The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-03-06
Dr.. v LK|NS)N Goes TO
EPISCOPAL CHURCH IN
LEXINGTON, KENTUCKY
Says Twenty five Articles In Method
ist Church Are Arrangement or
Other Chur, hills Faith I'm
changed.


Petersburg. Va. March 5.-Rev.
Richard Wilkinson. d. D., for a num-
Der of years Il leading minister OF
the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South. preached his last s~rmon a. a
nembe. of that religious denomina-
ton in the historic Washington Street
Church. this city. to a large and deep
ly interested congregation this even
iug. announcing just before his ser
mon that he would unite Immediately
with the Protestant Episcopal Church
and would preach his first sermon as
q member of that denomination as the
minister in charge of the Church of
the Good Shepherd of Lexington. Ky.
on next Sunday morning, March IL.
Two weeks ago today following a
conference with the board of stewards
OF the Washington Street Church,
held on the Friday night previous.
Dr.. Wilkinson announced from his
pulpit that. after mature considera-
ton. he had rea ched the conclusion
to withdraw from the Methodist de-
nomination and that he would an
nounce tonight what communion he
would unite with. In consequence,
one of the largest gatherings at Wash
ilES AOIl-SAlSCl hhGi VA tft itNE4it iRciilhc
was present at this evenings service
TO hear the announcement and SER
mon.
DR. Wilkinson. after reading the
Scripture lessons. directed the atten-
ton OF his hearers to the gospel as
recorded in Galatians s:25 and
Psalms 55:s2. using as his theme the
Gospel of Burden Rearing. or the
Divine order OF Helping Yourself and
One Another. and where God Comes
in to Help in the Hour OF Extremity
God Doing for Every Man What He
Cannot Do fo~ Himself" The SER
mon was splendid exposition OF the
gospel truth and was listened to at
tentiveiy by the large congregation.
d. wflkinson's only remarks upon
his leaving the Methodist ChVrch were
as follows:
No Change In His Faith.
THE only word have is that there
has been no change of faith whatever.
The theology or the communion To
which / go is the identical theology
in the fseek-af Discipline the
Methodist Church of America were
taken from the th:rty-nine articles or
tn Church of England. but their con-
tiensation ava adoption involved no
charge whatever in theological state
ment. am going to the communion
whore the thtrty-nine articles un-
abridged are the basis OF the doctrine.
so that continue to preach the same
old gospel | have always preached.
On next sunday morning. March L.,
God willing. l shall preach my frst
sermon as the minister in charge OF
the Church Of the Good Shepherd OF
the Protestant Episcopal Church OF
Lexington. Ky"
DR. Wilkinson commenced preach
ing when seventeen and half years
Of age and since then he has held
some of the most Important charges
in the Methodist Church. including
pastorates in St. Louis Aberdeen,
Miss. New Orleans. Louisiana, Au-
gusta, Ga. and Louisville, Ky. He
wa. transferred to the Virginia Con-
ference In November. 1914. and to
the pastorate OF the Washington
street Church Since that time he
has made many friends here and has
done an excellent work in the Wash
incton Street Church. At his leav-
ing there will be many hearts Allied
with geRuine regret from among the
membership OF the churches OF all
denominations in Petersburg. He Is
not only receiving expressions of re-
greet from Petersburg friends. but
from many men, ministers among the