The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-04-01
VISITORS OCCUPY
ROANOKE PULPlTS
Members OF Methodist Confer
cnce Preach in Various City
Churches.
APPOINTMENTS DISCUSSED
Mount Vernon Place Now PROV
ing Subject oi Widest
Interest.
ispaeIal 10 rhc rim.. plspa,oh.

Especial 10 Tho Times DiSpa tch.
Roanoke, Va, March 3i.--Most OF
nominations IN Roanoke heard SEP
mons today by visiting ministers.
members OF the Baltimore Conference
OF the Methodist Episcopal Church,
south
large congresation greeted Bisn-
op w. b. Murrdh at Belmont Church.
lie held the close attention of his
hearers while hc preached n sermon
that was characterized by able
thought. convincing argument. grca.
earnestness, 'using as his text the
words: If any man thirst. let him
come unto Me and drink"-John viii
70.
After the sermon bishop Nrurrah
ordained five travelling preachers as
dcacons--J. II. Bi!ingsby, john l..
homas. Elmer y. Lambert, Edward A..
Rhoades and Anthony .. Lynns. Al;
the came time he ordained as deacons
two local prcachcrs--Lcc Van Horne
Ruchmun and Frederick a. Allen.
No service relative TO the confer
ence was held during the afternoon
The ordination of two travelling
preachers as elders took place in
Greene Memorial Church this evening
After tie sermon BY kev L. f Cook,
and Wiif-ed Lawson were ordained
40 locni preachers were ordained
elders
The congregation which wa. pres
ent at the conference love feast this
morning was largely composed Of
preachers and visitors. This service
was conducted by Rev. j. Is. Dulaney,
OF Baltimore. Many Of those present
took par, in the exchange of Chris
iuo orSr 1T.
ing most OF tho time devoted 20 this
service. Tributes wers paid to the
helpful influence OF tho class meet
Ing. az Il was conducted in the Metho-
dist Church. during the early years
OF tho history OF the church.
Rev. u. II Kern, o, Staunton, said
that he felt the time had come when
the church should survive the class
meeting az a regular feature of It's
services. He said that much had been
lost By the neglect OF holding this
service.
Rev. e. J. Prettyman also spoke Of
the valuable influence of the class
meeting la the church during his boy
hood. There were numerous express
sions OF approval a, the mention OF
the class meeting and its power In
former years
II Is probable that Mt Vernon Place.
Washington. is the appointment which
is most under discussion among the
preachers outsi.ie o. the cabinet This
church IS open for new pastor. az
Rev. j. H. wells has just completed
there pastorate or four years The
rumor IN this connection which seems
mos; prevalent Is that Rev. z V
REGISTER, who mas closed his third
year as presiding elder OF the Balti-
more District, Viii bc appointed TO Mt
Vernon Place, but the appointments
when read by Bishop Murrah may not
confirm this rumor.
The fact that the REPRESENTATIVE
Church. which the Methodist Episcopal
church. South, expects to erect in
Washington, within thn next quad
rennium will take the place of Mt
Vernon Place, adds TO the interest of
the conference In this appointments
II Is the intention of those In charge
OF the plans for the Representative
Church TO erect a building at the cost
OF almost one million dollars, the
money to be contributed by Interested
people In all of the conferences.
Dr. Register iE secretary OF the con-
vention. and is recognized. as one or
the ablest men in the body.
There are in the conference twenty
eight preachers who have closed their
fourth year OF their pasturates at this
'D", or VIM y three VINO nave
closed their third year. a large num-
Der of changes in the appointments
are expected. Many of the members
OF the conference believe that one of
the strongest forces in defeating the
resolution recommending change in
the time for holding the conference
was due TO the large number of men
closing the third year OF their present
pastorates Had the resolution been
adopted, the next conference year
would have extended through eighteen
months. Bishop Murrah stated that in
keeping with the law of the church he
would not appoint any preachers to a
pastorate for the fourth year, if that
year should include more than twelve
months.
The rumor is that the appointments
are all made and ready to he read as
soon az the other business of the con-