Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1892-01-14

. .
Tho Rev. II. snowden Thomas Gives His
Version of tho Recent FURRY In the
Preachers Meeting.
Editor Gazette and Journal. In Tues
days EVERY EVENING reference to the
editor of the Peninsula Methodist was
made, which seems to demand little
further calculation of the matter in
volved, if your readers are to have q
correct understanding Of the case.
In the regular weekly meeting Of
Methodist preachers of this city and
vicinity, held in Fletcher Hall, No. GOA
Market street, December t4th, 1891, the
Rev. John France, pastor of Scott NJ. L.
Church, this city, ex.presiding elder of
Easion district, Wilmington Conference,
read u paper on some of bis experiences
as member of the bishops cabinet
during his recent term of six years. In
the discussion that followed our young
brother, the Rev. John d. G. Hanna,
pastor of Asbury NJ. Il, Church, this
city, took part and in his Jealous defence
OF the administration of the bishops in
this conference, and that of his close
friend, the present presiding elder of
Dover district, saw DIT TO refer to the re-
port given in the Peninsula Methodist of
what is now an unpleasantly notorious
meeting, held at the residence of the
late Captain Alexander Kelley during
the conference session OF 1888, charac-
terizing that report as false
Mr.. Hanna subsequently, explained
that his statement was not designed to
impeach the yeracity of the editor. but
the accuracy of his information.
In last Mondays meeting, on1motion
of Mr.. Hanna, the editor Of the Peaia-
s,la Methodist was accorded the floor on
a question of personal privilege, and
after abiding to Mr.. Hanna's statement
impeaching the truthfulness of his re-
port of the Kelley meeting and express
ing his desire to correct any inaccuracy
in that report that may have occurred
through incorrect information, the
editor read from his paper Of September
Gath, as follows: after a preliminary
meeting that night a number of brethren
met the following evening at the in
stance OF Bishop Foss, when the follow
ing painful facts were disclosed l. That
the purpose of Presiding Elder Wilson'S
tabulations was TO destroy Brother
Brownies prospects for the presiding
eldorship of Wilmington district, and
this was admitted by its author. We
make this statement on the written
authority of "a man who saw and heard
all that was done and said;' also, on the
same authority, that Mr.. Wilson was
obliged to offer his hand in an apology
TO Mr.. Browne
The editor then asked Mr.. Hanna to
indicate what was false in the statement
as read, and in reply Mr.. Hanna said
that MIR. Wilson did not admit his tabu-
lations were made for the purpose
named, nor was he obliged to apologize
TO MIR. Browne.
In the parley that followed Mr.. Hanna
expressly disclaimed any thought Of
impeaching the yeracity either of tho
editor or his informants, but just as ex-
pressly reaffirmed his statement that our
report, in the particular named, was
false.
As 1t was made clear to all present
that the question was merely one of
accuracy of recollection between Mr..
Hanna and the gentlemen from whom
we received our information, the editor
expressed himself as entirely satifled.
AS MIR. Hanna took occasion to open
out in TRADE against the Peninsula
Methodist he was very properly ruled
out of order by the president of the
meeting, and, after the failure of mo-
ton to adjourn, the order of the day
was taken up and the .squestion Of
privilege" episode was thing of the
past.
Your readers will, of course, see that
MIR. Hanna's charge of falsehood, even
if 1t could be proved that the recollec-
ton of our informants was at fault, APP
i n tt,f,,l
portant part of the damaging allegation.
1t does not touch either of these vital
points; az that Mr. Wilson did make
those misleading tabulations and f2l
that he made them for the unworthy
purpose OF removing u brother out OF
his way whom he regarded Us formid
able competitor Tor the position Of
presiding elder of Wilmington district.
The only point Mr.. Hanna denies is
this, that Mr.. Wilson did not admit such
q purpose in making his fluctuations
nor did he apologize to MIR. Browne.
Mr.. Hanna ALSO claimed that there
were six persons Of the Is or 20 present
at the time, whose recollection agreed
with lis, but as those six witnesses have
not spoken the charge Mr.. Hanna has
made against the accuracy of our report
i''~9 hoVhlHS W susttlH, IL Deyonu Wnat
he says is his recollection Of what
occurred nearly four years ago,
No one deplores the fact that any one
much more any minister of the gospel
should be amenabe TO any sucl
allegation as Is made against Mr.
Wilson more deeply than the writer
and nothing but q conviction Of the ne
cessity Of calling public attention to tho
| in Al. e
fender properly dealt with could have
induced him to place so unwelcome ;
matter before his readers.
L u. Aa......r.....