The sun., 1892-04-05
mEFHoD1sr POLITICS IN BOSTON
Charges or Bribrry snd Other Forms OF
Clerical Corruption Made Openly.

Clerical Corruption Made Openly.
.BosroN. April 4.-Politieians In the Metho-
dist Church were hauled over the Goals BY ths
Rev. Luther T. Townsend In the Bromfeld
Street n. L Church this morning. where two
weeks ago he was hissed by the ministers who
heard him through to-day. Then the clergy
men refused to listen to him. They demanded
proofs of his charges. and gave him two weeks
in which to obtain them. To-day Prof. Town
send had bundle Of manuscript and letters
to substantiate his declaration Of wire pulling
and bribery in the inner circle Of the Metho-
dists. He spoke nearly two hours.
He said he believed that the vast majority Of
the ministry were pure in heart and deed. and
It was for their sakes that It was necessary to
root out the ecclesiastical rogues. politicians.
and employers OF chicanery He drew letter
after letter from the packet containing definite
charges
One writer spoke OF having seen money
passed to buy votes to send q person to the
General Conference. Another knew Of mer-
cenary gatherings to secure soft seats for
members OF church or district ring. Almost
all Of the letters had to do with combines"
between the Elders and providing for them all
the easiest and most honorable Offices in the ec-
clesiastical government Others had noted the
improper struggles for eptscopacies; All had
and testify to these things IN order, to purge
the sndas Gq5 Of hs R we sss her ts soreN es as Re
state OF the Church. and their urgent cry for
relief. he hurled at the meeting.
loud. When he closed with an exhortation to
the shade OF John Wesley to return once more
s @a aaa ,hs sss s 81 sS Es easS ss
sssss ptq sRnnsss
Pfominent Methodist pastor who ieit the
Sas ogog R wros
that once while candidate for lay delegate he
hadretired during the ballotine to a remote cor.
down v o. BY T him. % and Urged the % eieeton ne Of
Geniersnes; The minister said thst Il hss vas
out OF him." and that the merchant had
SS1Pon Sa1RsE Ssw ssted York Mr. wrote tat Esden no
one has been elected DELEGATE to his Con-
ference I,5s for years who was not presiding
was VASE once ICE invited to Join q ring or combination,
and an Ehep Isft he refused was told that he would
The Rev. F; D. Buckley wrote that he had be;
come SO sick OF the Methodists that he, had
been considering q call to Congregational
The Rey. George Mather wrote that he saw
no remedy unless tho bishops unite to crush
out THO rings. He said that methoas were OK
Il known 70 the authorities, would land them
fGs Western tern New York een,ss
IL our 3Rs Re
church of any denomination, in Wisconsin;
wrote: Twas reared, educated, and preached
Ees E E69 n II ohalsS s Siasr was s
return was unanimously desired and sent
submit A. e: popsrS; ! LEFT the dsnom!n,ationi
churches in Wisconsin are manned by OK.
MSthodist ministers driven out by clerical
In closing PROT Townsend made the follow
ing charges. which lie said he could substan-
tiat9 At the bur Of any tribunal before which he
ift frstnA t. sSP%sHf Presians rlder in New England
said TO q prominent Methodist layman that ii
he tthe laymnnl would give certain, amount
Of our SCHOOLS. there should be sent to the
tho said layiman desired. That iaEyman treated
who was desired, and who could hayo been
secured by this money. considerately was sent
elsewhere. md that church in CONSEQUENCE Is
Seeond-Moro than once members of the
New England Conference have called private
ent without at first intiinating the purpose %
the meeting. The Conference has been served
with cake, and lee cream or dinners, and then
Suesons or metfoSs sy Of a rcgous woSH q
Any any Kind haye s9ie,mniy pfocsedcdL a. 70 place
ence enc h there present r. On ticket Which was to 30
ths General Gonioronce; and farthor PERSONS S
hS church where the doniSrenes V was f'sdi hoiSna
"Third. "a msmber Of the New England Con-
fcranee lust bfsfore the last two General Con-