Daily Republican., 1884-03-11
METHODIST CONFERENCE.
HEARING THE CASE AGAINST
TINE REV. W. J. O'NEILL-NO
GROUND FOR CHARGES.

l
GROUND FOR CHARGES.
~
The afternoon session of Conference
convened at 2 o'clock on Menday, ant
after devotional exercises, conducted
by the Rev. T. s. Williams, proceeded
to the transaction Of business. The
Secretary read resolution presented by
a committee, expressing the sense OF
the Conference in relation to the serious
illness at the Rev. |. r. Cooper, which
was adopted by rising vote, and the
Secretary directed to send copy to Mr..
Cooper.
The case Of the Rev. w. j. O'Neill
! was then resumed, and the reading OF
the testimony proceeded with. The
facts Of this case seem to be as follows l.:
Ia 1866, while the Rev. George A..
, PbEuus was pastor of the Princess
Anne Church, The trustees determ ined
to sell the Old parsonage, and appointed
the pastor, with Is. II. Foxwell and H.
+. White TO attend to the sale. The
property was disposed Of, and the Rev.
George Phubus, wishing to use the
money for the best interests of the
church, purchased a farm on which he
paid $500 out Of his own pocket.
lie then offered the church to take the
farm himself, and refund the amount
realized for the parsonage property, or
he would let the church take it, on their
paying him the $500 which he had paid
himself. Before the matter was settled
1t was ascertained that the property dis
posed Of had been given to the church
IN trust, and according TO the laws of
Maryland could not be disposed of with.
out special act of the Legislature.
Application was accordingly made to
the Legislature, and special act passed
whereby the title was made legal. The
trustees then agreed to let the Rev.
George A. PnHbus take the farm and
pay them back the money realized for
the old parsonage, which was done, and
he gave a note Tor the amount, and the
Rev. WI .O'Neill claimed that this note
had not been paid, and that Foxwell and
White were parties to the transaction,
and that since 1866 they, as trustees of
the church, had been paying rent for
parsonage at the rate of $50 per year,
making, with the money in the farm
about $1,000, that he alleged had been
wrongfully taken from the church.
On this ground the Rev. ID. Eeill
opposed the renewal of the license of
White as Il local preacher ut the quar-
ierly meeting, and it is claimed that
both White and Foxwell were guilty of
fraud and had torn two leaves from the
church record to cover it up.
On the part of the church it was
shown that there were two credits on
the Tote, one being for $l53.5s and one
of S5jl.5o, leaving a balance of S4O3. "a
with interest, which it was claimed
was allowed DR.. PhTbus, as part of
his salary as pastor. and it was claimed
by the Rev. A W. Lightbourne, the
counsel for the church, that as there
had not been any fraud shown, the
statements of the Rev. w. j. O'Nei!l in
reference TO Messrs Foxweli and White
were falsehoods and defamation OF tchar-
acter. The Revs. j. J., Smith. j. ID.
Kemp and j. f. Mowbray appeared for
the defendant. The testimony of 7. :.
Williams, A. :. Mowhray, George A.
PhUbus, Is. h. FoxwelI and the Hor.
Thomas S. HodSon, all for the prosccu-
ton, was read, and some parts OF II
ruled out by the Bishop, upon Objection
being raised by the defendants sroun4el,
During the reading there were aeve.
raj pretty sharp Passages bttween
the counsel land upon Il question which
was asked by Mr.. Llghtborne being OBJ
jected u, he said that he had only ask
ed it for charily's sake, when the coun-
sci for defense said we dOn't ask any
charity from you," to which the Bishop
Interposed," WE'LL you don't now per-
haI,s AOn may sometime When Mr.,
Smith opened for the defense h- held a |
large book in his hand, and said Mr..
President, | wish 10 call your attention
to a paragraph in this work on eccle-
siastlcaI law, written by yCurs-lt-"l
hen the Bishop interrupted With"well, |
that don make it worth anything"
and the counsel resumed his seat.
There was but one witness for the
defense, the Rev. W. j. O'Neill, and
after bis testimony was read, the Rev.
}. 5. Willis presented the following
resolution, signed by himself and the
Rev. j. Fl. Caldwell and Il. +. Price
Resolved, That in the case against
brother w. j. O'Neill no evidence has
been furnished the Conference proving
any malicious intent on his part, and
that the charge and specifications be
not sustained"
After this was read the counsel for
he defense said they were willing toI
accept it, but the Bishop decided that
he acceptance must come from the
,ther side. Mr.. Lightbourne said that
10 could not consent to let the matter
)e settled in this manner, as he thought
le could show by argument that the
Rev. w. j. O'Neill was at least de.
serving of censure.
He then made lengthy argument
n which he disclaimed having any
PERSONAL feeling against the Rev. w. j.
)Neill, but said that he did not think
hat he had acted in a proper manner.
The counsel for the defense made a
'rief reply, after which the Bishop said
he resolution offered by Mr.. Willis was
low in order, and after several substi- S
utes had been proposed, all of which :
we're ruled out of order by the Bishop,
vote was taken, and it was almost {
adopted. {
The character of Mr.. O'Neill was a
hen passed, when the Rev. j. B. Quigg
ffered q resolution censuring him,
,hich was laid on the table, although y
here were many whose sympathies q
'ere with Mr.. O'Neill in his trial
hought that his Language had been @
ldiscreet and that he should be cep-
ured.
The Rev. G. f. Sheppard was ap-
ointed an additional Secretary owingl
, the great increase of business by
,ason of the long sessions,
The Rev DR. Reid Secretary Of the
Visionary Society of the NJ. f. church,
nd the Rev. DIR. Barker Of India, who
delegate to the General Conterencel
ON that conference, were introduced
the members.
A few minutes before 6 o'clock, Con-
renee adjourned until this morning.
Al kinds of JOB printing done at the
EYuBLlCAN Office. Good work and
ir prices.