The Aberdeen weekly. [volume] (Aberdeen, Miss.) 1878-1933, 1906-01-26
Transfer Of DR.. Wilkinson a Great
Surprise.

The announcement Of the trans
fer of Rev. DR.. Richard Wilkinson
was a great disappointment To the
congregation of Rayne Memorial
Methodist Church, Of which he has
besn pastor for three years. The
first intirnation Of his transfer came
ID. his congregation Tuesday night,
at the closing session Of the Louisi-
ana Methodist conference, when the
assignments We're announced. IL
had been confidently expected that
DIR. Wilkinson would be assigned
for another year To- Raync Memorial
Church.
There were many callers al DIR.
Wilkinson home yesterday, not
only from his own, but from other
congregations a. well, who came I"
express their regret at his transfer.
The number of these visitors attest
ed DIR. Wilkinson's popularity, and
he was esteemed nOtOnly because of
his devotion To- the interests of his
own church, but for the active part
he has taken III the works other
than denominatIOnal.
\ prominent official of Rayne
Memorial Church said last night
that he believed he voiced the SEN
timent of the entire congregation
when he said that DIR. Wilkinson :
transfer was not only deeply regret
ted, but was great disappointment
to the members of the church
For the past three years MIR.
Wilkinson has been an earnest work
er for the cause of MethodiSm IN
New Orleans, said he, and We
who have been associated with him
feel that hc has also done much to
advance the interests Of ProstcStant-
ism in New Orleans. He has ut all
times interested himself in public
movements and numbers among his
friends many 81 the most intluen-
tial business and professional men
in-the city, irrespective Of creed or
religious utilization. He j. prola-
bly better known and more infiuen-
tial than any other pastor the de-
nomination has ever had in New
Orleans. He gave his time and en-
ergIcs to thoS, things which needed
his attention most, and his activity
was not only that of minister, but
of a public-spirited citizen a. well
Aside from our love for DR. Wilkin-
son, n "A minister and as man,
our disappointment at his transfer
~ made more acute in view of the
that hc has worked and planned
for Improvements to the church
which would have cost So, 900, and
given ~ practically new house Ia
worship. With the announcement
Of his transfer came the abandon
mcnt OF these contemplated inn
provements To- Raync Memorial
Church. MIR. Wilkinson had inter
ested his congregation ia the work
Ia such an extent that il was To
have been undertaken at u very ear
~ date. The disappointment of
his congregation at his going away
u very natural. At the same time
there l. ne disposition on the part
Of his friends To criticiSe the action
Of the conference.
Mr.. Wilkinso declined To discuss
his transfer last night, or to say
what his plans were. However, il
IL understood from those that are
close To him that ii l. his intention
To accept his new appointment, and
that he has already made arrange
ments Ia have the pulpit of his new
church in Monroe filled for the
next two Sundays The fact of his
having made these arrangements l.
taken To mean that he Will assume
the duties of his new charge as soon
a lac has attended TO some matters