Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1885-09-25
LEONARD INDICATED.
Methodist Conferences In Ohio Rebukc
Unsremly Attempts ~ Condemn
Him. Praise for Leonard
by His conference.

CINcINNArr, September 5.-Somc per.
cons, stated TO be communicanls OF the
NJ. +. Church, circulated petition to the
Cincinnati Conference, asking that certain
charges against DR.. Leonard for using in.
toxicants, and for other conduct unbecom-
ing n minister, he Investigated, aud thu,
he be removed from his charge II found
unworthy, OF course sucl, au appeal
against man of DR.. I.eonard's standing
in the Church, and pure character, made
in the teeth OF the unanimous indorse-
ment Of him 10y his congregation, and
their desire that lie be continued Ms their
pastor for another year, could only have
originated with very foolish, very malic-
ious and very irresponsible men. The ef-
fort TO do something to hurt DIR. Leonard
was undertaken, though, however cimldish
and cowardiy 1t may have been and the
public throughout the country were in
formed by dispatches. from Cincinnati that
there were the most serious differences in
the Conference upon this matter, aud that
Dr. Leonard would in all likelih ood be
deposed.
And now what does the whole business
amount to? During tins weeks sessions
of the Conference, not a word was breath
ed against DIR. Leonard. No objection to
or criticism of his candidacy was made by
any one, unless remark made by DIR.
Bayliss, editor OF the Western Christian Ad.
pocate, TO the effect that his paper was, ani
would be kept impartial in politics, could
be construed rs such. When the charac-
ters Of the brethren were passed upon to-
= l,l. II n. n
called, the answer was: "Nothing against
him" Aud the following report of DR..
Leonard's church in Springfield was sub
mitted to the Conference by the Presiding
Elder:
Central, A. B. Leonard, pastor, had an
other revival this year, 103 joining on pro.
baton. Congregations AZ large ne can be
accommodated. Prayer meetings larger
than ever. Missionary collections on the
million dollar line; superaonuated COL
lectiOns one hundred cents on the dollar;
all other collections at high-water mark !;
81 400 paid on lot debt--all this in the
midst OF hard times which have thrown
many of the members of this church out
of employment I have two documents
| officially signed, one representing the
Quarterly Conference, the other "A large
official meeting, held some time after
Quarterly Conference urging the return
Tor the third year of DR.. Leonard. Cen
trai Church astonishes me every year hy
the excellence of its work, and this year
more than ever"
THE CONFERENCE AND LgoNARD's CANDI-
| DACY.
CINCINNATI, Sept. 10lh.-The Cincin.
natl Conference of the NJ. f. Church has
to-day vindicated DIR. Leonardo candidacy
in the most satisfactory manner. First, n
report on temperance WAS adopted, de-
nouncing license and taxation, and fully
maintaining the past record oi the Metho.
dist Epis copal Church on the questioned
the legal Prohibition Of the liquor traffic
An attempt to pass report on the Stale
of the Church condemning, by implication,
DR.. Leonard's candidacy and canvass in
the following phrase, "while we cannot in
dorse the participation in politics of our
ministers by becoming candidates or pub
lie advocates Of any party" was stricken
out.
This action of the Conference amount s
really to strong Endorsement Of DR.. Leon
ards course and will greatly strengthen
him in his canvass and largely increase
the Prohibition vote, ]. b. MARTIN.
In addition to the above the following
particulars relating to the action OF the
Conference have come under our notice:
The first fight TO obtain from the Con-
ference an expression discountenancing
DIR. Leonad's candidacy was made when
the report of the Committee on Temper
ance was being considered. The follow
ing .menHm To il was offered by Rev
DR.. Marley:
"Nolhing in this report shall be con-
str ued as committing uhe Conference OF
the Church to any political party"
This indirect blow at the Prohibition
party was laid on the table, on motion o
DIR. Dustin, by vote oi 53 to 46.
Rev. Thomas Lee then offered the fol-
lowing resolution:
Resoiped-Tl,nt the vote taken to-day
on the proposed Amendment To the Report
on Temperance is not 10 be understood nj
committing tins Conference to any politi-
cal party.
This was, of course, unanimously adopt
ed, DIR. Leonard himself voting empliali-
cally "yea."
The grand fight of the day then came o,
IN the shape Of the indirect attack on d.
Leonard referred To in the above dispatch
1t was contained IN the following para
graph Of tile report of the committee Oi
the state of the Churcn:
Your committee would say, M apposi'
TO this point, that we have respectfully
considered the memorials of certain worth
and esteemed laymen OF the ChurcI
With regard To the ruhj'c' natter Of the
memorials, we would respectfully suggr'
that, while we cannot inlorse the par, ci
patton in politics of any Of our minister
by becoming cau'iidate- or public adso
Gates "f any political party. yet, in view q
an honest difference ni opinion ~ Ia III
best methods al reaching the same desir
able ends. and in view al the past utter
| ances uf the Curcii We would recummen
a that no further action beyond this expres
sion he taken.
This pruvkcd verv heated debate, i
the course of which DR.. Leonard took II,
= floor and made the following pe,sonu
, statement:
e DIR. LEONARD ADDRESSES THE CoNFERENc
Mn CHAIRMAN AND GENTLEMEN:
don't rise belure yen 10 defend myself
the position that occupy. want I
, say To you that 80 far IN am concerned
I, ] have no personal taste for political sIrif'
y | have no personal tate in this direction
nor have / any political ambitions
have been thrust INTO peculiar relalio
| by the temperance movement III ONO.
have not ao,ight il, and II there is amy
thing di-pleasing 10 you in my candidac
as stand, i want TO say TO yam that m
taste harmonizes with !onis ON that Al!
ject. have made u sacrifice in iaki
this position that yon can't measnr
(Calls Of shear |" "hearW) But | ha'
taken It because l believe God authorize
il. / do not intend TO abandon the mini
try. am Methodist minister. / woml
moi give MP my pulpit for the President
of the United States. There il not "a sing
charm in any direction for me in polite
d affairs, but when six hundred of as goc
r men as the State ol OHIO Can furnish can
,r to me and asked me To allow them 10 u
my name this year in this war with Il
II rum power felt / would he ashamed
i, myself forever hereafter II i refused the
v request, simply because it was crucitisio