Ministerial Appointments

Sharox, Sept, 12, 1875. Editors Michigan Arous : If it is not asking too niueh, though a stranger, would like to speak a few word hrough your excellent paper. Ou Saturday last my attention was called to an article in the local columns of the Peninsular Courier, published in four city, relatiVH to some of the ministerial appointments made by tho Detroit Conference of the M. E. Church at its ate session held at Flinr. Iu said article we are told (what we all snould have uown without the aid of the Courier) that the Kev. Mr. Shier, former pastor of the M. E, Church at Ann Arbor, had beeu appointed to Adrián charge and the Rev. I. N. Elwood had been ap pointed to take Shier's place at Ann Arbor. And then with seemingly profouud astonishuieut asks the question, " Who is Elwood V" I would answer this question as briefly as possible : Elwood is a gradúate of the Michigan University about nine or ten years siace. Mr. Elwood's laat appoiutment, says the Courier truthfully, was at Moreuci, Lenawee couuty. But where is Morenci ? asks the Courier ; we cannot iiud it on the inaps. Better to have said, we do not study maps. Does the editor of the Courier kuow where the Michigan Uuiversity is located ' Can lie firid it on the maps ' what kind of a inan is the editor of theCourierf How long since he carne froui the backwoods 't Now the maps do show such a place as Morenci, giving 1,500 as its population three years siuce, and its present population must exceed 2,000. The editor of the (laurier does not, as he says, kuow what the standiug of Mr. Elwood is as & preacher. Be it known then that Mr. Elwood is not second to Mr. Shier, nor to Dr. McCarty either, thanks to the Michigan University aud its excellent training. Mr. Elwood has served the church since graduating, at Marquette, Fentonville, Saginaw City, and for the last three years at Moreuci ; and either one of those places would be glad to have hiin again. His last charge had about 225 members, among them just as intelligent people as any in Ann Arbor, not excopting the renowned editor of the Peninsular Courier. So uiuch for the local of the Courier ; and here I should stop were it not that nxy eye caught the heading, " Too Many Preachers," in the editorial columns of the Courier. And such a thrust as the editor has made at Mr. Elwood, whose appointment was made by the proper authorities, without the asking on the part of Elwood ; such a thruat as the editor has mado at a body of good, laborioua men ; suoh a thrust as he has made at the whole conference and Christianity in general, is siinply suicidal, and ought to termínate in' his death as an editor. There ma y be, liowever, some palliating features in his case ; he may be either insane or idiotie. To talk about Presiding Elders showing spite, what folly; to talk about spite and bad temper fustering in those noble men for years ; Oh ! ye shades of darkness, trom what remóte corner of your domain did this Cuurier editor come i1 Such babble is suicidal to the interests of the church at Ann Arbor, for instead of 199 out of the 200 ministers in the Detroit Conference wanting to come to Ann Arbor, as alleged by the Cuurier wan, not one of them would come, while Ann Arbor is infested with such iufluence as the Cuurier ïsexerting. Ah ! a little conimon sense now and then would be a good thing for ye editor of the Courier. The editor of% the Cuurier wiuds up the blast of his hom by saying : " We would like to say more, but dare not for fear those Presiding Elders will be offended, and will not send us any minister next year." Let said editor be assured that if the eutire membership of the ohurch at Ann Arbor were like hnnself, those immaculate men would be guilty of treason if they did send them a minister. It would be casting pearls before swine. Yours &C.