The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-03-09
The Clergyman Whom Scandal Compelled
to Leave Baltimore.
Before the WarrentOn Church
Conference.
Els Presiding Elder Calls Him
Up to the Bar.
WOE TO HIS SLANDERERS AND ACCUSERs.
A Committee Of Clericals Appointed
to Investigate the Charges.


to Investigate the Charges.
WARRENTON, Va, March 8, 1872.
In all my journalistic experience do not remem-
Der OF ever embarking for the scene OF labor with
the same feelings and surroundings that were as C
seemed, attached to me this morning, as took the
train for this place. had often heard of 'golng 10
the Conference" ana knew 1t was the season that
the Old ministers Of the Methodist persuasion
harped upon all the year round; ana the
young ones who were just blooming into
the ministry looked to 1t as the contamination
Of cherished hopes. But being anything but min
ister) and having crude ideas Of what was to De
done In the clerical meeting I was to attend,
found little pleasure or profit in endcavoring TO con-
lecture what kind OF scene l going to be
ushered into. AT ten minutes past seven A. M. the
train drew out from the station at Washington and
we were soon over the "Long Bridge" moving
rapidly on Alexandria. Here VIC stayed
twenty minutes for breakfast ana leav-
ing ON schedule time two hours ride
through an almost barren, desoate country until
within few miles Of our destination, showing little
evidence OF advanced civilization, but rich In his
torical associations brought us to WarrentOn, o
neat little place. OF few hundred inhabitants,
settled down in the
HEART OF A FERTILE AND BEAUTIFUL REGION.
There Is little else than few dtlapidated earth
works and crumbling blockhouses 20 remind one
now OF the great struggle that once held sway be-
tween the Potomac and Rappahannock. Upon ar
irving at Warrenton asked for the conference"
and was shown neat little church in which 1t was
| assembled. l Immediately proceeded 10 the
| sacred edfce, and, gently opening the outer
door, stepped in. The church was well
| flied with ministers, and q large number or spec
| talOrs were visible, mostly LADIES.
| 1 a
soon relieved from any embarrassment by vene.
ra1Ie brother who came forward and kindly IN;
| Just arrived"
/ assured him that did not exactly belong to
their body but desired to see and hear what was
done
He showed me to a seat near the one occupied by
the presiding officer and was soon at ease. The
Conference was ut this time occupied with pecu.
liar proceeding Known as ''passlng character"
trict eulOgizing his minister. THIS continued for
some time. while the crowd In the galleries
ginning OF the Huston case, which was expected to
come no. At lens>h
Rev. S. Rogers SAID that numerous grave rumors
affecting the character OF Dr. Huston nad been
CIV M Gu owg To s eo n m
more, there had been no opportunity given him for
official investigation on INQUIRY the Bishop was
hearsay In character, put was sufficient to
warrant investigation. The Bishop then said OF
| course the rumors must be held baseeSs until
Mr. Rogers then said-It Is but just to DR.. Huston
| to say that ne invites ana demands an lnvestiga-
BISHOP Paine-Dr Huston Is here hmself; has
| he any remarks to make at this stage OF the pro-
| ceedingsf
! DIR. HUSTON STEPPED FORWARD
to the space In front Of the Secretarys desk and,
facing the Conference spoke lew words IN a sim
| gularly calm and unembarrassed manner. He said
stated, ne had but two remarks TO make, ana they
dld not relate to the avalanche OF anguish that mad
| come upon him, but to the circumstances under
|
derous story was first made public
there an ns instinct we nat pr SnaSIer
from the modification ana the sorrow that 1t would
bring upon them. and for that reason he thought IL
best to take them beyond the reach OF the SANDER
GUS BREATH And then warming up into something
OF his accustomed glow ana with evident feeling. he
continued, 81 shall wait until have been fully vim
dicated before this Conference and from that hour
until the last day Of my life shall be In pursuit OF
BLANCHED THAT DAUGHTERS CHEEK WITH SHAME
and STABBED that wife to the neart. Dr. Huston
stories concealed from his family, and they knew
nothing OF them until last week. friend writing
ieve them" said DR.. Huston, ''and In their presence
deHed all my accusers as do now" He then
recall the Of
ing Elder. He SAID that 1T mad been Drawn up by
brother, and he had signed his name to It under
circumstances That did not permit due reflection.
When Dr. Huston had resumed his seat
DR.. Munsey rose and moved that the matter be
referred to the Presiding Elder OF the East Bat
more district with Instructions to call committee
ana proceed to an immediate and thorough investi
CATION DR.. Munsey said, In corroboratlon o T what
DR.. Huston had stated, that he, DR.. Munsey, and
Mr. Magruder had advised him tDr. Huston> to
question was here asked as to whether
the trial by the Church must await the issue
OF civil trial likely 10 be Instituted. So
until the next Conference. The object In ordering
TINS committee Is TO prepare Cor trial It VIII be IN
the province OF this committee to suspend the ac-
cused, II they ina him guilty, until Conference
meets.
fha
motion TO effect that 1t Is the Christian Judgment
OF thus Conference that DR.. Huston should In the
meantime
DEsIsT FROM ALL MINISTERIAL FUNCTIONS.
Bishop Panel think the effect Oh an arrest OF
character Is TO work dlsc0ntnuance Oh all omclal
action on the part OF the accused.
A brother here remarked:-"l nope the Presiding
Eora wl that Dr. char
acter and the purity OF the Church alike demand
the % e woe ne ia
matter should be referred back TO the Presiding
Elder, or whether the Conference should proceed TO
investigate the charges forthwith and determine
whether there was sufficient
GROUNDS ON WHICH BRING CHARGES
In the regular form, and to Oruer trial
by presiding elder was an al interim, proceeding
which was only legal when there was no higher
tribunal In actual session which could assume urls-
dicOn.
status Of DR. Huston pending this Investigation
The Bishop answered that while his character was
In questoa ne neither would nor ought TO attempt
Rev. A. w. WILSON moved as q substitute for Dr.
Nursey's motion that a committee be appointed TO
investigate at once the matter affecting the cnarac-
ter OF Or. HUSTON and TO ascertain whether trial
be necessary.
Rev. Dr. REGISTER spoke In favor OF Mr., Wilson'S
substitute. He said that the honor and
PURITY or THE CHURCH
demanded an immediate invest gation. Saould n
committee be sent to Baltimore there Is no telling
what influence may be brought to Dear on
them oc.ore the meeting ~ the next Coz
ference. We cannot know what wllnessc,
may be deferred from testifying by social
pressure or by threats OF civil Prosecution.
The prestige OF popular minister and powerful
trends may smother an investigation. The Cnurcn
has suffered wound the depth OF which no one can
tell. IL cannot suDsist the popularity or the elo-
quence OF its preachers. 1t Is Its spotIess purity
that cOmmends to all men. After further discussion
WILSON'S substitute was carried.
THE COMMITTEE OF INVESTIGATION ORDERED.
The Bishop named Rev. Norval Wilson, Rev. John
Landstreet and Rev. william s. Baird.
| n n dan 10 H.