Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-22

The Rev. William Edwin Evans. D. D..
rector of Monumental church. went "a
Newport News yesterday to consider ths
advisability OF accepting the rectoratA "a
st. Paurs church. In that city. and thare.
by hangs tale well calculated to si-
lence the scoffers who labortously argus
that all ministers of the Gospel have ths
same pecuniary characteristics that gov.
ern other folk.
The friends OF DR.. Evans have dong
their best to dissuada him from aecepeina
the call. but those closest to him sa1
that his mind seems practically made up,
and that unless some new and forcefn.
argument for bis non-acceptance Is pre-
sented to him. Richmond will assured1
LOST one of Its most popular ministers.
That the possibility Of losing him ha4
caused the deepest regret. goes without
saying. His parishioners and friends
and they are lssiou-regard his departure
as a personal loss.
DR.. Evans Is a man OF great personal
magnetism. and one Of the most eloquent
and brilliant ministers In the cotampcra,
neous pulpit.
HIS ability as an orator and forensia
speaker Is well known, and he has prob
ably been In greater demand as the ors-
tor at commandments. graduation exar-
lister In the State.
Episcopalians here say that what VIII
be Richmond's loss will be Newport
News's most material gain.
Only Half the Salary.
Il DR.. Evans finally decides to accept
the call. he will receive salary Just
half OF what he now receives, and his
friends say that hs Is foolish TO even
consider such 2 proposition. When thay
learn what prompts the rector to hest.
tate in his Anal determination they viii
IN all probability be very cons,derate Of
his views.
Minister. aad men OF affairs have. 10.
a long time past. been studying the COM
ditions that obtain In Norfolk and New
port News. Unlike Richmond. there haa
been no tidal ware OF reform In these
cities.
Thar Bishop. Randolph. thers Is per-
haps no bestsr posted man as to thess.
dep.orahle circumstances. Newport News
Bishop Randolph personally pad visit
to this city few days ago and rs-
ouested DIR. Evans to take the church
IN the former city. the Bishop being
confident that DR.. Evans could accom-
plish a great work there, he said.
tt has been the policy OF the Ep1sco-
pal Church to In no way interfere with
out to Or. Evans that there was great
work to be done In the new field.
On the other hand. the congregation
Of the Monumental also point out that
that church has been remarkably sue
cessful under his rectnrship. and they
are naturally more than 10th to part
with him Under minister less abls
than DR.. Evans. the future OF Mouu-
mental Is In measure problematicaI
and the vestry Of the church does not
know just where to put Its hands on a
minister OF even ability with DR.. Evans
His Ability. and Popularity.
In the last few years the growth OF
the city up town mas been marked and
In no small degree remarkable. That .ha
congregation Of the Monumental has In
creased rather than decreased, and thai
this is due In no small measurs to DE-.
Evans's marked ability and personal pop
| ularity. are salient facts conceded
This was illustrated q rainy Sunday or
two ago. when MonumentaI church yaa
crowded at both services. while eonaa
other churches were practically deserted.
With volunteer choir, the services ara
now as largely attended as they wers
years ago. when the churca boasted OF
the greatest quartette In the country,
including Edwin Hof, William Grant.
| Miss Alice Swain, and Leo Wheat as tina
organist.
With DR.. Evans's assistance and help,
| the almost innumerable guilds and socia-
ties. including the Woman's Guild thu
Willing Workers, the Woman's Auxiliarv
to the Board OF Missions, the Daughters
OF the King, the Brotherhood OF st. An
drew. the Junior Brotherhood o, st. An
drew. tha Kings Daughters. Woodbrfdgs
and st. Agnes Guild. have prospered 70
a very great extent.
The yestrymen held an informal gath
ering at the residence of Mr.. Waiter
Christian. No s15 south Third street. on
Tuesday evening. with a view OF trying
to devise some means or argument by
which Dr. Evans might be induced 70 re-
main.
No conclusion was reached and for
| NAL meeting of the vestry will be held
In the next day or two to consider the
matter.