South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1873-03-21
The Huston Verdict.

HOrahty aud hcentlOusnesi against The
Rev. DR.. j. ID. Huston Las resulted IN r
verdict Of guilty and expulsion, unanimous
ly rendered yesterday morning by the com
mittee of the Conference OF the N u.
Church South, appointed as aa ecclesils;i-
cal court To try him.
/ This result has been reached after pa
tient and laboriOus sittiugs night and day,
IN which it is fair 70 presums every facili-
ty was given the accused, who appeared by
counsel, to establish his innocence. The
investigation was begun at Warrent0D, Viz
gina, u year ago, the preliminary commit
tee then appointed, after sitting fer .5mo
time 10 this city, rendered Scotch yer
OF mot rroven,' accoriing TO the evidence
then adduced. Dlring Tho present Con
ference, however, wider range was given
to the investigation, with the result nov
chrouicled.
The conviction Of Dr.. Huston, Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, ON the char
ges OF l!centIous conduct brOugh, against
him, must have been painful duty T.
those engaged in the investigation Of bis
ease, though at the same tjmo the perform
ance of IL, az a duty to the church aud to
society, must have sustained their minds Ia
awarding the final decision.
The teachings OF the clergy are only Of
tective by reSon of their good example, as
indeed all teaching is, whether parental or
by moraIists, or by the pulpit Hence the
work of publication, in cases OF cleric 1
otfonders, is essential, and is provided for
In the constitutions Of all churches, and bv
none more rigidly than in the Methodist
. I).satnIlnn II =
church can guard itself completed against
the Intrusion Of bad men, and indeed to
demand that humanity, in any vocation
even In that OF the ministry, should be ex
empt from the possibility Of lapse from
virtue, even of good men, is more than a
ny one acquainted with human nature will
demand
At iho same time it is only reasonable
to expect that, while men who deliberately
design evil in entering the ministry cannot
be guarded against others, having In
view that vocation, should at least perform
faithfully that duty of self-cxamination
which the sacred Scriptures require even
OF lay members OF the church, so that they
may not undertake the unchastened ma
lures holy calling.
Nothing can be purer and more ennyb-
ling than the prccep's of Christianity, and
when hose who profess to be it's ministers
violate the most important of those pre-
cePts 1t becomes the Christian BODY to
which they belong promptly and thorough
ly to disown them.
We are glad to sec that tue Methodist
Episcopal Church, in the case of DR.. Hus-
ton, as IN that of Mr.. Clark, o. West Viz
glnia, has performed this duty with man
llIess and fidelity which has been notably
wanting in the Congress Of the United
States In its efforts at self publication. A
ny other course would tend to. deprive the
clergy Of the confidence Of the people.
That confidence has beer accorded to them
IN higher degree than to any other pro-
fcssion, except, perhaps, that of medicine,
and the attempt to shield an unworthy
member would be as Injurious t. the one
profession as the other.
DR. Huston, who has go abused the con-
tidence of his church, is, we understand
residing in his native Stat, Ohio, aud il is
not probable, judging from the develop
ments of character IN his cas,, that be will
feel the humiiltion Of has position as keen
~ a5 those who have been compelled. from
duty to religion and 10 the welfare OF sae,
oty, to iu1ic, it-BpH Sun. lL,rL Is