Every evening, Wilmington daily commercial., 1922-03-23
Report Numerous Difficulties Overcome

Methodist EpAcopal Church. A revival
was held in January. In which the pas
tor was assisted by Rev. and Mira. Will
liam G Mesling. IL was a great meet
Ing. BY actual count 5000 people at
tended these meetings during tho time
or their continuance. by conversion
renewals. the locating OF those who
had united with no chussh. but were
Methodiste. about 100 have been added
to the church. think the pastor. pos
sibly. leads the conference In the mat.
ter OF Christian Advocate subscriptions.
FIFTY new ones and 100 per cent re-
newals comprise his list. making a
total OF 6s in all
There have been other very profit
able and successful meetings. Lincoln
has had exceptionally fine revival, In
two OF the three churches on the
charge; namely. Lincoln and Slaughter
Neck. Tho pastor has done most OF
the work himself There were 70 con-
versions.
Woodland. on Reliance charge. had
a great season of refreshing from the
presence or the Lord; converts, ~.
Trinity and Greenwood churches. on
the Greenwood charge. had unusual
meetings. Pastor reports 7s con-
versions.
The. same may be said OF quite a
few other charges. East New Market.
"a; Rehoboth. AZ: Hoopers Island.
as: Armory. IS; FELTON,. al:
Houston, 20; Glendale, SO; George
town circuit, IA: Leipsic. =. IA: Dover,
IL; Magnolia. II; Millsboro. IL;
Lewes. 10; Iiurlock. 1s: Crapo. rs;
Lakesville, l6; Blades. IS; others re-
porting less numbers. making n total
as reported TO me OF s6s.
Centenary.
Il have made an earnest effort 10
ascertain just how the Centenary ac-
count stands-on the district. but have
not succeeded TO any satisfactory de-
gree. Ii looks now, from reports re-
ceived. that the district will not quite
measure up TO last year In Centenary
contributions. Reports have come In
think, because l have insisted. bu,
with incomplete figures and I'm quite
Few instances none at all, because
the people in these cases cling To the
habit OF putting off the evil day as
long as possible, which makes Il hard
for the minister and the people a.
we'll
There IL an increasing opposition
/ especially in the rural sections. and ir
To the Centenary in many places
some places Il is like Haunting the rec
| nag in the face of a bull even 10 men.
/ ton lit stirs up the fsht.
! Not so Ions since pastor wa.
apologizing TO me for the small con
Gregation present and said one rea
son for this is that they said the,
were sure you were going TO speak OF
the Centenary and they were not 10
Ing TO hear it ! am advising IN,
brethern in such cases to drop tn,
word Centenary from their vocabu
larry, especially in public speech, an,
+ use the word missionary instead. y,
use irritating the dear people need
lessiy.
/ Quite few Of the larger churchs7
are taking the work OF the Cenienar,
seriously. and l might say gladly. an,
are coming up splendidly. II is tru,
We have had an exceptionally har,
I year financially. No one denies tina.
With frost and freeze for our frui
and failure in our general crops a
we'll as IN the flsh mad oyster bust
ness in the tide water sections, W
have been hard hit.
Il was talking a few days ago witl
IL
ardent Methodist. an optimistic spirit
the owner OF a dozen or more farm.
who said that for the first time in hi
long business career his far rms ha
ne;ted him a dead loss Of exactly 81,
600 in the year 1921. But he con
tlnued, this has been a kerry ba
year. but the years have ndt all bee
bad, and those 10 come Will not a
be bad years. / shall pay tny part {
the church out OF the years that wer
good, and IL could not Of It any othe
way l would borrow money and pa
it. II such spirif were geners
among our people there would be n
, shortage in our church finances.
The bad conditions are real beyon
question, but this fact is not III
worst feature OF the situation. ]
these times even. II the people woul
E deal squarely with the Lord; II II
e had His proper and legitimate shal
out OF the wreck; II We did not chsrp
e all the losses 10 the Lord-stran ns
5 how II is always the Lords part whic
e is lost; IL He could have the titt
- after the old Jewish standard out
what we do have. no cause OF His, {
5 represented by the Methodist Episc,
o pal Church. would suffer or fail Il
I want OF funds 70 support it. There
no noticeable shutting down on ii
luxuries and pleasures Of the peopl
The Lords cause must take the shor
. age.
i Where there is no vision the PEE
> pie perish. II our people would oi
time climb TO some Pisgah's heigl
,and get a vision OF this old broke
: bleeding, sin-burdened world al
sense their relation 10 this situate
and hear Gods heart-breaking cl
TO His people 20 help Him restore a
n world to sanity and salvation, the
!. would not, there could not be, th
}; self -sa tisfied. selfish attitude iowa
= the Lord and His work. for in tn
D. seeing Il would be discovered as o.
work as well as His. How long,
Lord. How long before our peor
: shall awake? May the Lord Of hos
& hasten the day,
:" Epworth League.
al, 4. bardt,, an oman on,sffou A. 4.
whether the Epworth League has c
Y. tireIy measured up 10 the purpose
d its founders The society is primarI
ID intended 10 be a school OF training
+ young people in matters Of religio
= and church life and service so In
L.. ....ll