Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-03-21
SOUTHERN METHOpiSTS
Meeting Of the Baltimore Conference in
Roanoke Next Week.
Gossip About the Changes That May
Be Made In the Pulpits
In This City.

ference Of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South will begin next Wednesday in the
Green Memorial Church, Roanoke, Va, and
continue in session the better part Of a
week. OF late the conference has paid more
attention to the territory around Washing
ton than for some years past, and in oon-
sequence it may take some action looking
toward a more substantial recognition OF
the Importance of this section Of the con-
ference field.
The most important feature Of the Wash
ington work Is the erection Of the new edi-
flee Of the Epworth congregation on Capitol
Hill and its dedication. In the Washington
district, in which this city is situated, there
are no vacancies by the expiration Of the
four-year limit except at Middleburg, Va.
Presiding Elder Rumsey smithson an
nounces that he has not decided upon the
person to recommend for this position.
Though there are no vacancies in this city
by limitation, 1t Is rumored that Rev. w. s.
Hammond Of Marvin Church may receive
another appointment. Rev. John o. Knott,
pastor Of Epworth, has only served for one
year. but during that time has built new
church, and as he is now in the midst of
completing a better organization Of the con-
greSa ton, it is thought he is apt to be re-
tanned The other pastorate here is that of
Mt Vernon Church, which is one Of the
largest churches in the denomination, and,
with the exception of a church In Balti-
n ore, paying the best salary in the confer
ence. While DR.. Car ter has been very sue
cessful in his work here, still people think
Of the sudden manner in which Rev. DR..
Weightman, the previous PASTOR, was trans
ferred, and then they are prepared for any
thing. DR.. Canter has one more year before
the expiration Of the limit
Emory Chapel, near Brightwood, is not in
the Washington district, hut still, 1t being
SO Fear the city, it's progress is regarded
with interest by Washington Methodists.
The present pastor is Rev. F. II. Shipley,
whose time Is out. and consequently there
will be a new preacher assigned there. Just
who this will be Is not known, as 1t Is not
the custom for the congregations to indi-
cate their choice. everything being left to
the bishops and the presiding elders. 1t is
thought, however, that the new pastor will
be from among the members of the confer
cree, though the transfer of minister
from the Holston conference Tennessee, is
announced.
A good deal of interest is taken in the ap-
pointments to two vacant presiding elder
ships. The conference is divided into the
following districts: Baltimore, East Balti-
more, WashiI gton, Winchester, Rocking
ham, Roanoke, Lewisburg and Moorefield,
and the respective elders are: Revs. ]. 8.
Hutchinson, James f. Armstrong, Ramsey
Smithson. David Bush P. H. Wisner. B. F.
Ball, w. G. Hammond and George H. Zim-
norman. The expiration by law are those
Of Messrs. Hammond and Bush, and many
speculations have been INDUCED in concern
ing their successors
1t is the impression that one Of the elders
will be assigned to a church and a minister
put into the eldership. When the report of
the Baltimore conference was published
last spring It contained 213 ministers of all
classes, 81 lay delegates, all representing a
constituency of nearly $4,000 members,
which latter figure is probably reached by
this time The conference has 619 societies.
1876 church edifices. valued at over million
dollars, and there are las pastoral charges.
The presiding officer of the coming confer
ence will be Bishop r. K. Hargrove of Chat
tanooga, Tenn, who here this week.
The bishop is comparatively young man.
He was a practicing lawyer for some years
before entering the ministry, which was in
1870. He was elected to the epfscopate in
1884, and a the present time is president of
the board of trustees of Vanderbilt Uni
versity and of the southern branch of the
Epworth League. The lay delegate from
Washington is Frederick A. Sitter Of Mt.
Vernon Church.