Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1897-11-30
WANT A NEW PASTOR
LAuREL-sT. PROTESTS AGAINST AC-
TIoN OF THE CONFERENCE. vi
REY. R. F. GAYLE MAY Be ASSIGNED.
The Congregation Made Rceom-
mendations which Were Ignored-s
Expected to Have Young Man AD.
pointed to the Charge.

The fact has just leaked out that the
congregation OF Laurel-Street Methodisa
church has received with disf2vor the
announcement that Rev. w. X. Crowder
has been appointed TO that charge. Thd
objection is not a personal one. but IL
has been very emphatic. and the mems
bers of the church have lost no time IN
urging their claims 10 consideration be-
fore the Bishop.
1t appears that the congregation held q
meeting before the recent Methodist Con-
ference and selected two ministers, either
OF whom they would have welcomed most
cordially. Their resolution was sent TO
Rev. DR.. Paul Whitehead. the presiding
elder who was asked to present 1t to the
conference. Accordingly, when the ap-
pointments were published on Friday
morning and 1t was seen that the recom~
mendatlon Of the congregation had Peeu
disregarded. much surprise and dissasis-
faction was expressed. The dissatisfac-
ton was not passive and Rev. DIR. Whites
head was seen and letter Of protest.
was sent to the Bishop.
WHAT A MEMBER SAYS.
A prominent member OF the eongresaA
tion said to a Dispatch reporter lass
night that they had been surprised. bc-
cause they did not know Mr.. Crowder or
expect him to be appointed TO the charge
They felt that Mr.. Crowder might noS
be able to meet the demands that would
be made upon him, because he has never
held charge in large city, and has
labored almost exclusively on the East
| ern Shore. The church. he said. includes
| a great many young people. II is making
| great progress, and the members feel
| that they do not want to experiment. Ar
present the church is a unit. There were
| III additions last year, and over $4,000 WAS
| raised. There are a number Of societies
| I'm the church, and all are animated by a
1 great enthusiasm, and feel that they need
| the pastoral offices OF younger man
| than Mr.. Crowder, who Is some So-odd
| years Of age.
| The Board of Stewards OF the churctr
| was In session last night. They stated
| that they had no statement to give out
! at this time. They understood that a
/ change was to be made, and as soon as IL
| was effected they would write to Rev.
Mr. Crowder and tell him the reasons
which had prompted them to their course.
| The information was volunteered thar
/ one of the principal objections to the APP
pointment had been that the congrega.
| tion desired and expected a young man
to take charge of them.
DIR. WHITEHEAD'S STATEMENT. =
Rev. Or. Paul Whitehead said lasr
night:
THE dissatisfaction In the Laurel-Street
| Methodist church concerning the recent
appointment will probably be removed in
a few days by an Arrangement which is in
process Of consummation. The result
will be announced perhaps In a day er
two"
1t has been stated on good authority
that Rev. w. r. Crowler VIII go to
Onancock, in place Of Rev. Travis j.
Taylor, the late pastor OF IAurel-Street
church Rev. II. f. Gayle, VINO was as
signed to Calvary church, Danville, will
come to Laurel-Street church. and Rev.
4. j. Taylor will go to Danvile, in place
Of Mr.. Gayle. OF course, this is only
surmse, as nothing definite will bo
known until the expected letter from tha
Bishop arrives, which IL may possibly
do this morning.
| This appointment would be eminently
| satisfactory to the congregation. MIR.
Gayle is well known TO the members.
and has preached In the church on seve-
raj occasions.
Rev Mr.. Taylor said last night that
ne was perfectly satisfied 10 go to Oman
: cock and he had agreed TO go 10 Dam
Vile to relieve the pressure OF existing
| circumstances.
ASHLAND SAID TO BE AFFECTED.
The following telegram was received
by the Dispatch last night from Ashland:
| "Rumor has it here to-day that Rev.
wv. II. Atwell will be sent 20 LAUREL
Street church, Richmond. instead or
here and that Rev. IL. c. Cheatham Will
come to this place. The report has
stirred up the Methodist folks here. No
positive information can be gained to-
night. but there is evidently something
going on that will make changes in some
of the nearby appointments"
Rev. Dr. whitehead denied I'm positive
terms that any changes were contem-
plated at Ashland.