The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1872-03-11
baltimore Annual Conference Of tho
Methodist Episcopal Church South,
The Ease OF DIR. EEuston--What he
has to sny--Why ftc Left Baltimore
Com I'm iffcf, Of EIiS as irafinIl &c. -.
Reported for the Baltimore Sun.

| hthB 10 t3Hy--a ny he 1se1L xhaltasuOxCss
| Committee OF Investigation. &c.
| Reported for the Baltimore Sun.
WARRESrox, VA, March s, 1872.
THIRD DAY.
The evening exercises were conducted by
Rev. George Stevenson. Bishop Paine called
| the Conference to order, and the minutes OF
the last session were approved. On calling
| the name Of l.. d. Huston, bis presiding el-
| der, Rev. S. Rodgers, said there were hume
rous grave runners aflectin" the character OF
DR.. Huston, which had been widely circ1l-
lated, but owing to his absence at the time
| from the city of Baltimore, and DR.. Huston's
| withdrawal from Baltimore, there has been
| no opportunity for official investigation. On
| inquiry, the Bishop was informed that the
| evidence so far was only hcarsay In clarac-
! ter, but was sufficient to warrant invcStiga-
ton. The Bishop said Of course these rll-
| mors must he held baseless until established.
DR.. Huston then rose and said he de-
sired fill investigation, and that he would
refer only to two points about this sad
matter: First---As to his leaving Baltimore.
| This, he said, he had done to shield his wife
and daughter; that he did not wish his
| daughters check blistered or his wife stab
bed TO the heart without an opportunity for
them at a distance calmly to view this terri
! bic matter; that he did not flee from man,
but his impulse was TO shield bis family, and
therefore he went away. Second-He want
ed to shield the Church and protect himself.
| and therefore, at the suggestion Of brother,
he had withdrawn from his church. He de-
sired the church tribunal to await the result
of the civil process he had instituted, as a
civil court could compel witnesses which Il
church tribunal could not, and all the facts
would then be better brought out. That
Bishop Soulc had once ruled thus in justice
to the accused. He said he had been for n
third of a century Methodist preacher, and
although naturally indolent he had proved
| himself hard worker. Pending investiga-
| ton. he would say no more now, but would
at some future time.
DR.. Munscy moved that rs there was no
! evidence but r,l,nor, the whole case be re-
| tcrrcd to the presiding elder of the East
| Baltimore Conference for immediate investl-
cation after Conference. DR.. Munsey said
| that DR.. Huston did not demand an immedi-
ate investigation in the interview he had
with him in Baltimore ; that be had been be-
| tween two fircs--one party accusing him OF Il
desire to cloak; the other to expose Dr.. Hus-
| ton that he did not demand DR.. Huston's
parchment, &c.
DR.. REGISTER said: owe cannot wait a
civil trial; the suspense was painful and
must he relieved"
On inquiry by Rev. \. Wilson, the Bishop
said that the committee would be only one
! Of investigation, but not Of trial. which must
be had at the next Annual Conference, but
that this committee had power to suspend
DIR. Huston until next Conference, and that
Bishop Soule had made no authoritative dc.
cision, and that it would be absolutely neces.
s:lrv to try the case at the next Conference
before a committee of nine or thirteen elders
whose jurisdiction would last only during
the Conference APPOINTING them.
! Rev. d. Thomas maintained that it was
usual to permit civil to 60 before ecclesiastical
trials, that full justice he done.
On inquiry by Dr. Register, the Bishop
said that arrest of character would prevent
all official action ur lli!hStration by the &C
cl,sed.
Rev. n. Head urged immediate action for
| the sake ofthe Church rs well as for DR.. Hus
| tons sake.
Rev. A. Wilson said he was anxious that
the accused have every opportunity Cor III
vestigation and fnfence, but that he doubted
whether the method proposed was the best
| He desired Il committee OF three to inquire
about the matter, and if investigation was
necessary, to refer it back TO the proposed
committee and he urged that the matter be
pressed without delay. He moved rs sub
Stitutc, and DR.. icgester seconded it, that &
committee be appointed at once to inquire
into the matter here.
DR.. Munscy opposed this. rs there was nc
evidence to submit, but only rlmor, and as
witnesses could not he brought to confront
DR.. Huston. that therefore said committee
could not act intcsligenty.
Rev. \. Wilson replied that the committee
proposed was one Of inquiry and not Of in
veStigation. DR., Head opposed this subst
tlle. Rev. y: Wilson maintained that thu
manual of the Discipline could not be Away;
relied on III law, and that certain portions o
this manual which had been read could no
he sustained. On inquiry The Bishop sait
| that if not tried now Dr. Huston would fal
back under tie jurisdiction Of the presiding
elder Of the East Baltimore district.
DR.. REGISTER urged the Importance OF TIN
special committee being ordered now, as th'
Church was in danger, and had suffered nj
ready enough; that moral courage and nery'
were necessary to meet this issue squarcl,
and fairly.
: Dr.. Munsey thought this special committee
No,Iiu lTtJuugc the case.
Remarks were made by I,cvs. y. Head
REGISTER, Mussey, Glandin, Rodgers, Sar
I gent, Clarke, j. i. Fitzpatrick, and Others
\. Wilson wanted investigation now Il
satisfy the public; we are in deep carnes
about the matter, and William II. Wilson
] thought We had no right to bring in sid
: issues, consult public opinion, or fear dirt
sheets, and that the case was simply tn
5 Methodist Episcopal Church South Us. DR.. l
/ d. Huston.
Rev. Mr.. Rodgers again reiterated that d.
-, Huston was anxious for the most se:rchin
e investigation, and the substitute calling for
1 committee of inquiry now was adopted, t
consist of three
Bishop Doggett arrived this morning an
presided over the body for short interval.
f On motion, u committee was appointed t
, prepare the minutes for publication.
The following were introduced: Rev. DR.
, Bennett and Duncan and Rev. L. G.. Brown
: Of the Virginia Conference; Rev. Messr:
, Leslie and Bowman, of the Holston Confer
ence; Rev. DR.. Finney, editor of the s.
G Louis Christian -dduocdte; and Rev. Nj
| Carroll, Of the Baptist Church.
The characters of the following minister
were examined and passed: Rcvs. S. S. Ro>
: zell, d. D., i. II. s. Hough, W. S. Baird, a
, Il. Martin, Ii. l.. johnson, j. r. Finley,
, Head, L. d. Nixon, j. c. Dice, Z. H. Henry
W. G. Hammond, L. H. Cren>haw, G. Mat
zey, A. w. Robey, L. III. Baldwin, j.
, Gardner, L. G. Martin, and William 4
, Stringer.
j. w. Boteler and William R. Stringe
were placed on the supernumerary list.
y. Wilson, John Landstreet, and w.