Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-03-24

Wilmington Conference met in secret
session Wednesday afternoon in the lee
ture room of the Sunday-school chapel
Of Grace Church. After the opening
hymn Bishop Foss offered prayer, fol-
lowing which "Jesus, Lover of My
Soul" was sung. Bishop Andrews
quoted portions of the Discipline and
cited decisions rendered by Bishop
Hurst, who is considered one of the best
authorities on ecclesiastic law. He said
he had examined copies Of the charges
that had been prepared and declared
that many of them were improperly
drawn. He said they should be more
specific and told how they best could be
stated.
One of his legal citations was to the
effect that before brother can be
charged with imprudent conduct he
must be admonished twice. Another
was that when charge of SANDER is
preferred it must be brought by the
person slandered or by his. counsel. Sew
eral of the papers examined contained
charges of SANDER but the individuals
intending to prefer them are persons not
directly interested. The papers were
returned and, il is said, will .be.tlior-
orghly sifted by those proposing TO
serve them. Some who heard the
bishops remarks imagine that he is i'll
clined to compromise matters and hint
that IL that is his intention there will be u
warm time. Not few asserted Wcdnes-
day that the whole thing sis going up
in smoke"
Indicating a group of ministers in
the afternoon q preacher observed
"look at the smiling and handshaking
but there is great deal of warmth be-
meath the surface The actual time for
the preferrng of charges is when min.
listers character is about to be passed
Previous to that the serving of notice
that charges are to be brought is the
only thing done in the matter. Many be
lieve that before the names of the min
listers are called at this session for the
passing of character all the charges will
have been dropped.
The anniversary of the Freedman'S
Aid and Southern Education Society
was celebrated in the evening in Grace
Church. G. NJ. Leitch presided, and an
immense congregation was present
Devotional exercises were conducted by
the Rev. II. IL. Adams, and an address
was delivered by the Rev. G. w. Gray
d. d. Music was furnished by larg,
choir, representing all the Methods
churches in the city.
Celebration of the anniversary OF thu
Educational Society, which was TO hay,
taken place in st. Paups Church, wa
postponed.
There was preaching as follows
Union Church, the Rev. j. A. ,,Artcrs
Epworth, the Rev. II. ii. Nelson; Cook
man, the Rev. j. NJ. Lindale; Silver
brook, the Rev. |. G.. Fosnocht.
Thursdays session of conference
was opened between $50 and 0 o'clocl
and was held with closed doors. II
'prevent" newspaper men gettin
within hearing distance the meeting wa
held in the audience room of Grac
Church.
One OF the first items Of business wa
the offering of a motion to allow tn
presence of the laymen who had pre-
pared charges. A motion to lay tina
motion on the table was lost and th
original motion was adopted.
TRIAL OF DIR. WILSON.
The charges against the Rev. j. A. i
Wilson, D. D., presiding elder of Dove
district, were read. They are as fo
lows: Corrupt administration" "pc
litcal hypocrisy" lying and "attemE
90 employ spies" The persons by whoI
they are signed arc laymcn of Dove
district.
These charges, DIR. Wilson declared
are the product of eight years hunting
He said he wanted trial before III
whole conference and with open door
'Let the city in and hear the result {
this calumny," he demanded lie state
that he would plead guilty to only on
charge, and claimed that he was just
fed in doing what be was accused of
that charge.
ARGUMENT ABOUT "a PUBLIC TRIAL
Motion was made that the trial |
secret An amendment offered was Til
the trial be with open doors.
The Rev. j. 4. Van Burkalow oppose
public trial and mentioned some rcpr
hensiblecharges which came up in ope
conference at Snow Hill.
Presiding Elder Smith advocated
public trial and declared the prop
thing would be to open tho doors an
let the people hear the other sid
"There had becn," he said, "a great de
in the papers"
TOO MUCH PUBLICITY.
The Rev r. II. Adams said at is
matter of regret that the brethren ha'
used the press in the way they have.
would have been better for US to ha'
lost 10 of the best men of the conferen
than to have allowed the publication
go on" [Applausc.
At this point Bishop Andrews &C
surod those who applaudcd.
Continuing Mr.. Adams said: 81 som
times think our charity has too nut
breadth. The laymen are not to blan
for bringing charges and there must
something in the accusations. We oft
get excited. We should keep cool"
Another minister said there had be-
too much publicity, and open doc
would make matters worse.
The Rev. Il. l.. Hubbard referred
the charges against him and declar
things had been written which no p
ever should have written.
The Rev. w. W. w. Wilson, W
offered the amendment for Il trial wi
open doors, withdrew it. lie asked IL
the trial be not delayed on account
the absence of witnesses.
SELECTING COUNSEL.
The Rev. j. b. Quigg was selected
present the charges.
Motion was made that the Revs. r.
Martindale, +. Il. Terry and JAG
Todd, ID. D., serve as counsel for
church.
Tho Rev W. w. w. Wilson object
to Dr. Todd as counsel, saying it look
+ too much like persecution.
Messrs. Martindale and Terry W,
accepted without opposition and
Todd was accepted by vote of So to
nm. paas m ~ JJunno I u Mar