, 1872-10-18
Closing Sessions Of the State
Onvention.
The Charges Against the Rev.
SeIden Gilbert not
Proved.
Adoption of the Temperance Reso1u-
ticus---Closing Sermon.

avenue, near Twenty ninth street, yesterday.
President Wilcox occupied the chair. Tho at
tendance Was very large, many ladies' being
present.
APPLICATIONS REFERRED.
An application from Rev. c. T. West Of Gales
burg, for letter Of transfer to the Iowa Con-
7ention, and one from 4. McAllister for fellow
,hip with the Illinois Convention, were referred
% the Committee on Ordination.
THE MURRAY FUND.
Mr. Pullman, from the General Executive
Committee, presented communication in refer
,nce to the Murray Fund, giving tie reasons
why the amount had not been made up. It was
referred to the Executive Committee, with in
strnctioas to use their best exertions to raise
The sum required
The Committee on Nominations submitted the
following report:
Prksiden-Rev. J. s. Dennis.
Vice President-E. R. Allen.
ITeasureT-Darid Sanborp.
see'<tary-Rey: J; " Hanso9 n....,...
j. Hughes, J. Davis ". H. Ryder, H. R. H. Wallace,
'0D pe,tgass .; % to The General conrenon-Rev. Asher
Moore 3. H. Reid, S. 4. Briggs, 4. &. Perry, s. H.
Thompson, T. J. Hale, A. G. Throop.
The place Of meeting of the next Conventian
will be Urbana. \
The report vas adopted.
ELouR1sa1NG.
The Secretary submitted a report in reference
to the cause of rniYersaliam in the State, SHOW
ing it to be in q hourlshing condition in COM
par1son with former years. Statistics accom-
panied the report, but as they were incomplete
the Executive Committee were instructed to
take charge OF them and made the necessary ad
dition-
THE CASE OF SELDOM GILBERT.
The Committee on Fellowship, Ordination,
and Discipline, to whom was referred the case Of
Rev Seldom Gilbert Of Blue Island reported as
follows
Your committee would report that charges very
grave character have been preferred against Rev. Sell
don Gi1ber and after protractea and careful inSes
kigaon Of the same and the hearing Of all the testi-
charges and specifications have not been proved as a.
legged, and we therefore acquit him.
The charge against the reverend gentleman,
who vas formerly editor Of the Cerenant was
licentious conduct, familiarity with q female
employe in his Office. The Committee had had
the case under consideration for three days.
The principal witness for the prosecution was
Mr. Day, and among those called for the defence
xere Hon. J. D. Ward, e. O. Stone, Hugh Alex
ander, and Mr. Riddle. 11r. Gi1bert's office was
in q. o. Stones building, on Madison street, and
The alleged familiarity was Witnessed by several
persons, who, as will be seen by the remarks of
Judge Wallace and N1r. Gilbert. given below,
nust have been mistaken. Persons Tho lived
In rooms over Mr. Gilbert's Office, it was assert
ed, did not conduct themselves With strict pro-
priety, and their rooms. according to the test!-
nony, we're confounded with Mr. Gilbert's Of
Gee. -Four men saw the familiarity, and four did
not, and the accused was given the benefit OF
the douh:.
Mr. Gilbert said he he'd never had an evil or
impure thought in reference to the young lady
in question, and wished to stand before the Con-
vention and say word showing the strength Of
his innocence, and how he was able to keep his
head up, knowing. in bis heart that he vas 1nno-
cent. He realized that it vas proper and right
that cle1gymen should be responsible to the Or
ganization with which they are connected, and
Be had gladly submitted to the investigation.
feeling assured that the right would triumph,
He also 1ealized that the intentions Of the Com
mittee we're good, and could assure the Conven-
lion that the charge which had for time rested
opon him resulted from great mistake. Ger
tain things had occurred on the upper floor of tho
building in which his Office WAS situated, but,
by some miatEAe they had been fixed upon the
zrong man.
Mr: Perkins, attorney for the defence, moved
that the report be unanimously adopted.
4 gentleman objected to the unanimous part
ct the motion. He should be obliged to vote
against the motion from conviction that he
would thereby be doing right.
Mr. Perkins then modified his motion by leay-
ing out the obnoxious word.
Judge Wallace desired to speak in behalf of
the prosecution. The examination had been
have been. Had any one heard only the evi-
dence on which the charge was based, he would
have felt it to be his duty to recommend the
preferring Of the charge. He ezonerated the
3. 4TD8eEHTOT, WHO N&Q 4eAIQ QI14Y one 611a oI LuH
story the rebuttng testimony had altered the
complexion Of the case, and justified the Com
mittee IN reporting adversely and ezone1at'ng
the accused.
quiesced in the report, but would not have done
so If the charge had been ungentlemanly and
unchristian conduct He
The President declared Ills remarks to ba out
of order. Manifestations Of approval.]
The report was then concurred in, two or three
persOng ONLY voting IN the negative.
TIE TEMPERANCE RESOLUTIONS
temporarily tabled on Wednesday, were taken
ap and unanimously agreed to.
GENERAL RELIEF FUND.
Mr.. Pullman presented some resolutions,
adopted By .he Rock River Association, in refer
,nce to general relief fund, for the benefit Of
ministers and members, Of the congregations,
who may be taken i'll and be unable to supply
themselves with what they need.
They we're referred to the Executive Commits
tee. with instructions to report at the next an
nnal meeting.
Dr. Ryder moved that the Executive Commit
tee be instructed to report plan for ministerial
relief similar to the Har5on fund Of New York
Agreed to.
o'clock.
AFTERNOON SESSION.
The Convention met pursuant to adjournment,
Vice President Davis in the Chair.
RESOLUTIONS OF THANKS
the generouB hospitality extended to the nlen1-
bers of the Convention and to the press for
publishing full and accurate reports OF the pro-
ceedings, were adopted.
COMMUNION SERVICE.
The Convention then adjourned until o'clock,
in order to afford delegates an opportunity to
participate in the communion service.
RELIGIOUS LIFE.
Upon re-assembling, religious life was dis
crssed. and, after transacting some unimportaut
business, the Convention adjourned, sine die.
THE LADIES
Of the different congregations have an associa-
ton, the object Of which is to raise $4,000 to
build boarding hail for lady students at the
Lombard University, at Galesburg. They held
q meeting while the Convention Was in session,
and selected officers, and raised some funds to
be devoted to carrying out their purpose.
EVENING MEETING.
In the evening Rev. Asher Moore, of Joliet,
preached upon 'The Law Of Growth" taking
Tor his text Mark L. %: For the earth bringeth
forth fruit to herself, first the blade, then the
ear after that the full CON in the ear He