davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening journal., 1921-03-30

aired relation. For two years he
has served Perryviile charge with
marked success.
THE deepening interest shown for
some years past in a better support
for the ministers has evinced no
abatement this year" said DR.. Watt.
This is a hopeful sign. II means a
recognition OF the material side OF the
minister's life, Il means also a lifting
OF the morale OF our conference. II
is well worth while 20 secure a re-
suit all desire.
I'VE can properly ignore the inu-
nation that this is an appeal 20 the
mercenary spirit in our ministry.
Concerning this we need not multi
ply words. The time has gone when
the material side OF a minister's life
can be neglected.
Pastors Salaries Increased.
1T is interesting and instructive
10 note the rising tide I'm our confer
ence regarding this most vital mat
ter. The total increase in pastors
salaries on the Wilmington District.
beginning with 1917 is as follows:
In that year the total increase was
s5,5OO; in 1918, $500; in 1919.
s9.15O; in 1921, $3.50; for the year
closing $4,000. a total for the
period OF S42, 800.
"Forty-two charges increased this
year. Claymont 100; St Paul's.
Kingswood. Elkton and Richardson
Park 900 each; Union, Asbury, New
port and Stanton 500 each; Cook
man. Wesley. St Johns. Hopewell,
Newark 400 each; McCabe, Rising
Sun, Zion, Port DEPOSIT. New Castle,
Mt Salem, Mt. Pleasant. Chesapeake
City. 800 each Trinity, Silverbrook,
Scott, Hill Crest, East Lake. Brandy
wine, Epworth. North East, Marsh
alton, Ebenezer, Charlestown. Hoe
hessin 200 eacn. In addition 10 the
increace in salary at Hockess;n the
church presented the pastor. Rev
Claude S. Clarke, with an auto
which has enabled the pastor TO care
for the work much more effectively
Madelcy $50. Pack Ex, Red i..on
Mt. Lebanon, Cherry Hill 20) eaen
St Georges SO.
Il am quite sure that the confer.
ence will be interested in a bit oi
conference history relative 10 the
matter under consideration.
when the writer entered the vii.
mington conference in 1855. there
we're SO appointments paying foi
pastoral support. including rent
Episcopal and Presiding Elderi
claims, $1,000 and over, distributed as
follows: Salisbury 4, Dover s, Eas
ton 10, Wilmington II. In 1926
there were $50 paying for ministerial
support 500 and beyond, as follows
Salisbury, IL; Dover, 80; Easton, 81
Wilmington as. The total for thes'
claims in 1885 was s107,129. II ths
/ figures for the present year were
available the result would be still
more striking. We have abundant
reason TO thank God and go forward
Evening journal., 1921-03-30

whose members. including officials,
burn up several times more money
in gasoline on Sunday going away
from the church than they give the
whole week down 20 keep their min
lister in the half-filled church on the
Lords Day. SO long as our people
fiaunt their luxuries in the faces Of
the struggling minister we shall have
some such condition existing. II Is
little use TO say, as many do. they
ought 70 have such convictions as
will send them out, despite the odds,
to do service Tor God, TO let money
control is unworthy the high calling.
This is usually the song Of a hide
bound skinfint. Many things might
be said pro and con on this matter,
but 1 only desire TO ask one question.
How are young men to have such
high, noble and invulnerable convic-
tions. when they are reared in the
atmosphere Of self-loving and self
pleasing homes? Train up a child
in the way he should CO. A word
20 the wise is sufficient
What is worse in this connection
is the fact that, in some places, 1
find an under-current running in the
direction Of reducing salaries since
prices have. in some instances. taken
microscopic drops. This must not
be for salaries now are not up TO
what they should have been in pre-
war times. and through before-the-
war prices may sometime again pre-
vail. IL will be disastrous 10 the in
terests Of the church II then the sal
aries fall TO the pre-war level. o,
Church OF Christ, stop making the
ministers-those who bear the bur-
den and the heat Of the day-do all
the sacrificing for the Kingdom! It
is not good for your own souls.
Some Of the charges have recognized
the need and have made substantial
increases this year for ministerial
support, while many remain about
as they were four years ago.
There are yet eighteen charges
on this district which pay less than
81 900 salary, and many OF these
$500 or less Because OF these
conditions the men employed in
these charges must, OF necessity,
turn aside 20 other employment in
order TO make bare living expenses.
| This divides their time and interest.
/ The officials OF one charge, who are
seeking a change in pastors, said 10
me, we think he certainly could live
on $500 without doing work on the
/ outside, for when he does that he
cannot attend TO his pastoral duties.
True enough, but a man must have
| fuel for the engine or il will cease
TO run.
"The following charges have ad-
vanced alaries:-Hooper's Island,
$500: Hurlock, $3.50; Milton. Lewes,
Camden, Dover and Magnolia, $500
each: Beckwith and Spedden, Laurel
Bridgeville. Seaford, Millsboro, NIL
ford. FELTON, and Wyoming, $500
each; Blades and Epworth. $3.50;
| Crapo, Church Creek East New
Market. Williamsburg, fredericksburg
/ Reliance, Mt. Pleasant, Seaford Cir
cult, Rehoboth. Glendale and Lit
tie Creek, 500 each; Epworth. $75i
making a total of S5,375.
"a word In this connection re-
specting the Episcopal Fund. In
regular order I received the appor-
tionment for the district for this
fund on the basis Of / q per cent
of salary plus house rent. Later
in the year 1 received notice from
DIR. Mains OF a raise to 2 4 per cent
on the same basis. This was oc-
Evening journal., 1921-03-30

Special to The Evening Journal.
CRISFIELD, Nd, March 30.-Dis-
trict Superintendent Robert Watt, OF
Wilmington District, read his annual
report at the session OF the Whining
ton NJ. +. Conference this morning.
Despite the Industrial depression that
sas affected Wilmington churches.
DR.. Watt reported a remarkable
year in the district He showed
among other things S111,000 paid
for ministerial support far in ad-
vance OF any previous year and by
Gar the largest in the conference
500. 900 paid on debts and for i'm
provements; $4,000 advance in sal
-aries this year; a fine advance In
centenary offerings, and about 1900
accessions to church membership.
~ DR.. Watt in opening his report re-
ferred feelingly 10 the deaths Of the
Rev. Howard T. Quigg, Of the Rev.
sGordon r. Neese and Of Charles
TScott. for many years treasurer OF
Grace church, Wilmington. He said
the Rev A. W. Goodhand. pastor at
~Richardson Park, was quarantined
for six months because OF scarlet
fever in his family. The Rev. T. J.
|FCochran Of Red Lion charge has
been out OF service for five months
because Of heart trouble, and will
'F ssk for a retired relation. The Rev.
Leonard White, OF Mt. Salem church,
4 was out Of his pulpit nearly half a
'-year because Of illness. DR.. Watt
added: THE pulpit was cared for
. bv the brethren, and Mt Salem
-<church not only raised the pastors
salary but presented him with gen.
erous purse which more than cared
for the extra expenses OF his illness.
Yet this noble church comes 10 this
session with a benevolent record
equal TO last year, the debt paid, and
the charge at food tide. A wonder
ful church is Mt. Salem.
- owing 10 unavoidable circum-
stances. growing out Of family afiiic-
ton, and a growing physical trouble
IN the form OF an increasing deaf
ness, the Rev. +. X. Moore, who was
assigned 20 Newport and Stanton
charge last spring. was released
from his work. and the Rev. W.
Vaughn Moore, who was finishing
his postgraduate work at Drew
Theological Seminary, was secured
for the vacant charge, and he has
made full proof Of his ministry.
There is an insistent and unanimous
desire for his return. He fits per-
-fectly that dimcult situation.
"The retiring pastor, brother F. X.
Moore, did hard, faithful service
while in charge OF Newport and
Stanton. A parsonage remodled at
a cost Of over $4,000; an advance OF
$500 in the salary; improved congre-
cations all attest the success which
attended his labors in that pastorate.
Brother Moore asks for the retired
relation"
DR.. Watt said the Rev. G. W
Hastings also will ask for the re-
Evening journal., 1921-03-30

The laity is manifesting an increas-
ing interest in the material care OF
the ministry, and this is a sign Of the
times that augurs well for the future
OF our conference.
Looking at the subject from a lit
tie different angle we find this; For
the support Of Retired Ministers, by
districts. In 1885; Salisbury {s3S;
Dover S1OS7; Easton S1252; Will
mington $1,000. Last year the rec
ord was: Salisbury S5375. Dover
SASH; Easton s4235; Wilmington
$621O. total in 1885 S4s77, in 1920,
s21.2S7, or FIVE times as much as in
1885. The increase OF the men in
active ranks during this period doub-
led, the increase in the support Of
conference claimants more than
quadrupled.
1T is also OF interest to note how
our Benevolent contributions Jared
for this period. In 1885 our con-
ference gave for Missions f15.24s.
Last year for Missions we gave $3.50
375, and this for the most part rep
resented but nine months OF the
year.
Plea For More Tifhes.
please listen to the following. II
you forget all else said in this rapid
review, do not forget this. The
increases mentioned have been made
in face Of the fact that we have but
IS per cent. Of our membership
tithing." With so per cent. as tith-
ing stewards what might we not do.
In this lies the secret OF unworried
church finance, both local and gen
eral.
Take a brief resume Of our mem
ship, II is most significant There
we're received on probation since
1885 over 10000; we gained in full
members during those thirty-five
years 20,568; the average number
per year received on probation Tor
the period was 1000. during the last
twelve years the average number re-
ceived on probation per year wai
1912.
Now, with over 10000 proba.
TONERS our net gain in membershiT
was only 2O,56s. that is. we saved
about one in eight. And while tn,
number OF probauoners has stead
ily declined during those years, We
are now saving a much larger per
centage 10 the church.
An innovation in the way OF an
experiment in connection with th'
fourth quarterly conferences wal
tried this year with very marked
success. In most instances th'
quarterly conference was precede,
by a dinner given 10 the officials
their wives and the Sunday schoo
workers. Then came the discus
sion Of the program consisting OF th'
following questions; In How mani
ways can a Christian grieve the Hol,
Spirit? How can the Sunday Schoo
Superintendent best aid his Pastor
Are we using the Sunday school a
its best for the Kingdom? II tn
Evening journal., 1921-03-30
olvbray Gves Record Dover Dcoe For Cas Than Church

casloned, OF course. by the increase
in the number OF the Board OF
Bishops. Under date Of September
27, 1920, I sent out notice TO each
of the pastors on the district as fol-
lows:-'You will please note the
change Of per cent. in the Episcopal
Fund as made by the Book Commit
tee from ~ per cent 70 ~ per
cent. The former rate was sent 20
you by authority Of the church.
Now the same authority has made
an increase 20 meet the increased
demand, and pass it on 10 you and
your churches. Sorry that II comes
thus in the midst Of the year when
some budgets are made up
Il find in some instances that the
returns sent 70 me indicate that the
pastors have forgotten the latter
communication and are reporting on
the old basis Of y per cent
THE raise OF the per cent by the
conference for the Retired Ministers
Fund 20 ~ per cent. on the same
basis, and the above raise In the
Episcopal Fund has produced no lit
tie objection and In some cases harsh
criticism. and developed a disposi-
ton to call a halt by not paying the
increased amount. In such cases II
the pro-rating OF salaries were in
sisted upon IL would cause the min
isters concerned to be more deeply
in debt for living expenses than they
are at present.
Centenary Fund.
Though I have tried, 1 have been
unable to get any definite figures on
centenary collections, for the simple
reason that in most cases there are
none. The brethren are going at
II personally from house to house
Fand will not be able, until the last
minute, to report for they are still
looking for the last dollar. Re
ports coming in and information
gained by the way indicate a condi-
ton not specially encouraging. The
facts developed are about as follows
The subscriptions, for the most part
were given for only one year. We
have had too many 'fives' already
and the people positively refused "a
20 further on a term subscription
The excuse for a refusal 20 renew
/ II trouble is taken 10 name one, il
that throughout the rural sections
the poor and positively profitles'
crops during the past year have left
them without ability TO meet current
expenses for their own use. The
fact that money the country over Il
exceedingly tight. so that they have
much difficulty in borrowing money
to tide them over the stress. Bui
I really fear the chief reason is tina
there is little vision and no particu
lar interest in the great causes rep
resented by the centenary move
ment. They do not sense IL and ID
not want you to try to make then
do so. Someone has said that w
are provincial. I doubt not tina
It is so. and natural results arc tina
We are self-centered and downright
selfish. our eyes do not see at al
the poor. broken. war-strickei
world. dying and with its well-nigl
palsied fingers beckoning us to com
TO the rescue. Not all our peopl
are so. Nay, some OF them ar
deeply interested because they Sc
and are in deep agony OF soul be
cause they cannot do more them
selves and get others 10 come L
the rescue. You can almost locat
these by the statistical tables.
Rural Problems.
j IN our rural territory we hav
Evening journal., 1921-03-30

church which cost s927. which is
paid. Lewes has installed new
heaters in the church az a cost OF
$1,000, which is also paid. Bridge
Vile has repainted the church with
out and decorated IL within. making
the commodious audience room very
attractive. These improvements,
costing $1,000, are paid. The peo-
pie Of Little Creek are proud OF their
new parsonage recently purchased
upon which they have made an out
lay OF $500. The Board Of Home
Missions and Church Extension help
ed them by a gift Of 500 from the
Emergency Fund They have new
er had a parsonage before. being
under the necessity OF renting, which
has not been at all satisfactory.
They now have a comfortable home
for the preacher. Ebenezer church
on Rehoboth charge has been thor
oughly renovated and a garage built
at Rehoboth. Total cost $500
paid. other less amounts have
been expended as follows;-Feder-
alsburg. S637. Cambridge. 5000:
Camden, f4OO; Georgetown. S4OO;
Dover. s5s6; Bethel. s4OO; wyoming.
S315; Beckwith. $500; Reliance,
$500; Milton. S450. other charges
report minor improvements amount
ing in all to $2O.5O6.
Cambridge has now reduced their
debt during this present pastorate
from s22. 900 10 $4,000. having paid
this year. $4,000. making a total OF
$4,000 paid during the past three
years. Lewes has paid on par
sonage debt, $4,000. other smaller
amounts reported make a total Of
S5,9SS.
Losses OF Property.
we have lost two churches by
fire this conference year. In June,
Wesley Church on Lakesville charge
destroyed. There was a small
amount OF insurance on the property
but the people have not sufficiently
recovered from the blow 20 make
much headway toward rebuilding.
This may not be done.
In the fall, Whites Chapel on
Nassau charge. was burned. Meet
ings were in progress at the time,
but the people had left the church
at a seasonable hour with everything
apparently all right. but from some
unknown cause FIRE started sometime
in the night with the above result.
They had $1,000 insurance. a to-
tally inadequate sum. The people
have risen up with full determina-
tion 20 rebuild. They have their
plans and quite a sum OF money
ready 10 begin operations in the
spring.
Blades is proposing TO build a
new church this year. Plans are in
hand, money is being solicited and
secured and they expect, at an early
date. to begin work This is a very
much needed improvement for this
growing town.
Nearly 1000 Conversions.
I'VE rejoice exceedingly on ac-
count Of the revival spirit which has
prevailed on the district this year.
Crapo has been In continuous revival
the whole year-conversions occur
ring in the regular services frequent
| ly. The pastor has been unassisted
in this work and reports as a result
Of this years work. 131 brought 70
the knowledge Of the truth. Hoop
er's, mentioned before In this report,
has had a remarkable awakening.
The tabulated results show 1s7 con-
Evening journal., 1921-03-30

assistance OF the Rev. Clarence Keen
and wife. who are devoting them
selves to the work OF evangelisis.
I'm the early winter. a plan for
united evangeiistic campaign for
Wilmington Mothodists was submit
ted by the writer as chairman OF the
committee, and received tho hearty
approval OF the Preachers Meeting.
The city was divided into four main
divisions, with a leader and an as
sistant leader In each section As
direct result OF this united effort.
there will be instituted an ail-day
meeting during the entire year. This
win form a railying point for the de-
vout and prayerfully minded. who
long to see the glory OF God shine
out OF our Zion.
More Time For Work OF Christ
We'll, the clock admonishes me
that l am trespassing upon the time
OF the business OF the Conference.
There Is a ciamor in these days for
short sermons, short prayers. short
prayer meetings. short reports, short
everything that pertains TO the bus
ness OF the King. Multitudes OF
church members will sit out a two
reel in the movies, and shout them
selves hoarse for hours at political
meeting or a ball game. but look as
though they were developing a case
OF acute indigestion II a church
service goes beyond a certain limit.
Understand me. am not in
Weighing against recreation. or pure
fun. and nobody likes a decent ball
game and a live-wiro political meet
ing more than / do. but I submit be-
fore Him who saved us from sin.
and broke His dear heart TO make
haven for us 70 hide IN when the
tempest pursued. that Il is about
time that the Methodist church put
God in first place and gave His Son
Jesus Christ tho right OF way.
THE men who have supported me
and borne with me this year as in
other years are listening TO familiar
oft repeated sayings. but there is in
my heart a longing that were words
wonderful and wizard-like though
they be. are inadequate 10 express.
only Him whose We are and whom
we serve can know and interpret
these longings.
Bear with me. my brothers In the
Kingdom OF patience OF Jesus Christ.
/ What I long for Is TO see this his
toric territory made sacred by the
heroism of a royal band OF Christly
men and women, fully given up to
Jesus Christ. Thank God, the things
that once divided US are gone. We
be brethren agin. have dreams OF
the city and have learned 20 love.
dreams. please God, which in spite
OF doubts and fruition long delayed,
viii some day come true. but the
welfare Of the Conference looms
larger than any local interest, how
ever pressing that may be"
Evening journal., 1921-03-30

centenary fail - what? Tithlng
Stewardship. The chiefest OF all.
Evangelism. An who tried the ex-
Of the charges. pronounce the ex-
pertinent a decided success. and all
desire 20 have a similar service IN
the coming year. Too often our
quarterly conferences are formal and
perfunctory. They should be in the
nature Of training and inspirational
conferences In which a comparison
Of views ministers TO a deeper inter-
est in the work OF the church.
Another experiment that proved
decided success was a joint con-
vention covering two days. and em-
bracing the annual meeting OF the
District Stewards. the District Ep-
worth League Convention. and an
entire day TO a consideration Of the
centenary. intercession and evangel-
ism.
Chimes For Grace Church.
THE most notable material
achievement for the year was the gift
OF chime OF bells. fourteen In num-
Der. by Mr.. and Mrs. Melville Gam
brill. 70 Grace church, the gift 20
be known as the Gambrill chimes
This chime Of bells was manufactur-
ed by the Meneelly Company. Of
Troy. New York, one Of the leading
bell foundries in the world. The
Gambrill chimes are the best money
could procure. the total cost was
$4,000.
"The dedicatory service was held
| Thanksgiving night Long before
the hour for the service the street
and yard Of the church were throng-
ed with multitude seeking admis-
sion. the audience numbered over
1900. The service was in charge OF
the pastor, DR.. John W. X. Sumwalt.
Bishops William Fraser Mcdowell
and Charles L. Mead, made the ad-
dresses. Mr.. Gambrill. was then in
troduced, and made a most telling
address Then on behalf Of himself
and Mrs. Gambrill he presented the
chimes TO. Bishop Mcdowell. who
with a unique and impressive ritual
dedicated the chime.
This gift. one among many which
Mr.. Gambrill has bestowed. will not
only be an aid to worship as the mel.
low tones Of this wonderful china
greet the chance passer-by. but will
serve to perpetuate the memory Of a
man who has used his wealth for the
glory OF God and the promotion OF
his cause.
I'VE take just a moment 20 make
special mention Of the fact that Mr.
Gambrill made possible the creation
Of an endowment for the better car,
OF our conference claimants, bene.
faction which will cause many C
rise up and call him blessed
Trinity, Wilmington, rejoices In a
new parsonage. which not only adds
to the comfort Of the preacher anC
his family, but greatly enhances tbs
value OF the church property Th'
Evening journal., 1921-03-30

pastor. Rev. T.. II. Collins. superin-
tended the work and wrought with
his own hands for months. some
times far into the night The time
he put in rated al even a nominal
figure would constitute generous
donation toward the cost OF this
beautiful parsonage. A goodiy
number OF his people initiated the
industry OF the pastor and donated
at the least, work TO the amount Of
$1,000. The total cost Of these inn
provements is $4,000.
Mt. Pleasant reports $500 for i'm
provements and this charge has
prospered so under brother Kelso's
care that IL will have 20 be divided
into two appointments. Harrison
Street has paid $500 for improve
ments. Brother VIM. +. Habbart
informs me that the new parsonage
will be erected this year. Elkton
has paid S534 for improvements, and
is far in advance Of last year. Broth
er Alderson's first year in the
growing charge Is noteworthy In
every respect, and he is already a
factor in the public life OF tho COM
munity. = Madeley has expended
$500 on Improvements and other
extensive additions TO the church
plant In contemplation. For debts
and improvements brother W. G..
Hastings reports $1,000 paid and
silverbrook has raised for improve
ments SASS. For improvements at
Cookman $500. and s21O0 added 10
the building fund. The amount
paid by Scott church for improve
ments is si325.
NO charge on the district merits
commendation more than Wesley
church. II was only a few years
since that the fate OF this church.
located IN a largely foreign speaking
neighborhood. was regarded as
doubtful. There was some thought
Of selling and moving 70 another
section, but the steady. increasingly
useful ministry of Brother Zach
Wells has removed the doubt Wes-
ley Is on frmer footing than at any
year in its history, and closes the
year with all claims met and a bal
ance Of 500 in It's current expense
account.
Industrial Depression.
Much might be set down concern
ing the Industrial depression through
which we have passed and still are
/ passing. All will admit that It az.
fected the manufacturing centers
where as in Wilmington thousands
OF idle men thronged the street,
their source OF income cut on Ir
many cases as high as so pei
cent. Of our Methodists were out of
work. and some OF them for months
Yet / have yet 10 hear OF a single
church where tho every member
canvass does not exceed last year
and in every instance this canvas
has gone forward in the face Of de
pressing conditions. I feel sur