Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1872-12-06
Clock Struck Olae-and gave them, and
not speculations, of his own.
MISREPRESENTATION

! AOb oECIlAdtlJUHi Vi LIS OMu-
MISREPRESENTATION.
He was misrepresented, he said, in the
published account of the proceedings
had at Somerville. In the headings of
that accountas copied from the Western
Methodist, there is a "trialu mer-
toned, whereas, there was no trial, His
book is also called obnoxious The
/ Conference gave no expression of views
upon the nature or merits of that book
at all. The question arose in Confer
ence, by the Presiding Elder of the dis
trict, Rev. Mr.. Thomas, saying, that he
presumed DR.. Watson had nothing to
say In reference to his book. DR.. Wat
son in Conference stated, that he was
brought up a Methodist, and taught
Methodism for many years. He taught
the teachingsof Wesley and Clarke as far
as he understood them. The phenomena
Of spiritaalism agreed with their doe
trine that spirits could return to earth
and communicate with mortals. He
said ne had nothing but contempt for
the common mediumistic and rapping
spiritism.
THE PROCEEDINGS.
Rev. John Morse, Presiding FL
der of Somerville, remarked that GER
tain resolutions adopted at previous dis
trict conferences rendered it necessary
to appoint a committee TO investigate
such matters; that they could not that
way be brought into the conference, and
that the gentleman himself should be
Intercepted by that committee.
READY FOR THE SACRIFICE.
The committee of three thus called
for consisted of Revs. r. L. Boswell.
John Morse, and r. V. Taylor. They
met at DR.. BoswelI's room that night,
and with them DR.. Watson had a full
and free conversation. He told them
that if the Memphis Conference or the
Methodist Episcopal Church South de-
sired a sacrifice on that subject he was
most willing to be the victim. They re-
marked to him they had no idea of any
such thing, OF words to that effect. AZ
ter a pleasant meeting they all retired.
The next morning the bill of charges
was brought in. They were drawn up
by Boswell.
The following are the charges:
Charges-First, Heresy, and second,
Violation of Ordination Vow.
Charge First-Heresy in holding and
dissemination doctrines contrary to the
fifth, sixth and fourteenth articles of
religion.
Specification First-In teaching, con-
trary to articles five and six, that there
is a necessity for a more tangible proof
of the doctrine of immortality than is
contained in the Holy Scriptures-pp.
77-134, also It's sand I76.
Specification Second-In teaching,
contrary to article five, that the
spirits of the departed make i~ntereession
for US before the throne of GOd-p. 1877.
This communication endorsed on D. I64.
Specification Third-In teaching, con-
tTary TO article fourteen, that the spirits
Of the wicked can, in the future state,
progress to purity, and become fitted for
heaven-pages l39 and 146. Mystery
Endorsed on page 1873, also 142, with in
dOrsement on page AS, and greater in
dorsement on page I79.
Charge standardization of Ordina-
ton vow as contained in the Discipline,
page $50.
Specification First-In teaching, in
stead Of banishing, the erroneous and
strange doctrine that the modern spirit
phenomena, sO-called, are equal in au-
thority to the Bible miracles-pages 134,
I35.
Specification Second.-Teaching, in
stead of banishing, the erroneous and
strange doctrine, that through the inter-
ventiOn of spirits, q e Interpretation is
to be put upon the holy Word of God, in
which revelation is to be seen as a per-
fected whOle-pp. III, us.
Specification Third.-Teaching instead
of banishing, the erroneous and strange
doctrine of necromancy. See the whole
book, The Clock Struck one.
Boswell was prosecutor. These charges
were presented in Conference, but that
was the end of it. There was no inves-
tigation of any one of them. A trial
would involve the heaviest sort of work
in the way of theological investigation
and argument. 1t would take at least a
months hard work to go into the merits
of the case.
DR.. Watson sent in a communication,
in which he took back nothing and re-
canted nothing, but merely promised to
abstain from forcing the sale of his book
(the book is nearly all sold and said:
"I deeply regret that l have, though
with no evil intent, put myself in OppO-
sitiOn to what l now believe to be the
Judgment of the Church as to the teach
of her standards, when really 1 had
thought to promote her interests
DR.. Watson does not believe he taught
any error in his book, and as far as the
facts are concerned detailed in the book,
he never will deny them.
OTHERS HAULED OVER THE GOALS.
He said there were other ministers
there, too, who were called up to answer
and to explain; DR.. Slater among them,
but there was 10 such thing as trial and
condemnation, nor even investigation.
Such a thing was not thought of. If
trials were to be had on matters taught
and preached, there would be no end of
them. They all held views that might
be questioned by captious people, and he
believed, that there are folks in every
Conference, who think that in ONE
parts of his sermon, the preacher is utter
ing heresy. The Conference were just
as glad to get out of it as he was. He
would take his time to set the people
right in regard to his views and in re-
gard to the actual condition of things
at the Conference. He felt himself
misrepresented, and would reply seria-
tim to all the falsehoOds that had been
circulated, and also, show that N one
of the charges made could be sustained.
This is a very brief outline of the in
terview, which, owing to the lateness of
the hour, it was impossible to "get up"
in tull.
CARD FROM DIR. JONES.
EDITORS APPEAL-My attention has
been called to an article in the lea
Ldnche of this morning December 5th),
over the name Sufferer" A sufferer /
presume he is, and such he ought to be
until he learns not to make false state
ments in print, whether he does so
through ignorance or otherwise. He
who hides behind a nom de plume of
course needs no serious reply; but |
would suggest hat it might tend to allie
viate the sorrows of that sufferer if be
would attend church and hear some of
the preaching of the Watson or the
Jones about whom he writes.
GUILFORD JONES.