The age-herald., 1898-09-23
DR. KELLY'S 'SREMOVAL
 WAS REQUESTED Some Members of His Congregation
 Want Some One Else TO SERVE THEM NEXT YEAR Letter Written to Bishop Key, Who Pr0SideS Oyer Next Conference. DOES NOT LESSEN CHURCH DEBT Is One of Complaints Alleged Against Dr. Kelly-A Member of Board of
 Stewards Sa Some Mem
 bers Want D r. Riddick.
TO SERVE THEM NEXT YEAR
DOES NOT LESSEN CHURCH DEBT

According to gossip in church circles there is a streak of dissension in the Methodist congregation which has eliminated in a request to Bishop Key to remove the pas tor, Dr. G. c. Kelly, after the present year is ended. pr. Kelly will have served three years in December and according to the general rule of Methodism would have one more year unless some objection was made. Members of the board of stewards admit that letter was sent, but their reasons for so doing are held secret. It is said that twenty-five out of the thirty-two stew ards voted to send the letter. It is also claimed that Bishop Key returned the let ter to Dr. Kelly.
 The action of the stewards was taken at meeting held some time ago and the dis sension is said to have been brewing some time before that. There is faction in the church who do not want pr. Kelly to re- main as pastor his entire term of four years as allowed by the Methodist conference There are some petty reasons talked around, but the main complaint made by some members is that Dr. Kelly does not exert himself as much as they think he should to tighten the heavy burden of debt suspended over the congregation. One steward in explaining this away said that there were thirty-two business men on the board and they should be able to take care of the financial end without wor- rying the preacher. pr. Kelly has been called upon by reporters, but has nothing to say about the matter and talks as though it had never reached his ears officially
 The question will likely play part in the session of the North Alabama confer ence which convenes in December, when Bishop Key will preside.
 "The sum and substance of the whole matter" said one of the stewards, lis that some of the members of the church, who have a great admiration for Dr. Riddick, who left the pastorate of the church about seven years ago, have written to Bishop Key. of Texas, asking that he bring Dr. Riddick back to Alabama from California and assign him to the First Methodist church next December.
 "Dr. Riddick was very popular with his congregation, and it was largely due to his efforts that the handsome church, corner of Sixth avenue and Nineteenth street was built. His term of four years expired just as the church was about to be dedicated, and now some of the congregation who knew him in those days are trying to get him back.
 "There is no particular objection being made to Dr. Kelly, the present pastor. Ev- cry member of the church admires him for the good work he has done in this com munity. It is not a case with the members who sent the letter. of loving pr. Kelly less, but of loving Dr. Riddick more.
 '"The question will come up at the proper time when the conference meets In Decem- Der. There are many who think that Bishop Key will take no action at all on the mat ter, but will allow Dr. Kelly to finish out his four year term"