The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1902-11-12
So Say Several Delegate.
Who Have Come 10.
The TRANSFER MATTER
Motion Will in AL Probability 81
Made.
ABOUT PRESIDING ELDERS i!
Delegates Pouring in in Grea. Number,
and Are Probably All Il re by Nous
No Sensations Expected-OHs-
ciaI Statement from Or. Gar
land Of Changes in The
Richmond Circuit
The TRANSFER MATTER.
ABOUT PRESIDING ELDERS

land Of Changes in the
Richmond Circuit
That the one hunderd and twentieth
/ session of the Virginia Conference OF the
| Methodist Episcopal Church. South. which
| begins at the Broad-Street Church. III
this city. this morning. will be one OF
I many changes among the churches. 10
/ the opinion expressed last evening by
! several ministers here as delegates from
/ other parts
/ An expression in such direct conflict
] with others in the same connection whicn
! have been made from time to time dur
/ ing the past few weeks cannot but ex-
1 cite interest. The ministers hero as
/ rule have held to the belief that trans
| fers this year would be few and far be-
/ tween. and many OF them think so still
/ Only sixteen pastors have served the
\ time limit-an unusually small number
| and consequently no great shifting abouo
I was expected. But now comes the state
I. ment from others that the signs point
to a very considerable Encouragement ~
! long list of r,lmored possible, PROBABLE
and fixed changes is given to support this
i belief. Between the two opinions It 10
/ difficult to decide, though it is more than
/ likely that while the changes will not be
/ exceptionally numerous there will be
i pretty good bunch of them.
/ OF course every body realizes that the
/ whole discussion of the subject Is noth-s3
! ing more nor less than gossip. which may
1 amount to as much as gossip frequently
4 does-nothinS. The Bishop probably has
| some idea OF what changes will be made.
! though he himself has much yet to de-
4 eide in connection with the matter. the
4 opinions OF others are interesting as
/ guesses and guesses only, though it Is
undoubtedly fact that once or twice IN
= a year or two a gSess or so hits the
mark
THREE; LIVE ISSUES
/ Information obtained last night from
most reliable souces Indicate that there
vii be two particularly live issues at
the present conference and at least ono
other matter OF exceptional interest
The latter VIII come from the Board
of Education and will be in the direction
/ of devsing some scheme for ra sing
/ the 100000 necessary to secure the offer
/ of Mr.. John r. Branch, of this city. to
/ contribute 10000 to Randolph Macon
i College. provided twice as much is raised
Isewherc. \ prominent member Of the
t Board said last night that the report on
! education would contain resolutions COW
/ erng this feature.
Considerable feeling Is being mani
tested in connection with the transfer
/ question. A majority OF both minister's
and laynen object to having outsiders
brought in from other conferences and
and 6 ven the prominent charges In the
/ Virginia Jurisdiction. There is they say.
i material here good enough for any
i church In the country. a case in hand
S that of the Rev. Dr. Smart. of ST.
Louis. who is to be given charge OF Ep-s
| worth. Norfolk. one of the conferences
/ plums. DR.. Smart is a fine man and
there is no personal fight being made on
8 y; hs, et1 .sS TN, tho
OF the principle. But the ministers
are kicking nevertheless, and. accord
ng to the statement OF a Norfolk min
/ ister. some of the members of Epworth
! itself are no little disturbed. The feel
4 ing on this subject. still further pros
| voked by the transfer of two others be-
/ sides Dr. Smart. will culn.cate. it Is
i said. in an effort TO be made at this
meeting to remedy the condition. ~
! prominent minister said last night that
1 It was his understanding and the un-
| derstandins of several OF his fellow min
listers that a motion will be made at
the present meeting declaring it to be
i the sense of the conference that no m. Ne
i listers shall be transferred to Vlrgtni0
/ without the consent OF the body.
PRESIDING ELDER NATTER
/ Another distinct feature of the confer
| snce will be the prestdin 6 elder matter,
/ mention OF which has been made before.
i The ma jor portion OF the minister's feel
that the term of, the presiding elder should
Ihc limited to eight years. and memorials
| asking for this change In the church
! laws have several times been sent to rhs
| General Conference. 1t happens that at
| this meeting four presiding elders who
| fave served the time limit will have to be-
moved, and the great question now IS
/ whether these four wilt simply be changed
i tr,sr trar faf6S nr yvh
/ % pastoral work and give chance to
others and possibly younger men to pre-
I side All over the State this matter has
I been talked about. and now 1t will prob
Eably constitute chief feature OF the con-
! ference. The consideration of the cues
| ton will probably be brought about by
I tah following series OF resolutions. which
will be presented by committee repre-
| senting the preachers meeting OF Nor.
/, tolk-Revs. E. t. Dadmun. w. \. Chris
| t:an and D. j. Traynham:
| Whereas, decided majority OF the Vir-
ginia Conference Is in favor OF limiting
the term OF office OF presiding elders to
1 eight consecutive years: and
| Whereas the terms OF the presiding ell
! ters OF the Norfolk and Eastern Shore
i Districts expire this year by limitation.
/ therefore, be 1t
Resolved That the preachers meeting
of Norfolk. Portsmouth Berkley and Wis
Icinity respectfully re REQUEST Bisnop pun-
can. our presiding bishop. to appoint to
each of these districts a brother who has
rot been consecutively in the presiding
eldership longer than eight years
o legatss Arrive
Early yesterday morning the Arst %
the incoming delegates reached Rich
i mond The noon train brought the f1rse
large lnstailment. ard every train and
/ boat that followed, until far into tha
night, bore It's quota By dusk between