The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1896-01-03

CEuIth. bnl were altIdflfb ny ih' ~
sonal influence and pulpit efforts OF the
pastor. which were accomplishing great
good I'm the community.
lie had projected and announced plan
for the work OF the church for the en-
suing year. and had announced MS &c
sire TO return. ia conformity 90 inc
wishes Of the people. Relying upon inc
recognized rule IN such cases. the stew
ards OF the church had perfected ther
plans for the work OF the ensuing year.
In conformity TO the one projected by the
pastor. and had put them into active OPP
Grafton.
his WORK MAPPED OUT
Arrangements had been made for rails
ing all Of the collections ordered by the
conference. upon days agreed upon IN
advance and for the delivery OF ser
mons by the pastor appropriate TO each
collection. OF an OF this the congregation
was advised At the request Of members
o. the congregation, the pastor had an
nounced a series Of sermons on special
subjects. 90 be delivered by him along
through the months Of December ana
january. and. generally, the work OF the
year had been laid out and begun upon
the assumption tina; there would be no
change IN the pastorate Of the church.
And there was no thought Of change
Il ala not occur TO any one that there
WAS any necessity 10 advise the pre-
siding elder OF the peculiar circumstance
OF the case further than TO request nm
I'm case any question should be asked 20
saw that both the pastor ana the people
desired that no change be MADE
PLEADED WITH THE BISHOP.
The first intimation Of an attempt to
remove Dr. starr that reached the pre-
siding elder came in the shape OF rue
NOR on Tuesday morning before tne a"
iournment on Wednesday, wheh one o.
fbe elders said 10 him that bee suspected
such move would Doe made 10 INC nest
meeting of the cabinet. and he, Ia turn
communicated the rumor 10 a steward I'D
the church. who was a lay member of tine
conference The steward, though he be-
Nevcd there was little or no foundation
for the rumor. yet sought am interFie"
with the Bishop. ana had conversation
with him about the wishes and needs oi
the church. and be came from the inter
view so well satisfied that no change was
seriously contemplated that be thought ii
..e..e. 70 az anything further 90 tAe
.boo or &C. inform the church of the
rum.r that had reached him. DR. starr
also. az the urgent request OF the sue"
ard. for the first time IN his life. went TO
see the Bishop with reference 10 nus ap-
pointmont and assured him that he de-
sired TO return. and thought ne ought 10
ba returned. and he also came IRON ine
interview impressed with the belief tnat
he would Doe permitted TO remain.
PROTESTED AGAINST 1T.
Later fan the day. Tuesday, the regular
meeting of ihe cabinet was held ana each
member was out under a solemn promise
D. frf "a
there until after tine appointments were
read out Then. for thc first time the
removal OF Dr starr was openly proposed
in The cabinet meeting. and the presiding
elder OF the Petersburg district protesetd
AGAINST the change as vigorously as me
could. and gave reasons. from facts WIN
in his knowledge Why the change shouid
not he made assuring the Bishop that
the removal OF d.. starr under the cir
cumstances then existing. would cause
very great and unnecessary injury 10
the church And the change was not
made al that meeting.
A subsequent meeting was held ON
Tuesday night, at which the removal OF
Dr Starr was freely talked of. ana the
Bishop asked for the nomination OF
preacher to succeed him. when Dr. Brown
(after suggesting the names of several
preachers. other than that of Dr. ld-
wards. who was subsequently appointed
TO the placel told the Bishop. iu SUBJ
stance. that Washiugton-Sueet church
was loyal and would submit 90 anything,
that they had taken plain men before.
and would submit now and take anybody
the Bishop chose to send them. But the
presiding elder of the Petersburg district
again protested and the change was not
made al this meeting
on Wednesday morning the final meet
ing of the cabine: was held and the
Bishop announced his determination TO
remove Or Starr. Tine presiding elder
again protested, and assured the Bishop
that such were The peculiar circumstances
surrounding the church ho feared the
removal of DIT Starr would cause "a
revolution I'm the church. 10 which Dr.
Brown replied. substantially. "Bcv0lu-
lion, let ID come they come I'm everything
and never 20 backward The change
was then made. within about an hour u
The final adjournment OF conference. ana
Dr. starr was assigned to station in the
Richmond district. TO which DR. Brown
nad already been assigned as the presid-
ius elder
As soon as the news of the removal
reached Petersburg. the stewards OF the
church wefe besiesed by a host of the
most influential and valuable workers in
The church, and urged 90 do something 20
correct the mistake. and save the church
from The threatened injury. Some OF
The members protested that they would
not attempt to do any work for the
church. or contribute anything 20 its SUPP
port others that they would leave the
church. some going SO far ass TO request
a. letter Of removal az once.
WROTE TO THE BISHOP.
Under these circumstances. on We'd
nesday. the day conference adjourned.
the chairman of the Board of Stewards
sent the following telegram TO the Bishop
who had started 10 Alabama:
Bishop c. 3. Galloway. Gadsden. Ala.
Your removal Of Or. Starr from Wash
ngton-Street church has created rec
VOLT and will be- sad blow to Meth
odism here. our best people. the stay of
the church. Will lose an interest and
many will no doubt withdraw. "A this
particular crisis. The loss viii Dee irre-
parable. We would earnestly request
that you revoke the appointment. and rt-
turn him Where he can complete the
good work so well begun.
j. NV. BRADBURY,
l.. l.. MARKS.
For the Board OF Stewards Of the
Church.
ON the following day. Thursday. a large
and representative gathering of the
church was held. when the facts rela-
tive 10 the action al conference were de-
tailed. and 70 was found that unless
something was done TO quiet the people
the threatened injury would certainly