The daily gazette., 1880-04-21

FROM THE APPEAL CASES OF REvs.
MILLER AND MAYOR.
According to announcement, a Judi
cial Conference asse embled in Union M.
4. Church, this city, at 2 80 O'Clock,
yesterday afternoon, TO hear the appeal
cases OF Revs. T. b. Miller and VIM.
Mayor, who were disciplined by the
Philadelphia Conference on charge of
issuing certificates to certain medical
students, with undue haste.
Bishop Simpson presided over the ses-
sion which he opened by reading the
ll9tb Palm, and announcing the 574th
hymr: "a charge to keep have" which
was sung in discordant tones aud to a
most unearthly air, by the ministers
present. Prayer was offered by Rev.
Vaughn Snith.
Bishop Simpson announced The object
of the Conference, and called for lis
of its members, which after several min
utes' delay was produced, and the roll
called. The following were present:
Baltimore Conference-Revs. l.. f.
Morgan, A. r. Gibson, G. w. Ilyde-3.
Wilmington Conference-Revs.J j. II
Caldwell, j A. b. Wilson, J. ID. Rigg,
j. I. Van Burkalow, W. B. Walton,
| Vaughn Smith,.
New Jersey Conference-W. Walton,
| r. s. Phelps,W Il. Durell, }. n. Reeves,
| A. K. Ballard-5.
Total present, ID, one more than a
quorum. The ful. Judicial Conference
is composed of tweuty-one members,
seven from each of the three annual
| Conferences named.
A Secretary was chosen in the person
Of Rev. j: s. j. Mcconnell, Secretary ol
the Philadelphia Annual Conference,
who had in his possession all the docu
ments and records bearing npon the re-
cent trial and sentence of Revs. Miller
aud Major.
Then came the interesting pat oi
the meeting, the discussion as to
whether or not the sessions of the Con-
ference would be public. DR.. Caldwell
opened the ball by saying there were
representatives Of the p ess present who
would like to know whether they would
be allowed to remain, and that many
citizens desired to know if the door:
would be opened.
Bishop Simpson said this Conference
possessed all powers of other Confer.
ences, and could decide this question
for itself.
Rev. J. A. B. Wilson, said he wa,
willing in this question to abide by Tho
views of the parties directly interested
in the session
| Rev. VIM. L Gray, of Philadelphia
who appeared as one of the represen
tatives of Messrs. Miller and Major
opposed the presence of the press anC
the public, claiming that these cases
often largely grow out of the
publicity given to them. He said til,
public were excluded from the trial o.
Messrs. Miller and Major, when wit
nesses were on the stand, and he hoped
they would be excluded now. lie haC
no objection, however, to admitting
members of Conferences, or aged anC
experienced members of the different
churches. The result of the session
could be given to the public by tn,
officers of the Conference.
Rev. PeterJ. Cox, representative o
the Philadelphia Conference, favored
the exclusion of the public, but h'
wanted the doors either absolutel,
closed OF absolutely opened. lie sait
if certain classes of persons were ad
mitted it would be very difficult t,
draw the line of distinction.
Rev. Mr.. Ballard, of New Jersey
moved that the Conference sit will
closed doors.
Rev. Mr.. Miller, one of the appel
lants, said he concutred with the othel
brethren, and was of the opinion that
the Conference should sit with CLOSED
doors, before the opening of the ses
sion.
The motion to sit with closed door
was then passed unanimously, and th'
reporters and others not connected
with The Conference slowly, took thei
leave, excepting some of the city min
listers, not members of the Conference
who remained. These, however, wer
afterwards excluded by a strict con
struction of the motion to sit witt
closed doors.
Afterwards the Conference took NJ
the case of Rev. Mr.. Miller, who argue
in his own behalf. Mr.. Henson argue,
for the Philadelphia Conference, an
occupied the time until 6 10 O'Clock
when an adjournment took place unit
7 80 o'clock.
AZ tne evening sesslon MI. Mlle
/ made his closing argument, which
. spoken of as an unusually brilliant an
, mastery effort. When he conclude
the case was given to the Conference
5 That body, after short discussion
: decided, by vote of 12 to 3, to reman
the case to the Philadelphia Confer
ence for new trial. THIS is a sui
stantial victory for Mr.. Miller, who
-. said to be greatly elated thereby.
The case of Rev. Mr.. Major will oC
; cupy the attention of the Confcrenc
| TODAY.