The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1873-04-30
LETTER FROM A FORMER WEST
VIRGINIA EDITOR.

ism, Together With Some Accom-
OF How He IL at Present DeVOtinI
Himself TO the AmellOratiOn Of Ihl
Woes OF Mortality.
To tho Editors Of tho InttllIgencrr
sm in receipt Of many letiers from ny
old stamping ground making inquiries a
To my present theological views ant
Church relations, and want the privi-
lpge OF answering these inquiries through
The columns Of the good old Wheeling
ISTELLI0ENCER, q sight Of which l gel
occasionally, and 1t always does me good
only wish were able to take It regu-
hrly. Our mutual friend s. 7. Arm
strong, takes 1t, and as he lS fellow
tOwnsman OF mine, see II occasionally.
1t IL known to many OF your reader
that for many years l was Methods
clergyman and member OF the West Viz
EinI Conference; was stationed at Clarks
Durg, Charleston, Point Pleasant, &C., ant
have often preached in Wheeling; was
also, member Of tho Illinois Conference
Tor several years-oCCupyipg now a sta
lln in the city, unl now Il prOlessOrshlr
10 college under the auspices OF the
Church-llving up TO tue light that l had
at THAT time, aud acting out my highest
convictions Ul duty. A little over two
years ago was expelled from the Church
Dnd ministry Tor holding and preaching
doctrines contrary to the discipline OF the
Church." on the resurrection OF the deaC
and It's kindred topics, such as the second
coming of Christ, the general judgment
&c. This fact was noticed by many o
my friends in West Virginia, us a para
graph To that effect appeared In tho col
umns OF the ISrELLIGENCRK.
From the decision oil the Kansas aus
uual conference | appealed to the Gener'
ri Conference, that met In Brooklyn, N
Y, last May. That body remRnded the
case for new hearing, the appeal being
carried up on thirteen exceptions to the
rulings OF the court below and the find
tnss OI the Jury, as not being In accord
Ance with the law and the evidence in
the case. My exceptions were sustained
and the case remanded for new trial
That trial has Just TRANSFERRED with likl
results, and have appealed tho case
second timc, aud shaIl continue 10 do 81
till the case Ia disposed oil In q prope
/ stated 10 tho Bishop, Dr. Brown,
with whom am personally and we'll &C
Quainted, aud between whom and myGel
pleasant Intimacy existed-At least uE
10 the time he was made BishOp-that
had changed my We've on many points o
doctrine, and was willing to withdraw
my connection from the church, and die
mt wish to be expelled like criminal
lie replied, "The Kansas brethren will
M doubt deal Justly with you" Blu
when It came to the point they would no
allow me to withdraw, but must Grpel.
Allow me now to state TO my oil
friends, how l came 10 entertain thu
views now do. l have always been I
great admirer Of facts, aud never hS(
much faith In theories that were not SuI
hined BY facts. While pastor OF tho n
T. Church in Montpelier, Vt, six year
agO, q tae!-ono oil those "IlIbbOrn things
that we often meet with-sprang up II
my pathway, unlimited, unsought by me
that demonstrated the truth OF "clair-
.yOauce" Us faculty Of the human soul
developed In certain tempersments. Thu
opened new avenue Of thought and In
vestigation. l then turned TO books 0
science written by such men as Sir vii
liam Hamilton, DR.. Wayland, and so on
aud found that this lact was there laugh
ss a scientific fact. Soma months aIteI
the occurrence oil the circumstance allud
ed TO above, while residing In the city o
Indianapolis, Ind, another fact pre-
seHted itself. 1t was one that dom
unstrated the truth Of what 10 call
I'd the "trdRce state" l would be glaC
to give your readers a detailed account o
these two circumstances, but 1t Woult
make this letter too long. #..
ln indianapolis, l made the acquaint
GnCe Of the Hon. David Nc Donald, Judg
Of the United States District Court Tor ID
District Of Indiana under the appointment
q Mr. Lincoln. He was q member Of Ii
Methodist Church, and at the same tim
avery ardent and intelligent Splritualis
BY invitation Of the Judge l attended
"'eanCe," at which the wonderful expert
gaCes occurred that were published in m
letter 10 my brother in law, Judge Mat
lhews, Of Maryland. Soon after this
ofcame member Of a committee Of scleI
Tile gentlemen 10 inquire into the trut
olsplrilusl phenomena, After nine con
taise months Of patient inquiry, the cor
uiltCe reported that the so called "Spiri
uAI phenomer q are true" leaving ever
Onc 10 draw their own Inference Us to III
origin or cause Of the phenomena. Thes
Investigations have continued up 10 III
writing, and while l have found a le'
attempts at counterfeit manifestations
" cases in every 90 l have found 10 /
genuine, and In every instance have eI
posed the bogus. My friends, therefor
will understand me 10 ssy herein that,
Isr MS spiritual phenomena are cOnceTne
gGIiI!,
Now as 10 doctrine. have done VIII
every othes preacher in the churches b
done, viz: preached doctrines that | d
nGI understand. consequently could n
SeileTe them to be true-ior no man CT
0IelleVe theory " he true one that
uoes not underStand-6tlic5 being the r
sun o. evidence, and II Is worse than fol
u Alk about esitleno6 In the midst
ghoraHH Butt, and Thousands Of otheI
accepted these contradictory slatemen
% the dlctum Of Others Let me Vi'
lIit one example: Who can hSrmoni
Uivine substitution" with personal, Ut