The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1901-07-19
PROSPECTIVE CHANGES TN
LOCAL METHODIST CHURCHES.
Doctor Early Is Mentioned as a
Possible Successor of Doctor
Lee as Presiding Elder.
POSSIBLE PULPIT TRANSFERS.

Although 1t Is more than two months un-
til the meeting Of the st. Louis Conference
Of the n. E. Church, South. still there Is
considerable gossip as to probable changes
In the psstorates Of the city. Two I'm
portant factors enter into the case. One IL
that this Is the last year for the Reverend
Doctor J. w. Lee ~ Presiding Elder OF the
st. Louis District. and the other that
tor J. H. Early A. pastor Of the First
Church.
OF course, the presiding eldership il the
principal plum to be distributed. and many
are the surmises in the premises. 1t is
strong following among the laymen Of the
conference. particularly in st. Louis. And.
moreover. the doctor is not without ex-
perience. having been Presiding Elder Of
Pennington District, St Louis Conference,
for four years. Another important factor
entering into the case is the Doctors wide
acquaintance In the district, and the sue
cess that has attended his ministry in the
four years ut the First Church. Little
doubt Is entertained as to his fitness for tho
position. and that he In being slated for
the Office by his friends Is equally sure.
Another presiding eldership possibility Is
the Reverend Doctor A. T. Sharp, pastor
Of the Wagner Place Church. When Doc
tor Sharp came to this church, three years
ago. the membership was about 90. Now II
il upward OF coo, showing the most remark
able growth of any church in the city. Of
any denomination, in that time Tho doc
tor Is also prominent In the educational
work Of the conference, and Is immensely
popular with his brethren in the ministry.
Doctor Sharp also has q wide acquaintance
in the st. Louis District. and Is conceded
to be q man Of rare tact and executive
ability.
Doctor Hopkins, pastor OF st. Johns
Church, has also been mentioned as pos
sible successor to Doctor Lee. For the past
three years the work at st. Johns has
prospered greatly under Doctor H0pkins's
administration, and the church is now on
the eve of building one Of the handsomest
church edifices IN the city. The doctor has
had wide experience In the ministry and in
educational matters, and II considered one
Of the ablest biblical exposttors In the
city. 1t is possible that under the circum-
stances the doctor would not favorabiy con-
slider such an appointment.
As to possible pastoral transfers. there Ii
also considerable talk. It Is certain that
some one must be appointed to succeed
Doctor Early. but just who this shall be Is
equally uncertain. There II no one else
whose time In up, and all the churches ap-
pear we'll satisfied with present relations.
In the case Of Cabanne Church. the present
pastor, the Reverend Mr.. Court, has been
appointed missionary to Japan. He will
continue In charge until the end Of the con-
ference year, when he will sail for his new
field. The only person mentioned thus far
as . possible successor II the Reverend Mr..
Crooks, who IL editing temporarily the St.
Louis Christian Advocate. and who
preached recently for the Cabanne PEG.
pie.
There will likely be no change in the
pastorate Of Centenary and Cook Avenue
churches, at least 80 far as the wish of
the membership Of these two churches Is
concerned. The same IL true Of the I.afay-
cite Park Church. and for that matter of
all the other churches. But break in the
line Is likely to produce considerable shift
ting.
The question a. to what shall be done
with the Reverend Doctor Lee, present
Presiding Elder. is one that is uppermost
in the pastorates of the city. It IL one
of such great delicacy that 1t IL being dis.
cussed with bated breath. but. like BAN
luo's ghost, 1t viii not down. The doc
tor has taken . very prominent part In
raising the necessary funds for the new st.
Johns Church. which will involve an
expenditure Of about 10000. Some argue
that for this reason, should Doctor Hop
kins be appointed Presiding Elder, or be
otherwise removed without the bounds Of
the conference, Doctor Lee has q strong
claim to become his successor.