Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-03-31
and more still because 1t took the

fought all over the state, that the re-
cent session of the General Assembly
has so loaded il with amendments and
emasuated its best provisions that 1t
is virtually repealed the pity OF 1t,
that Ignorance, and prejudice, and
avarice can be so appealed TO by the
small-fry demagogue that voters close
the door of opportunity in the face of
their own children.
Why does this item appear in my re-
port? What has the public school ques-
tion to do with church work? Reason
enough. The Methodist Episcopal
Church has ever stood for education. A
Methodist preacher is recreant to his
trust if he is not intensely interested
in the schools located in his charge.
The church ought not, dare not shirk
her duty to the children and youth. Be
sides. in this land OF ours life and
church are so interviewer that the line
of demarca ton binds rather than sepa-
rates. / know one church on Sails
bury district that has been literally
rent in twain for three years because
the membership is divided on the ques
tion of improved school facilities for
the children. | know one pastor who
had to move from his charge because
he actively and openly, as he ought to
have done, advocated an Improvement
in the grade of the local school. Is II
any wonder that communities that thus
fight against educational privileges for
their own children should utterly fail
to understand the great Centenary pro-
gram that seeks to bring enlightenment
to the mind. as we'll rejoicing TO the
heart of mankind all around the world2
Epworth League.
The Epworth Leagues of the district
continue to be helpful organizations in
several Of the churches where conditions
are favorable.
a very interesting Epworth League
convention was held ut Christ Church.
| Fairmount. in November last
The women of our district are not
as fully organized for missionary work
as in my Judgment they ought to be.
/ Any pastor makes a grave mistake
| who places a bar in the way OF the or
/ ganization Of the women Of his church
! into one or both. of these bands of
| noble women.
! / am glad that the recent General
! Conference changed for the better the
whole plan OF organization and work
/ Of our Sunday schools. and from now
| forward il will he known as the re-
( ligious education department OF church
work The forward look Of the church
I in this direction IS most commenda BILE.
/ rejoice that pastors report that % Of
the Sunday schools Of our district are
organized according to paragraph 42S
Of the Discipline. I earnestly desire
that every school shall be so organized.
District Conference.
on coming to the district l found one
thing our district needed was a district
consciousness-a district esprit de corps.
have sought diligently TO inspire every
pastor with this spirit. True il is Of
every man. but doubly so Of Methodist
preachers NO man nveth TO himself.
We all 20 Up together. or we all go down
together and l want the trend ever 10
be upward on our district. To that
end have organized a district confer
/ ence. not according to the Discipline
for the disciplinary plan takes in work
that we can better do on our district
in the quarterly conferences. Our plan
was much more infornal-a real con-
ference Of the pastors of the district 70
plan for better work, and closer CO
operation in kingdom building The
first meeting was held IN Asbury
Church Salisbury. in connection with
the District Stewards meeting, the sec
ond was held in October. 1919. in What
coat Church. Snow Hill. and the third
and hv far the best. was held in Christ
Church. ChIncoteag que. December -
1920 II was unanimously agreed &c
hold two district cQpferenCes each year
instead Of one: and the invitation Of
Ocean View TO hold the next conference
there ir May was unanimously &C
cepted II was also unanimously agreed
10 hold a two weeks intensive educa-
tional campaign, 70 cover every church
on every charge on the district. and Il
include every pastor IN the programs
the object being 70 bring 20 every church
the stimulus OF addresses on missions
educat ton. Sunday school and reviva
work. by other men besides the loca
pastor.
District Parsonage
our district parsonage was purchased
with the understanding that we were
10 he given possession December !
1920. The district stewards did theil
part by electing q board Of nine trus-
tees TO hold the property for them. anC
10 look after all the details Of transfer
the renovating Of the property, thu
furnishing Of the home, and all othel
necessary details. For reasons tina
need not be detailed here the wishes
Of the district stewards and the dis
tr1ct superintendent in the matter have
not been carried out. After much an
r noyance we finally got possession Of tn
} property, but at this writing II hal
neither been renovated nor furnished
: Pastoral support.
The district continues its fine ad
vance In pastoral support For tn
; first time in the history of the district
if not in the history Of the conference
J, it is possible to report that no paste
on Salisbury District whether q mem
; Der Of the Conference OF a supply. vii
receive less than $1,000 for his year 0
service. Every charge but eight Sc
their salary at $1,000 ot NOR
and every one Of the eight has bee
sufficiently supplemented from Domes
tic Missions 70 reach the minimum.
Every Charge on the district but fou
advanced their Pastors salary this yeal
as follows Hebron. Mt Vernon, Ocea
: | City, Quantico. ST. Peters. Grace
Stengle, Smiths Island 500 each
: Westover $50; Annamessex. Ayre'
{ Chapel BishOpVille ClaremOnt, Deal