Daily Republican., 1880-04-21
THE ..DEAN,s" DILSpMA.
Rev. J. II. Miller Brings hisAppeai
case Before the Judicial Confer.
ence, ana Pleads For mercy with
Tears in his Eyes-A Full Report
Of the Proceedings.

Tears in his Eyeb-A' FuiA tsepOf
OF the Proceedings.
Venerable Bishop Andrews called th
Methodist Episcopal judicial Conferenc
whose duty it is to try the appeal case
of Rov. Messrs. Miller aud Major, to OF
der at 2 80 o'clock yesterday afternoon
in Union Church. u
A trihe over a quorum Of the ecclesi
astical Court were present, together viii
q sprinkling Of curious ministers, 10
concerned, and q number Of report
ers. The Bishop in opening read tn
CXIX Psalm, after which the bretherl
sang the hymn commencing
"A charge to keep have
A God to glorify.-"
The hymn was sung with amusing
discord, it having been started too loV
and to the wrong tuno. Rev. VaughI
Smith followed with fsrvent prayer.
The roll call showed fourteen mem
bers present, three from Baltimore Con
ference. five from New Jersey and si1
from Wilmington, az follows: Balti
more, l.. +. Morgan, A. Z. Gibson, g
w. Hyde; New Jersey, W. Reeves, K
Z. Ballard. w. Walton, j. S. Phelps
and L. H. Donnell; Wilmington, J. II
Caldwell, ]. A. b. Wilson, J. +. Var
Burkalow, W. d. Walton, Vaughn
Smith and John D. Rigg. J. $. J. Nc
Connell, of Philadelphia, was elected
Secretary.
This doae DR.. Caldwell stated that 8
number of persons, the reporters in
cluded, wished to know whether they
would be allowed to occupy seats on the
floor. He wished TO know the will o
the Bishop.
Bishop Simpson said that this Con
ference has privileges of its own, the
same as any other Conference and cas
do as it pleases.
Mr.. Wilson was willing to follow the
custom and to do as his brethren
wiahed.
Rsv. W. L. Gray, counsel fer Mr..
Major, said that this case has grown
largely on account OF newspaper pub
l!city. There plust be stroug reasons
in all minds that the hearing should be
private. TIL. case was strictly IN ap-
paal and he hoped that the same pri'
vacy would be exercised as at the for.
mer hearing.
Rev. P. J. Coke, one of the counsel
for the church, fully concurred with
Mr.. Gray. DR.. Caldwell also favored
exclusion of the press and public.
A. L. Ballard moved that the Judi
cisl Conference sit with closed doors.
This motion prevailed, but was modi-
fed to allow other ministers and old
members Of the church to ba admitted.
The case of Rev. r. B. Miller was
then taken up. Owing to the absence
of Mr.. Miller's counsel, he appeared in
bis own behalf. The Church was rep.
resented by Rev J. NJ. Hinson.
The appellant stated his grounds for
appeal briefly. He declared himself
innocent of the charges brought against
him that the case wss no, fairly tried
according to The specifications, and that
the charges were not proved as stated.
He spoke briefly.
The records and testimony in the case
az kept by the Investigating Committee
we're read by the Secretary, an hour
and forty minutes being thus consum-
ed.
Nj. Miller addressed the Conference
in his behalf. He alluded with much
feeling to his uncomfortable and un-
pleasant position, and declared him.
sol to he victim Of miSapprehension.
His case had not been fully understood.
His grounds for appeal in the first
placs werc that the charges as brought
against him we're not rightly wordsd
second, the charges were not fully sus,
aimed third, the verdict was not in
with the evidence. A care
'ul review of the testimony, and full
statement from him could not fail to
how that he was not so deeply in the
wrong after all. With reference to the
diplomas issued by the college, he said
hey we're issued by regularly incor-
,orated institution under a bona
i3e charter.
In 1865, at the request of the stu
Ients, the nams had been changed. to
he "American College" The Ameri-
an University was different institu-
ion. None of the diplomas bore the
lsns of the American College. Mr..
filler went on to speak at great length
lpon this point, and to declare that
ven had the intent and result heen
he could be relieved from
much of the blame by this technicality.
10 could and would prove his limo
erce on other points before the case
ad been concluded. He made admis-
ion that he had offended but the offense
1ss in connecting himself with meii-
inc, but there was no criminality in
hat.
One point that gave'him right to
careful and impartial hearing, was
he fact that Rev. Mr.. Rowell, of the
investigating Committee, was sick and |
id not hear the evidence from which |
be report was formed.
There is a vast difference, said he,
q conclusion, between mistakes and
in, difference between innooently max
1g an error, and wilfully doing a wrong
hing, all men are liable to error, and
Il men who do err are deserving of
,ercy. Some Of our greatest men have
lade mistakes, and have been willing
? forgiven. My crime is only an error,
ommitted with no intention of wrong,
nd yet am charged with an otfense,
'hich has not been clearly designated
, my mind, and l have not only been
hsrged with this, but convicted and
r PEELED from church membership, as
ell as from the ministry. My lot is
ard and do not deserve 1t.