Wilmington journal. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1844-1895, 1858-12-17
Proceedings of the North Carolina Annual Meth
Episcopal Conference, for 1858.
FOURTH DAY

Episcopal Conference, for 1858.
FOURTH DAY.
SATURDAY, Dec l1.-Conference was opened by the
usual religious exercises conducted by Rev. Thomas S.
Campbell
Minutes of yesterdays proceedings were read and ap
proved.
An invitation to the Conference to an excursion down
the river the Steamer Post Boy received from
Mr. Jarvis Agent whereupon resolution of thanks
for the courtesy voted but account OF the press
of business, the invitation declined.
No doubt regretfuly by many. Reporter
Rev. Mr.. Page, of the Methodist Protestant Church.
Rev. Mr. Deems of the Virginia Conference and E. E.
Parham, President of the Warrenton Female College
were introduced to the Conference.
Roscoe Hooker, James NJ. Watson William Will
ams and James w. O'Bryan, were elected to deacons
orders.
James D. Ballard was elected to elders orders.
Rev. E. W. Sehon, D. D., Missionary Secretary and
Dr. Taylor Of Charleston Corresponding Secretary of
the Sunday School enterprise were introduced and in
vited to seats in Conference.
A resolution was adopted for calling a meeting at the
Conference at o'clock today for the purpose of
organizing Conference Sabbath School Society.
Rev. B. T. Blake offered set of resolutions defining
certain rules of ecclesiastical law in relation to the trial
of offenders, &c, which were laid OF the table
On motion it was resolved that the accounts of money
due from ministers to the Missionary Board, be placed
| in the hands of Rev. Mr.. Wood for collection
The character of Rev. r. c. Maynard was passed and
he placed the effective list Rev. D. B. Nchol-
SOL W. l. Langdon and James E. Mann were also pas
sed.
The name of Rev. c. F. Deems, D. D., being called,
Dr. VIM. Carter objected to the passage of his charac-
ter as he had charges to prefer against him. Dr. Deems
requested that the doors should be opened during the
vestgatOn of the charges it had already reached
the public in every direction that charges would be
preferred, he thought it right and due to him that the
investigation should be public There being no OBJ
lection, the request was granted by vote of the Con-
| ference
The charges then read by DR.. Carter, which en-
brace the original charges preferred by DR. VIM. A.
Smith against Dr. Deems the session of Conference
held at Ptsboro in 1854, and additional charge of
immortality, with six specifications. These we will give
| when they come to be argued.
| Dr. Garter went into an argument to show that the
old charges might now be rghtfuy preferred and tried
because first the settlement at Pittsboro was not le-
gal trial secondly that two of the Bishops had express
sed an Informal opinion that it was not legal trial and
thirdly, that Dr. Deems himself had declared in his
pamphlet that it legal trial. He concluded by
submitting two questions upon the law in the case
the decision of the Bishop which questions were after
wards withdrawn for revision.
| DR.. Deems cOmbatted the arguments, showing from
the records of the Conference that he was tried on the
charges and acquitted riumphanty secondly that the
opinions of the Bishops alluded to- was made up without
the evidence or upon pGe of the evi-
dence, and further being informal had weight in this
matter lie showed from bis pamphlet that be had not
denied being tried Dr. Smiths charges by the Con
ference at Pttsboro but that he denied being tried by
the Committee of that Conference, the members of
which were not his peers and therefore, could not try
him.
During the discussion the speakers were several times
interrupted by members who wished to make explana-
lions. We shall allude to this more particularly in an
other place. The hour of adjournment was twice post
poned to give the speakers time to offer their arguments
After DR.. Deems closed his remarks, Conference ad-
journed to meet On Monday at the usual bour
| FIFTH DAY.
| MONDAY, Dec. Conference convened Bishop
Kavanaugh in the Chair. Religious exercises conduct
| ed by Rev. Joseph H. Wheeler.
Minutes of Saturdays proceedings were read and ap-
proved.
i Rev. j. w. Lewis asked and obtained leave of alb
sence during the remainder of the session.
The special order of the day. the consideration of the
report of the committee on the Book Depository, was
\ postponed tor the present. and
The questions presented by Dr. Garter to the Bishop
for legal decision and withdrawn for revision on Sstur
day. were read
Dr. Deems objected to the questions in their present
form going before the Bishop, they changed in
form from those originally presented and that without
his knowledge Reiterated the declaration that he was
not tried by the committee at Pittsboro in 1853 but
by the Conference. He declared his readiness to be