Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1921-03-30

$500. and 50 100 added to the building
fund. Tho amount paid by Scott
Church for improvements is s1.325.
Other payment of debts and improve
ments. Rising Sun. $430.
No charge on the district merits
commendation more than Wesley
Church. 1t was only a few years since
that the fate of this church, located in
| a largely foreign-Speaking neighbor-
hood, was regarded as doubtful. There
was some thought of selling and NOV
ing to another section. but the steady.
increasingly useful ministry of Bro
ther Zach Wells has removed the
| doubt.
| An Innovation.
An innovation in the way OF an ex-
! pertinent in connection with the fourth
| Quarterly conferences was tried this
year with very marked success. In
most instances the quarterly confer
ence was preceded by dinner given to
| the officials, their wives and the Sun
| day School workers Then came the
| discussion of the program. All who
! tried the experiment, and that in
| cludes four-fifths of the charges. pro-
| nounce the experiment a decided sue
cess, and all desire TO have a similar
| service in the coming year.
Another experiment that proved a
decided success was n Joint conven-
ton covering two days, and embrac-
| ing the annual meeting of the district
| stewards. the District Epworth League
| convention and an entire day TO a
| consideration of the centenary, inter
cession and evangelism. The evening
speakers were Bishop Mcdowell and
DR. Francs Burgete Short. DIR. Morris
| +, Swartz gave a most timely and stir
ring presentation of the centenary to
date.
February :, in Union Church. DIR.
Ralph Diffendorfer gave in picture and
by spoken word a marvellous exhibit
of the achievements of the centenary.
If that exhibit could be put on in three
fourths of our churches 1t would re-
move any lingering doubt as To the
wise use of centenary funds.
An Explanation.
I regret that 1t is again necessary TO
direct attention to matter mentioned
! somewhat at length in last years re-
port. VIZ. the persistent publication in
the centenary statements sent out to
the pastors. of a fictitious quota, SO
| called. of the Wilmington district
once more let IL be recorded that there
be no mistake in the future, that the
| quota referred 10 was accepted at a
| critical juncture in the centenary cam
| paign Cest we rock the boat while
| mid -strcaml we accepted quota al
least sl7 900 in advance OF our officially
| given quota. with the distinct agree
ment that certain amounts being rails
ed for local purposes by churches IN
the centenary survey should receive
, centenary credit 1t was found later
I ~. al
the Centenary Commission that agree
ment was not to be kept. Manifestly
, then. we should not be discouraged
! with nearly $50 900 added 10 ours quota
want TO say with all emphasis. tha
: this Injustice has made the gathering
, Of centenary funds needcssiy difficult
In season and out Of season, in all th'
quarterly conferences. in pubtic ser
mons and addresses, as well as II
personal conferences. the worth an'
! ,yorthiness Of our centenary movemen
have been persistenuy stressed
submit il is not quite according Z
: common Justice nor tho Golden Rul
: 10 add to the weight OF the task.
: Industrial Depression.
|. Much might be set down concerning
the Industrial depression through
! which We have passed and still ar
I passing. All will admit that il affect
I | cd the manufacturing centers, where
e as in Wilmington. thousands OF ldI
S men thronged the streets. their sourc
- of income cut off. In many cases a
: high as so per cent Of our Methodist
were out OF work, and some OF them 10
q months But + have Yet 10 hear OF
T single cheurch where the every mem
h ber canvass does not exceed last year
u and in every instance this canvass ma
gone forward in the face Of depressin
& conditions feel sure also that ou
o benevolent offerings will go beyond las
Is wear. Certain il is that IN seFerai III
e single church where the every neiil
r, treble-d their benevolent offerings lie
e ,-ears ago similar conditions would haV
Is given rise to all sorts OF DOUBTS an
e Fears and excuses, but so far as M
n knowledge extends there has Dee
a comparatively little complaint, eithe
IF on the part Of the Laity OF the hliiAiSu
y Need more be said?
: What is the explanation? While IN
.e can+enarv brought It's burdens an
.e rrohleros il at the same time brougi
a ,evr spirit a clearer vision OF u
Gift unspeakable. and the opportunl'
and iov of His service. The church vi
ST never slip back 20 its level OF iimite
/ giving. or spasmOdic serving.
:. Good Record of Charges.
a II Is dtting that mention should hei
,e he made of the charges which und'
of these conditions equal the record OF la
ne year and Of those who excel IL Few,
he any will be below last year in the
Dc centenary Offering and the followir
have gone beyond last years record
le record of last year. but goes sl7b abo'
ly its maximum quota. Keep your eye
IN Pichardson Park and its live-wi
K preacher. Brother Arthur w. Goo
hand. The Rev. Ivanhoe Willis has WI
,k a signal victory for Methodism at Ma
IN shaUton, and the significance OF IN
n victory will appear in due time. Oth
N charges showing a creditable increa
he are. Edge Moor. Union, McCabe, Hop
ne well. Port Deposit. Rising Sun. Hari
AT son ST. Wesley. Kingswood. Elkto
h. Cooknan Brandywine Chesa peal
is City, Claymont. Ebenezer. st. Johr
where brother George A. Cooke h
"a made an enviable record, Hockessi
-. Mt. Lebanon, Mt. Pleasant, st. Paul
-, this church heads the list increasiI
A. nearly 81 900 beyond the previous yea
q | Trinity Madeley. Epworth, East Lah
20 Grace. Newark, where an increase h
- been made in all the benevolences.
a. The District made a liberal respon
.txa IIoauar Relief the Near East TX