Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1902-09-07
POPULAR BISHOP TO BE HERE AT
METHODIST CONFERENCE.
WILL BE HIS THIRD YEAR.
Indications Now That Coming ses-
sions Will Be Most Successful in
History of virginia Conference
No Changes Here.

Active preparation among local Metho-
dists for the entertainment of the host
of followers of the great John Wesley,
who are to come here in November for
the annual meeting Of the Virginia Con-
ference, the sessions of which are to be
held at .Broad-Street Methodist church,
have not been begun yet, but it will only
be a short time before the work will be
started.
Owing to tine face that the past year
with the churches of the Virginia Con-
ference has been most successful one
in all lines Of religious work, it is the
expectation Of prominent men Identified
with the great denomination that the
coming meeting will be one of the best
Of the one hundred and twenty annual
meetings held yet.
Bishop w. w. Duncan, who so grace
fully and successfully presided over the
last two sessions of the Conference, will
be at the helm again this year. This
will cause not a little rejoicing among
the Methodist workers. because Bishop
Duncan is popular and there is more than
ordinary confidence reposed in him.
NO TERMS EXPIRE NOW.
The terms of none of the Richmond pas
tors expire by limitation this year, so
that there will be no changes necessi-
tated. This, however, is not conclusive
that there will not be new faces seen at
the Richmond ministers conference after
the Virginia Conference will have adj
journed. Indeed, it is probable that sew
eral changes will be made on general
principles but who will be moved no one
has the slightest idea yet.
The work in Richmond and Manchester
is we'll manned and the ministers of the
Methodist churches now compare favor
ably with those of former years, and
with the ministers in other denomina-
tons of the city. They are a hardwork-
ing lot, and have been accomplishing
great good, and will go up to the Con-
ference with reports that will gladden. the
hearts Of those interested in the work
and growth of the Southern Methodist
Church.
-FOUR CHANGES IN ELDERS.
The terms Of four of the presiding ell
ders in the Conference will expire with
the Conference year, and just that many
districts will have new heads after the
appointments are given out. These are
Rev. J. II. Aniss, of the Rappahannock
District; Rev. Paul Whitehead, of the
Lynchburg District; Rev W. c. Walden.
Of the, Portsmouth District, and Rev.
William II. JudktnS, or the N OrfOlk and
Eastern Shore District.
It will be noted that Rev. w. Y. Tudor
D. D.. of the West Richmond District,
and Rev. J. P. Garland, D. D., Of the
Richmond District. are eligible to reap
pointment, and it is likely that they will
be returned to their present posts by
Bishop Duncan.
Rev. Herbert M. Hope said yesterday
that he could give no idea as to the prob
able successors in these four districts
He said that it was possible that the
presiding elders would be changed and all
of them retained as presiding elders in
other districts. but that this was not
likely. The impression is that they will
go back to the pastorate work and that
new men will be elevated to these hon
orable and responsible positions.
ADVOCATE is BOOMING.
One OF the causes for the great interest
in the work among the churches Of the
Virginia Conference is the fact that the
Advocate. the organ Of the Conference
is booming. It has long been recognized
that nothing could do more good for the
cause Of religion than strong, energetic
religious paper, and this is being demon
strated by the work of the Advocate
During the year the price of the paper
has been reduced So per annum to s1.5O,
and the result is that the past year has
been the best in the history Of the Adj
vocate for some years.