April 15, 1904

We have received the following from an officer of the Sussex County Bible Society with a request to publish it in our communication to the Milford Chronicle:

“The special attention of all the members, friends, and supporters of the American Bible Society is respectfully but earnestly invited to the following statement:–The Bible Society Record for May, 1903, informed our friends that the receipts for the year closing March 31, 1903, were less by $74,000 (in round numbers) than the preceding year, and considerably less than the average receipts for the preceding decade. The decrease was mainly in legacies, but not altogether so; individual gifts being more than $11,000.

“We have therefore watched with keen interest and growing anxiety the receipts for the current year. We are now compelled to state that up to the first of December they are only about $10,000 in excess of what they were last year. Therefore, we have been compelled to draw again, and more deeply upon the available funds hitherto held in reserve, and if the receipts for the remaining four months of the fiscal year do not very largely increase, we will come out without a cent of available funds for current expenses—if, indeed, we escape debt.

“We are feeling, therefore, a most serious question. This question affects not only the society, byt Christian missions which are absolutely dependent upon us. This aid must in large measure be withdrawn unless we find relief.

“Must we dismiss our experienced agents, whom it would be hard to replace in China, in Turkey, in the Philippines—or, if not, what is the alternative? There are questions which must be decided by the responsible managers of the society. But let all our members, friends and constituents realize that if they will come promptly to our relief now, and put into our hands the needed funds, in place of retrenching, we may advance along the line as we ought to do.

“In the name and for the sake of Christian missions, therefore, we appeal for enlarged gifts immediately.

“May God awaken His people to the urgency of the present situation. Is the Christian church prepared to economize on the Bible?”

The Sussex County W. C. T. U. will hold its convention on Thursday, the 19th inst., in the M. E. Church of this town.

The M. E. Church Choir will hold a bazaar in Masonic Hall on Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings, the 14th, 15th, and 16th. Proceeds for the benefit of the choir. Admission 10 cents.

Miss Annie Mitchell and Mr. William Dodd were united in matrimony on Thursday evening. The ceremony took place at the M. P. Parsonage at Harbeson and was performed by the Rev. F. L. Stevens. The parties will reside in Cave Neck.

Miss [Mayme] A. Conner has accepted a position as bookkeeper at the shirt and overall factory on Messrs. Douglass and White; vice, Miss Josie Messick, resigned, to accept a similar position in Philadelphia.

The old drying factory of Messrs. Atkins and Tomlinson at the end of Magnolia Street has been torn down.

Mrs. Sallie Ponder has reset the stone curbing in front of her residence on Federal Street.

An Ushers’ Union was organized at the M. E. Church on Thursday evening by the election of the following officers: president, Isaac W. Nailor; vice president, Edward Davidson; secretary, Leon Black; treasurer, William Wagamon. Various committees were appointed.

The shirt factory of Douglass and White closed on Saturday for recess of one week.

Mr. Frank Alton has been elected delegate to represent the M. E. Sunday school at the annual state convention to be held at Laurel on the 21st and 22nd inst.

Thomas Wilson, one of the officers of the S. S. T. T. And D. Co., sprained his hip last week, and for some days was unable to attend to business. He is now better.

R. C. Beardsley sold a portion of is outdoor goods on Saturday at public auction, and has, with his family, removed to Townsend, Delaware. Mr. Beardsley was quite a useful man in Milton, and did a great deal of mechanical work. He will be missed.

Turnip greens are plentiful in market. Some of the merchants have had so many on hand that they have been compelled to feed them to chickens.

The Harbeson cannery will be operated the coming season by the same parties who managed it last year.

It is rumored that the Milton Steamboat Company has purchased the steamer Mary M. Vinyard[i], Miss., on Saturday., and the boat will arrive in Milton some time during the present week.

Jacob coffin is very ill with heart troubles.

There was no preaching service at the M. P. Church on Sunday, Mr. Johnson being absent, attending conference.

Rev. W. M. Conaway occupied the pulpit at the M. E. Church on Sunday evening.

Mrs. Mamie Fowler, who has been visiting her parents, Mr. and Mrs. William Mears for some time, started for her home at Dufport[i], Miss., on Saturday.

William Wright, colored, died on Saturday of paralysis, aged 68 years. Funeral on Tuesday and interment in A. M. E. Cemetery. The deceased was a soldier of the Civil War and a government pensioner.

Miss Emeline Clendaniel died at the home of her brother, Avery Clendaniel on Monday, of heart troubles, age 59 years and 11 months. The funeral services were held at the late home of the deceased near Oakley on Wednesday, and interment made in the Avery Clendaniel cemetery. S. J. Wilson & Son, undertakers.

George William Johnson, familiarly known as “Will” Johnson, died at the home of his father in law, Mr. Purnell Johnson, on Tuesday morning of consumption, aged about 28 years. Services were held at the M. E. Church by the Rev. L. P. Corkran on Thursday, and the body inhumed in the M. E. Cemetery. S. J. Wilson & Son, funeral directors. Deceased was a member of Enterprise Council, No. 16, Jr. O. U. A. M. of this town, and also of Local Union Carpenters and Joiners of America, No. 465, Ardmore, Pa. The first mentioned the order attended the funeral in a body in regalia. The deceased was a victim of consumption by inheritance, but had been confined to his home only a few weeks before his death. Just 16 months had elapsed from the day he led a bride to the altar to the day of his burial. A widow survives him.

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[i] The Mary M. Vinyard was built in Milford and acquired by the Milton Steamboat Co. Upon the liquidation of the company in 1905 it was sold to the Virginia and Carolina Coast Railroad Co. It burned in 1912.
[i] This is probably meant to say Gulfport, Miss.