Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1896-11-29
REV. w. F. DAVIS.

did fire work on Barton Heights in the
year be spent there. and has taken up
his labors at Denny-Street church with
his characteristic Christian zeal and
veor
THIS morning the other three new
pastors preach from their newly-assigned
pulp'ts. The conference year really COM
mences on the Sunday following the ap-
pOintments but the ministers are some
times not enabled 10 make the necessary
arrangements TO take charge OF their
stations before the second sabbath there
after. No doubt large congregations VIII
greet the incoming pastors to-day. Rev.
Nr Rawlings viii M his pulpit 40 Clay
street. Rev. 91r. Bcckham win preach at
Asbury and Rev. AIr. Davis Will deliver
his first sermon at Barton Heights
Methodist church These gentlemen are
eminenuy fitted 20 the work which they
have undertaken. and viii have in all
probability. q fruitful year IN the service
Of The STA ster
SKETCH OF REV. Mr.. BECKHAM.
Beniamin NJ Beckham is the second son
OF Rev Thomas ~ and Mrs. Lucy Royal
Becllham. He was born in Nottcwav
county on August IL. ISIS and was edu-
Gated at New London Academy.
Bedford county. and at Randolph
Macon College. receiving the degree
Of 4. b.. with distinction. IN June. ls9l.
Tie was licensed 90 preach by the Quar-
terly Conference Of Ashland Station IN
1sS9 SIR Bcckham spent the summers
OF 1850 and 1880 In assisting Rev Charles
r. Conner on the Bedford Springs Circuit.
He aided Rev. ". s Watts. Of Madison
Circuit. until the latter part Of lSsl, and
was recommended 20 tho Virginia Annual
- n f.n fr
travelling connection. He Joined the
conference AT the session held in Peters
burg IN November 1901. and served on
the Henry Circuit. which was served In
1889 by his brother Rev Royal s. Beck
ham. In his sketches OF the Virginia
Conference Dr. Lafierty says Cf Mr.
Beckham: "Unless all signs fail. Method
ism has in young Beckham the promise
and POTENCY Of a workman n needeth
not be ashamed of. He IS endowed with
many advantages for his vocation.
BARTON HEIGHTS NEW PASTOR.
Rev. Wilbur r. Davis. who comes 70
parton Heights church, comes Of a
Methodist family. ani by descent is en-
tft1el 20 preach the Gospel according 10
Nfethodism. Alr. Davis's great-grani-
rofhor was the first Methodist in Glou-
caeter county. Her husband. John DAVIS
afterwards became Methodist preach-
or. His two brothers. Philip ana SIZE
ubon. were Methodist preachers. stephen
n noted member Of the Virginia Confer
ance died Of yeHow-fever. in Norfolk. In
1875. John Davis's son. William :. Ei-
wards Davis. was "a well-knoWn local
Methodist preacher in Gloucester Tor
many years and his son. Joseph II.
Davis. was an active member OF the
virginia Conference for forty-three years.
Wilbur T. Davis was born May =. l>'s
I'm New Berne. y. c. While at college
ne experienced a cal 20 the ministry.
This ne put off. mainly through fear that
he jmpreesion was occasioned only by
the fact that his mother had Dedicated
hin, 70 the ministry from earliest IN
foncv. The war interviewed. and Ia
.l,,.e5 en- the army. and spent some time
as a prisoner IN Fort Delaware. ne
taught school for a number Of years ana ,.
fnaIlv yielded to his call, and was IL
,.,ec7 ~ rraach on November s. 1875.
ITO tool, work under the presiding elder
as pastor OF Westmoreland Circuit the