Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1893-01-26
TFor the Ellsworth Americana
The Verdict Of Committee Of the Minis
ters' Conference in Ellsworth.
George ID. Garland Condemned. as n
had Man.

Terence OF the Maine Free Baptist AssOcia-
ton. we respectfully request the secular
and religious press generally to give pub.
LEFTY to the following statement. In
April, 1892, George ID. Garland of Wolf
boro, N. H., was received by the Ellsworth
Maine, Free Baptist church TO its member
ship and passionate by virtue Of a letter
which he presented purporting to have
been issued by the Christian church Of
Centre Tuftonboro, N. Ii. The church at
Ellsworth subsequently preferred charges
against the said George ID. Garland for en-
tering their church under false pretenses
and that he should be debarred from the
privileges of ministerial functions ON &C
C 'unt of damaging reports in circulation
affecting his character.
They petitioned the Ministers Confer
ence Of the Maine Free Baptist Associa-
ton for an investigating council. This
committee convened at Ellsworth Free
Baptist church. Jan. 10. 1898, Mr.. Garland
being summoned but failed to appear, and
after careful investigation found the
charges abundantly sustained. His MEM
bership WAS proved by the church records,
his fraudulent procedure and vile charac-
ter established by unimpeachable witnesses
and his career in Ellsworth shown to be a
shameful and gross repetition of the
course pursued by him during the past
twenty years Oh more, which is fully set
forth in the report of the committee of
the Strafiord. n. H., Christian Conference,
I'll pQrt fnl W.T.
LAS Executive Committee of the Straf-
ford, \. H., Christian Conference, We ask
attention to this notice concerning the per-
son above named. He appeared as christian
minister at EPSON, N. H., where was To-
Gated one of the churches of our Confer
ence, in October, 1875; as it was supposed
by us that he was a christian minister of
uublemished character and standing. 1t APP
pears that he had no right of membership
in any church or conference, be having be-
fore that been thrice accommodated. and
not restored His membership with us has
therefore not been valid; as it was an i'm
posture. He came to New Hampshire
from distant part of Maine. While he
was preaching at EPSON, q young man,
member of the church, made statements
against Mr.. Garland, as of his own person
al experience with him, which represented
the minister as a man of gross, abom-
nable and unsubdued lust, a corrupter of
young men, and sOdomne. Garland en-
phatically denied the statements, and the
young man WAS charged with lying and
SANDER. and finally communicated from
the church. We are convinced that the
young man told the truth, from abundant,
corroborative evidence. The church was
divided. bitter anmosities were produced;
and 1t remains in lamentable prostration.
Garland left EPSON In December. 1879, and
went 10 North Hampton, thence 10 New
Castle. where his labors were abruptly
terminated and followed by complaint OF
the church against him To their conference
and from that conference to ours. by
messenger with proofs in the form of
written statements. in 1855. The com
plant from the New Castle church through
the Rockingham Christian Conference was
referred to this committee, and we re-
garded 1t a entitled to faithful aud criti
cal consideration. Investigation has proved
a. follows Mr.. Garland lived in Monroe
Maine, was connected with the First Free
will Baptist church in Monroe, As its pas
tor from March 4th, 1871. In June. 1871
To quote from an authentic statement
complaint was brought by young man
against Garland for committing or at
tempting TO commit sOdomy with him, and
for trying TO get him TO commit the same
inlquity with Garland; a number Of such
complaints were made by young men be-
longing in different towns, some church
members and some un-professors. Further
support was denied him. A bitter strug
gle followed, the church was divided, Gar
land and his party sometimes appearing 70
be in the ascendsncy, until Dec. 3, when
he and his coadJutnrs were excommunicat-
ed The Prospect Quarterly Meeting Free
will Baptist soon after. upon charges pre-
ferred, expelled him from the Freswill
Baptist denomination, and ordered his eX
posture 10 two newspapers. the Morning.
Star and Christian Freeman. In 1874
George ID. Garland was In the Maine East
ern Christian Conference under charge.
(Which we understand To have been of the
same character. The disposal Of the case
was committed to a committee of twelve
chosen men, who after three sessions of
one day each, at Newport, Maine. Oct. %.
1874, unanimously decieed his expulsion
from the Conference and from the chris
tian denomination OF these facts we
have full proof To the accusing state
ments in New Hampshire, submitted to Us
10 Sept 1885, all describing the same char
we have asked has confirmed his statement
by oath They are from several different
towns. They are Of such a character that
each sustans all the others, that of the
young man at EPSON, and all from first TO
last; and we cannot discredit their signif-
canoe. We repudiate his membership in
our Conference as tnrdlid; and further de-
clare. of no validity letters which he has
obtained from this Conference. We hold
valid the acts of our Free Baptist brethren
and of the Maine Eastern Conference, In
his accommodation; and we consider all
christians, conferences and churches
Obliged to treat him as a heather man aud
publican ,,rithdra,cing all christian fellow
ship from him"
ID. A. WIGGIS,
A.W. HOBBS.
A. G. CoNINGs,
Executive Committee of the STAFFORD
Christian Conference.
Feb. 23rd, 1856.
ELRkLER OWEN.
CHARLES + MASON,
A. ID. DODGE.
Committee of the Ministers Conference of
the Maine Free Baptist Association.
Jan. 18th, 1898.