The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-10-29
STIR-UP in
CONFERENCE.
Annual Meeting of Methodists
Anticipated With Interest.
MANY PASTORS CHANGE
Almc st Every Meth odist Pulpit in Rich.
mond to Be Misunderstanding Ell
ders to Ee Snapped About,
Conference Gossip.

There are distinct signs Of another
great stir-up In the rgnia Conference
over tho regularly agitatcd question OF
transfers. in fact the stir is already UP
and by tho time Conference meets In
Charlottesville in about two weeks there
Will probably be some things dotrg.
1t will .be recalled that something of q
sim lar sort happened last year. when
the Rev. r. d. Smart D. D.. was
brought here from another Conference
and given Epworth Of Norfolk, one Of
tho Virginia plums. The ministers in
this state were indignant and they gave
full vent to their feelings. 1t was held
that there are IN the Virginia ConiereLce
men thoroughly capable Of talking Gaze
Of any church In the gift of the denon.i-
nation, however important. 1t went sore
~ against their grain to have an outsider
to step into one Of the leading charges
thereby In sense being elevated abo%c
them. There was, Of course, no personal
fight on Or. Smart, but 1t was the prin-
ciple involved in his case that *as
looked upon with dsfavor The matter
was the talk OF tho Conference and when
the body met In Richmond there was
the suggestion Of a movement toward
checking the habit. But It never MI
terialized. The Bishop, It is sald would
not entertain the proposition.
This year the same thing is happening.
Court-Street, Of Lynchburg, equal In I'M
portance to Epworth Is vacant and an
outsider is brought In to MI it In the
person Of the Rev. 9. c. Kelley. p. D..
of Tulip~street Methodist Church. OF
Nashville. Tenn. Dr. Kelley will to
transferred to Virginia and there is small
doubt that he will so to9 Court rect.
The ministers, or a great number OF
them, are up IN arms again and are CIV
ing expression to their views on the
matter. Con ference meets very shortly
and there may be some developments In
this connection. 1t Is within the range
of possibilities that somebody will Offer
n resolution declaring the Conference
against the transfer system. Whether or
not the Bishops would enterta'n such a
resolution If offered Is another matter.
A LIVELY. SESSION.
There Is every Indication that the scs-
sion OF the Hconferen ,e will be a lively
and interesting one. Under recent deci-
sion OF the College OF Bishops there is
made an important change. permitting
any member Of conference to nominate
members for the boards. Heretofore this
Fight has been held by the presiding
elders. and there has been long stand
ing fight between some Of them and y
certain so-called radical element In tho
conference. The new decision will be
something of an opening WeCgc that
would permit this element to get the
upper hand II 1t can muster majority
of the conft renee. With this law behind
it, 1t might upset many things. 1t Is UNI
likely, however, that anything OF this sort
will be done at the coming meeting. The
leader Of this element In the conference.
or one OF the leaders said few days
u, ~ att ~ nN,,fn 10 IN
up anything In this connection.
Another matter OF paramount interest
will be the report Of the committee an.
pointed last year to consider the affairs
Of the Christian Advocate. of this city.
Considerable dissatisfaction is expressed
by many of the ministers with the parer
and thee will probably be strong fight
made OMIT On the other hand. there aIe
many who are equally strong in their
support of the management and they
will line up In defense Of the Advocate.
/. Is reported that at a. recent meeting
the committee expressed itself In favor
OF conference ownership, Of the paper.
II may repoi: u the conference 10 this
effect. ~. .ttis5as
GREAT ITPHEAyAL.
It is generally felt that the coming
meeting vii witness such an upheavGi
in the confer ence as has npt been known
in fifty years, perhaps. a number ~
I changes will hive to be made. and tho:.
is a prospect for general shifting about
of the pastors.
Both presiding elders in Richmond will
change along with a majority OF the
pastors DR.. Tudor will probably be mado
presiding elder OF Richmond District. to
succeed the Rev. r. II. Bennett. who
goes to Randolph Macon. The Rev. DR..
r. T. Wilson. OF Petersburg District. is
prominently mentioned for West Rich
n,le p~I Z fncc
will probably be made presiding ellnr
IL eli the Vacancy caused by the rcnlo Xnl