The Wheeling daily register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1864-1878, 1873-03-17

From the Baltimore Sun.
The investigation OF the charges OF
immortality against the Rev. DR.. L. D.
Huston has resulted in verdict OF
guilty and expulsion, unanimously rem
dered yesterday morning by the COM
mittee of the Conference OF the NJ. E.
Church South, appointed as an eccles-
iastical court to try him.
This result, though generally an'lcl-
pated by the public, has been reached
after patient aud laborisus sittinge night
and day, in which it is lair to presume
every facility was given the accused
who appeared by counsel, to establish
his limo ,ence. The investigation was
authorized at Warrenton, Virginia, a
wear ago. through preliminary COM
mittee o. five, vino, after sitting tor some
time in this city, rendered a sort OF
Scotch verdict OF mot proven, Accord
ins to the evidence then adduced. That
Ie the matter 10 the present Confer
ence, during which wider range was
given 10 the investigation, with the re-
sult now chronicled Dr. Huston, by
his counsel, has minated a purpose TO
appeal to the next General Conference
Of the NJ. E Church South, but there is
no reason 10 believe that, il followed up,
anv other CONCLUSION can be reached
than that which has been reached by
the conviction il the Baltimore Confer.
ence
The conviction of DR.. Huston on the
charges OF lcentious conduct brought
against HIM must have been painful
duty 10 those engaged 10 the investlga
ton OF his case, though at the same
time the performance OF It, as duty 10
the church and to society, must have
sustained their minds in awarding the
final decision.
The teachings OF the clergy are only
rffective by reason O. their good exams
pie az indeed all teaching Is, whether
parental, or hv moralists, or by the pull
pit Hence the work Of publication. IN
cases OF clerical offenders, is essential
and is provided for in the CONSTITUTIONS
OF all churches, and ny..none more rigid
~ than the Methodist Discipline. 1t 10
needless to say that no church can
guard Itself completely aga nst the M
ru.ion of bal men, and indeed to de-
mand that humanity, IN any vocation,
even in that OF The ministry, should
De exempt from the possibility
vi q lapse from virtue, even OF 5000
men, i. more than any one acquainted
with human nature will demand. AT
he SAME time. 1t is only reasonable to
expect that, while men who deliberately
design evil in entering the ministry
cannot be gua'ded against, others, nav
,ng IN view that vocation, should at
east perform 'ailhulIy that duty OF
se!t examination with the sacred Scrip
lures REQUIRE even o! lay members OF
the church, so that they may not un-
lertake with urchasteped natures a
holy calling Nothing can be purer
and more ennobling than the precepts
OF Chrislanitv, and when those who
profess to be it's ministers violate the
most important o. those precepts 1t be-
comes the CHRISTIAN body TO which they
belong promptly and thoroughly TO dis
own them
We are glad to see that the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church South, IN the
case Of DR. Huston. as in that OF Mr.
Clark, OF West Virginia, has per
formed this duty with manIiness and
fidelity which has been notably wanting
in the Congress OF The United States In
It's efforts al sel-pur!tcatlon. Any
other cuur-e would tend to deprive the
CLERGY o. the cor fiience OF the people.
That confidence has been accorded to
them III a higher degree than 10 any
other pro esslon, except, perhaps, that
OF medicine, aud the attempt 10 shield
An unworthy member would be as III
jur,ous 10 the one profession as the
other.
DR. Huston who. has so abused the
COZ fience OF he church, Is, we under
stand, residing in bis native State, ONO,
and it l. not probable, judging from the
DEVELOPMENTS OF character In his case,
inat he will ieel the Illumination OF hls
position a. keenly as those who have
been compelled, from duty 10 religion
aud 10 the welfare OF society, to IN
hIct It,
s-s--@-~---~.s-.