won their title to be
ranked as Star appointments. In tins
honor class was Pittsville, Rev. J. l..
Derickson, pastor. Soon after Conference
my attention WAS called to the fact that
in the printed minutes the charge did not
have credit for what was really given
! took the matter up with Brother Derrick
son and found that he had made a correct
report to the Conference treasurer, and
that the various amounts as reported by
him were ample to have put Pittsvile on
the Star list; but some one IN the Con
ference treasurer's office. without the
knowledge Of the treasurer had gone
through Brother Derickson's report, and.
without rule or reason had arbitrarily
changed Ii items IN ms report, 80 that
the total was lessened 81 sufficient TO
cause Pittsville to lose her Star No
blame attached to the Conference trcasur-
CT for this error. for with SO many reports
in error last year the treasurer had
particularly difficult task, but the error
worried faithful pastor not little, and
has initiated against the success uf the
benevolent offerings at Piusville this
year. | am glad that Pittsvile deserved
to be on the Star list. and am glad the
error was not Of the pastors making
But | will now turn aside from tho
dark side of the picture 10 relate few OF
the victories won even under adverse
conditions
THE CENTENARY.
"In keeping with the whole church we
had our financial drive for the Centenary
last Nav. June, and on into December.
Some charges have not had it yet. How
much was pledged | have not been able
to ascertain. Every report get from
pastors or area office differ. OF one thing
| am sure Salisbury district has laid on
the affairs of the church n sum. of money
beyond the widest dream Of five years
ago Scarcely one of lis believed It was
possible Ia do what has been done, IN
territory and with constituency like
ours More than that, believe this
the FIVE years of this campaign. IL ought
to increase Any charge that has reached
its full quota under the adverse conditions
Of thn year, ought to 60 away ahead next
year with anything like fair conditions.
ANY charge that for any reason only
reached two-thrds or three-quarters OF
its quota for this year because the year
was partly gone before the canvass was
made. ought to see to it that they do bet
ter next wear with a whole year before
them in which to collect and pay. On
Salisbury district we have but started the
great work of the Lord Comparatively
few OF US really pray Thy Kingdom
como Still fewer of MS pay rs we ought
to help make that Kingdom come on
earth. as it is in Heaven But the district
is going forward m both OF these par
tculars.
TITHERs.
al had hoped in this report to give
some interesting facts about the Stew
ardship Campaign on the district; but
at this writing such fraqnentary reports
have been sent in by the brethren that II
would not fairly represent the district to
publish these scattering items. | hope for
better things a year hence.
EONN EkSIDNS AND At1BSSlbNF
''The supreme work Of the Church, as
Of all Christian activity, is the winning OF
souls for Jesus The pastors have iabored
arduously To win their share OF the 'mIl-
lion souls for Jesus just what has been
done we must wait for the tahulatl0n OF
the statistical tables to find out. So far as
reported to me have been converted,
and have been received into the church
on probation and by confession of faith.
These figures do not begin to reveal the
heart agony that the brethren have put
into this campaign for souls; and If it stall
is true He that goeth forth and weepeth,
bearing precious seed shall doubtless
come again with rejoicing, bringing His
sheaves with Him, then surely IN the days
before us, and ] pray before June first,
many of these faithful men, who have cen
their plans all miscarried by storm and
disease. may see their souls desire, and be
made 10 rejoice.
DISTRICT PARSONAGE.
AT the meeting OF the District Stew
ards IN May last, a committee made It's
report through Brother William j. Down
ing, as follows"
NEARLY 20 years ago | was appointed
chairman of committee to find, II pos
sible. suitable property to purchase as
the home of our district superintendent.
During these years | have caretuliy CON
sidered property after property, endeavor-
ing to find the kind of home | would want |
nv district superintendent TO live m; To-
Gated in the kind neighborhood that | |
would want to see him located In, and at |
q price | would honestly recommend to the !
district stewards as price at which the |