The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1892-05-05
THE RILEY FAIR.
The Reverend Conrade Gives His Side of
the Story.

the Story.
EDITOR NATIONAL TRIBUNE, In your last
issue I noticed a reference by a connrade to the
article in a former issue from Rev. A. n. Hud-
son, of Lowell NJ CHI. His (Hudson'g) complaint
against The NATIONAL TRIBUNE was that its
statement of the Riley episode at the Grand
Rapids Wesleyan Methodist General Con-
ference was misleading and false. This in two
particulars he names.
l. That the Conference expelled said Riley,
etc; when, as he (Hudson) says. "Riey was
not member any more than The NATIONAL
TRIBUNE editor" etc.
As this falsehood Of nly non mem ership In
the Wesleyan Connection has been widely cir
culated, and i'll many places fully believed, l
do ask small space in your columns for the
publication of my certificate of standing in
my Conference, properly made ont and signed
by the Conference President, dated, as you will
see almost six months after the Michigan Con-
ference, which was held in October, 1891. We
ask Rev. Hudson, and all who have been mis-
led in this matter, to read it:
This certiies that Rev G. P. Riley the
bearer, was member of the Illinois Annual
Conference of the Wesleyan Methodist Con-
nection in good standing up to the time of his
union with the Grand Army of the Republic,
which society is secret society, end our rule
says, ave will on no account tolerate our min
listers or members in joining or holding fellow
ship with secret societies, as in the judgment
Of the Wesleyan Methodist Church it is incon.
sisteat with our duties to God to hold such
connection. Hence we now consider him
Withdrawn from the Illinois Conference.-W
Pinkncy, Conference President, Viola, H.,
March %, 1892"
.. That The NATIONAL TRIBUNE stated
that when the Conference President Rev. L.
n. Wardner asked Riley if he belonged to the
Grand Army, Riley answered that he did, and
was not ashamed of it, etc. Hudson says he
did not answer until asked three times and
then only because he saw from a signature he
was caught, etc.
This, Mr.. Editor Is the unkindcst cut of ALL
did say, in view of the action of that Confer
ence, was ashamed Of my (the Wesleyan)
Church, bat wore my G IA. Z. button all through
the Conference, and talked to Conference mem
bcrs freely Of the matter, claiming to them
there was no harm in the Order; also, what
John Lexington had given LAS to the obligation
of the GAR in his book, Essential Oneness
OF All Secret Societies, was false; so that no
one except this eyewitness, Rev. Hudson could
suspect that was in anyway ashamed of the
GAR. But why hesitate until asked three
times? l will here explain. The President
stated when | was presented for introduction
that he held in his hand letter from Yves.
leyan Minister, in good standing which letter
stated that j was q member Of the GAR. /
knew that this letter was not from any Wes-
lcyan Minister, but was from the Rev. King, of
the Free Methodist Church, whom / had seen
at this Conference. / besitated until asked
three times, as is published in the account
given at the time, for no other purpose than to
catch Brother Wardner, the Conference Presi-
dent who had stated the letter was from
Wesleyan Minister, and answered as soon as /
saw the signature Of Rev. King. Wardner,
however, took back his statement that it (the
letter. was from a Wesleyan Minister, and cor
rected himself by saying it was from Minis
ter in good standing in sister church; so the
reader can judge who was caught and why
hesitated.-G. p. RILEY, of Gen. Skunk Post,
3D. Department of Indiana, GAR. Marion,
Ind.