Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1885-03-26

I
6sow HILL, Nd Msroh 18 When thl
Rev. A. W Lightbourne, pastor OF th,
X ston N, B. Church took his position OF
the floor in conference this morning IL
defense Of the various ohsrges for which
he has been on trial several days, there
was decided sensation among the mem
bers. He spoke for Ia minutes. II wAl
foroible and eloquent and was marked
with strong emphasis, but was cool and
deliberate, and elicitsted the applause Of
all present. A member Of conferences
described the spsech as the most mas.
terly effort he had ever heard on the con-
ierence floor.
he said that IL the letter belonging TO
Emma L. N Ason, the domestic who lived
iu his houss, whose name had been con.
nected with his in q manner detrimental
to his character and calculated to injure
his nAme-the letter that he had found in
his house, and which he obtained leRiti-
mAtely, and pot by interoepting It, rs had
been stated IN this conference and to the
world-if he could only have 1t produced
and shown to the commission In his case,
that oomlIission would have 81 tirely
exoneIaied him and cast aside all the
charges which had been preferred against
him last night in regard to any criminal
or improper relation Of any kind With
this girl, and that his name would not
have been connected with that Of Mr..
Aldred and Bmms Mason at all bnt hsv-
ing given his word not to use that letter
even to save his own reputation he would
mot violate that promise.
The charge Of negleottng ministerial
duties was false. He had always when
able filled his pulpit himself, and when
prevented by sickness or other cause he
had provided substitute. The charge
that he had been guilty Of contempt OF
sentence BY preaching whilst under SEN
tence must fall to the ground, as from
that time to the present he had not
preaohed, prayed, oommuned or attended
meeting Of any kind in . Methodist
church. Il was true that there had been
times when the pressure of the Divine
spirit within him had been so that he was
compelled to tell the old, old story Of
Jesus and His love. That, no matter
what came, he would never cease repeat
ing the story Of Christ oruoifled. GHere
the speaker was loudly applauded ] at
has been stated" he continued, ''thht
came before this body simply to vindioate
myself before its members, and then sur
render my parchments, but that Ia point
shat has not yet been reached, and q
matter for future consideration. Upon
the charge Of attending q CIRCUS, he also
explained himself, and on all the charges,
30 far as the limited time would allow.
Concluding, Mr.. LiRhtbourne said
III you find evidence sufficient to sup
n0Fk fbaaa awaunfnu oh thar
may give judgment against me, not with |
ont compassion, yet with the conscious.
ness Of duty done but II you render |
such decision without the most indubit. |
able proofs, then shall be able to have |
on tho,e who have disgrsced |
me without cause, and you will need |
suoh compassion, for there will be forever |
before you the spectral spectacle Of q
ruined home, defeated life, a more than
wife, q worse than orphaned boy,
and over all broken, bleeding heart,
pierced by the cruel shaft Of prejudice, |
The emblem Of the ruin worked ~ your
unjust judgment, and this ghastly vision
shall fret your reflections by day and
ever your dreams by night"
Upon all the charges except the one Of
Of eentenoe, he was declared
not guilty by vote OF 80 to 8. By
request, the counsel wers excused from
7oting. The penalty for contempt is q
'eprcof by the conference, and as soon as
his was done the psrchments Of Light
bourne were returned by the Rev. J. Il
Caldwell, who thus withdrew from this
conference, and the Methodist BplscopAl
Church.
To reporter Mr.. Lightbourne stated
ie would submit to the will Of the confer
moe, but think 1t simply an admins
rStive body and not legislative. II has
10 right to abrogAte ordiuAtion except r
Mr.. Lightbourne will leave
%. morrow tor New York, wher4 he has
accepted the psstorship OF the Metropoli-
al Church, which he describes as m
,ffshoot Of the Rsv DR. NswmAn's church.
DIR. Lightbourne was offered charge Of the
durTy Hill Church, recently vacated by
he Rev. DR.. Burchard, who made him
elf famous In the matter OF "Rum,
somsnism and Rebellion" during the last
Presidential campaign, but owing to his
lifterent doctrinal views he declined.