Milford chronicle., 1925-04-10
Glendale
Have Ne TOO Many CHURCHES J

buses from their homes, to the cen
trail point where the school house is
situated, has been so successful, thai
a move is on foot to Apply this rule
to all the country school districts in
Delaware; thereby enabling the
scholars to receive better educational
facilities, than they possibly could
get under the old order of things
Better teachers could be employed
and more grades taught. The new
buildings which would be erected
would give to the children not only
those things which would broaden
their minds, but that which would
develop their physical bodies as
well. If this is true in regard to our
Dublic schools, why not apply the
sxme rule to our churches. 1t is an
acknowledged fact, that at the pres
ent time we have more places of
worship. than can be possibly filled
nv competent preachers. In fact, so
scarce have men of this class become
thai the superintendents of the sew
eral districts are compelled to send
ont Young men not yet out of school
tn Dreach the gospel of Christ; and,
furthermore, they have to seek from
the ranks Of the laymen, many more
men TO fill the appointments, which
otherwise would remain vacant. In
smile of all this, some churches nave
no preaching service whatever. why
is this? How is it, that such a con-
ditiOn exists in the places of Wor-
shin today-and especially in the M.
E. and NJ. P. Churches?
One reason is that ordained min
listers retire from the field long be-
fore their usefulness is ended. Sim
Dlv because the rules of the church
allow them to retire at a certain age;
or. after so many years OF WORK
This should not be a reason why
they should quit; unless incapaciat-
"a tx asa or physical disability, Inc
writer believes in a liberal pension
for all deserving members on the
retired list; but, he also believes, II
tbe pensiOns now paid should for
any reason be cut down one man,
there would be a great many less
names on the retired list, and more
active members answering to the
roll call. Lets go back to the ques-
ton, "Have we too many churches
If so. what remedy have we which
will in a measure solve the difficult
nrOblem? We would answer the hrst
question, by saying-yes, we nave
TOO many churches; unless we nave
more preachers to fill the pulplts'
and more people who will take the
time to 90 hear them. The answer to
the second question would be, con-
solidate, using the same methods as
now used in uniting school districts; |
leaving out the busses. For instance
here in Glendale we have large |
new church, which was built at
cost of sixteen thousand dollars, |
with no debt resting against it. We
have also a parsonage free OF any
encumbrance. Within a radius OF
four miles of Glendale, are situated
at least six churches; three are M.
E's and three are NJ. P.'s They have
preaching services twice each
month. How much better it would be
if all these six churches could De
consolidated, and have preaching at
A central point twice each Sunday;
beth morning and night. Under this
head the combined forces could al
ford to pay a minister a good sal
arv: and he would be able to devote
most of his time to preparation OF
strong sermons, full of spiritual food
and have leisure hours enough TO
devote to visiting among his people.
If for sentiment or other causes, the
neople at the different points wish
to retain their old places of worship, (
let them do so; but, for local uses
such as class meetings, SUNDAY !
schools, ETC., let these services be
held in the afternoons only; so that j
the people from the six places would {
be free to attend the preaching SER
vices at the central point, both NOR ]
ming and night. AS the distance !
would be short, the run by automo- t
bile could be made in few minutes.
The writer while attending the M. e.
Conference in Wilmington last week \
heard a great deal about "unifca- a
ion" and is pleased to note that both
he ministerial and lay conferences, \
7oted in favor of uniting the TWO t
treat Methodist Churches-North 7
md South.
Why can't we do little unify1ng il
.mong ourselves and bring about I
more satisfactory condition in our
hurch affairs? Some will say, your B
Ian is not feasible, as One-half OF c.
he churches to be united belong to D
be M. E. Conference and the other
alf to the NJ. P. Conference. Very N
rue but all we have got to do, is fC
} do a little more unifying and unite Ii
he M. e. Church and the M. r
hurch and the plan is complete. we p;
re persuaded to believe that If we R
re SO fortunate as to have sue 81
essful rossing over into the prom OF
ed land. and reach the pearly gates Ell
hich lead into the Golden City, the da
atchman there-whether it be st. dJ
eter, or some other of the heaven Sc
host, will not ask us which way
e came. or whether we belong to m
Ie Methodist. Methodist Protestant, W
Baptist, Catholic, or Fl
" other denomination; but will FL
IMPLY say, let us see if your Gre an
entails are straight? II
John M. Crowley, one of our aged On
Id most respected citizens, died at da
@ home of his friends, Mr.. and Mrs. go
=. E. Lewis, Thursday morning of sa
st week, age 76 years. He had been sa
sufferer for a long time from acute or
Omach and bladder trouble. Mr.. wa
'owley until a few years ago was OF
lployed as foreman in the textile H.
lis of both Philadelphia and Fair II.
punt, W. Va. He was an expert II.
aver and commanded the highest DO
Lges wherever employed. A few Ha