Pastors Resign From All African American Churches in Wheeling

-from The Afro-American (Baltimore), June 5, 1926, p. 16

ALL WHEELING, W. VA. PASTORS RESIGNED

WHEELING, W.Va. -- (PNS) Negro churchmen in this city are terribly perturbed over the unenviable reputations caused by the resignation of the pastors of all the Negro churches here within a few months.

The first change was at the Simpson M.E. Church from which Rev. C. E. Hodges was transferred, at his own request. He is now pastor of a very prominent church in Washington, D. C.

Next came the ultimatum and then the resignation of Rev. S. A. Davenport, after friction and disagreement with officers of Macedonia Baptist Church, the largest religious organization among Negroes in Wheeling.

In reference to these changes, public opinion was divided; some people charge officers of these churches with domineering and persecuting the ministers while others denied the charges and defended the churches. But the consensus of opinion was that both ministers were justified in seeking new fields.

The last and possibly the most sensational change comes when Rev. R. A. Adams, one of the most experienced and best qualified ministers the A.M.E. Church in Wheeling ever had, suddenly informed officers and members that he had decided to terminate his services as pastor of Wayman A.M.E. Church to become an evangelist.

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