Evening journal., 1920-03-24
GREAT YEAR ON WILMINGTON
DISTRICT DIR. WATT DETAILS
IN HIS REPORT READ 7OD4 Y

we come 10 lnlS StsSloh Oh pui Noh
ference with the active ranks Of tn
district unbroken, yet the shadows
have mingled with the sunlight
In the passing Of Thomas S, Wilson
The nestor Of Rising sun Methodism
TO tiN ranks of the church triumphan
the Methodism OF the entire county o.
which our honored friend was a resi-
dent has suffered a dizinct loss.
while one Of our retired veterans
Rev. David r. NicFaul was anticipat.
ing our Conference session and The
pleasure of meetgg his ministerial
brethren whom he held in high esteem
he heard the final call enter into the
joy of Thy Lord
THE sernEannual meeting Of the
Board OF Bishops which was held in
Wilmington In October last was in
every respect notable event PENN
sula Methodlsm for the second time
was honored by having this distin-
guished gathering held within our
borders"
Dr.. Watl told in detail OF the Blsh-
ops activities ia Wilmington and
added Wilmington without any re-
serve says to our Bishops, come
again, and come soon
Our mosl difllcult and vexing prob
lem is how best to care for the multi
iudes among US who have come liter
ally from the ends OF The earth. The
Victory Liberty Loan drive revealed
the astounding fact that virtually
every nationality under heaven Is rep
resented in the foreign population OF
our city.
ITO Americanize them in thought,
ideals and speech is imperative, but
This IS by far the simplest factor In our
problem. Secular agencies are effeoting
this end in fine fashion, bnt this Is not
enough. There must be brought to
shem another touch, other ideals
which concern their moral and spirit.
ual well being.
1T viii gladden. all hearts TO hear
that our city missionary work has had
the best year In its history, and In
reality the work is Just beginning.
Il had hoped ere this 10 have been
permitted TO make an announcement con
cerning our program Of activities that
would promp. n note Of gratitude and
thanksgiving; but because Of unfor-
seen circumstances this announcement
IS delayed for brief season. But the
day is not far distant when through
the llberality Of public spirited cit-
zens, we VIII be enabled 20 project
movement which viii ensure for all
time the realization Of our plans con-
cerning the stranger within our
gates
"A beginning has been made toward
his by securing the first unit OF the
ilnal plant In the form Of two build
ings adjacent TO Asbury Church Much
OF the credit OF tins beginning belongs
to brother George White Dawson the
pastor OF Old Asbury Brother John
il. Beauchamp. and the writer co
operated In the good work, and The
property is decided Jointly TO Asbury
ard the City Missionary Society. The
completed plant win add to the value
OF our property quarter OF a million
dollars.
There may have been years more
cxacting than the year now closing,
but none seem 20 remember when IL
was. Yet no man among us is plead
ing weather conditions as an alibi.
The most trying experience TO the
average pastor has been the methods
OF certain high tensi0ned secretaries.
and their food OF literature deluging
The pastors mail. Occasionally. too,
there were intimations or pressure
with their attendant irritations. Now,
the average Methodist minister does
not need 10 be driven nor Will he re-
ceive efforts in that direction kindly.
More than once was it my privilege to
commend TO certain ones having charge
over us the sanely human and broth
erly policy Of our Resident Bishop. In
all Of his Official communications. and
they We're comparatively few, certain
ly as compared with the multitude OF
communications from other sources.
he emphasized the necessity OF avoid
ing anything that looked Ike pres
sure. To such leadership there is al
ways a ready and enthusiastioc re
sp0nse.
"One Of the most beautiful and
touching instances Of brotherly love
ever Witnessed was furnished In the
response OF the district to the appeal
made on behalf OF Brother John B. c.
hopkins, when without pressure Of any
sort the churches gave TO this broken
md afflicted minister over $1,000. n
The heart break OF the Centenary
movement was its indscriminate
tiuotas to The average church. The {
heart OF the movement Is In Christian
eteNardship, stewardship OF life and I
stewardship OF property This condi- !
'ion met every phase OF our problem.
Doth spiritual and financial would he
solved. The securing OF a subscrintion
iOJaling nearly StiOO0 600 was no rnaon
achievemepb but how inadeUuate
would that be without the enlistment
u life and the recognition OF Gods
tight TO both our life and substance
Wilmington District and its Cepten-
ary Quota-A brief statement relative
10 this phase Of the Centenary should
be, made a matter Of record. for rea-
sons that will appear as we proceed.
First OF all, three quotas in all We're
sent to this district, each larger than
the one preceding. But the one en-
barrassing feature was that after we
had written into about forty budgets
the second. and presumably the official
quota, because IL was given at our
District Training Conference by the
then Area Secretary, DR.. Morris E. /
5wartz. a third quota was senf down
which added $4,000 per year for the 4
period. or $4,000 beyond the ofleial
quota.
In rather extended interview with
DR.. Swartz. at which Dr.. John r. Sum-
walt was present, an interview in
wnicp every conceivable phase of the
SUBJECT was gone into, clearly and
n .rrr. .f~l.lx