The Jersey City news. (Jersey City [N.J.]) 1889-1906, 1893-04-07
The report was signed by ~. M. Free
man and others OF the committee"
Then epsued a lengthy debate, in which

| The report was signed by u. M. free-
| man and others OF the committee"
Then epsued a lengthy debate, in which
over q dozen of the members participated.
PERPLEX1NG DEBATE.
The debate that followed was OF so per-
picking nature that many OF the men,
bers themselves got mixed up in 1t. DR..
Halloran said he objected TO the passing
of The report, and DR.. Boswell said the
conference could not pass it.
"It should be referred to lower
court" said DR.. Miller,
II do oppose the passing on the charac-
Ter of Mr. Craig" said Mr.. Russell.
DR., freeman said that all the COM
mittee had before it was the paper,
(which contains charges and spectfica-
The conference. he said, could not hear
the charges brought in lower court
because it was superior body.
rs there everything In the way of
charges embodied in the paper OF charges
and accusations, handed TO the commit
tee?" asked Secretary D0dd of Mr.. Rus
sell.
"There are no other changes, but neith-
er he nor his witnesses had been called
before the Committee" answered Mr..
Russell.
Then Mr.. Craig got the floor. He said
II have no disposition to interfere with
the conference in adjudication of a case in
which am interested. Many present have
heard that grave charges have been pre-
ferre6 against me, and none OF you seem
to know anything about them. | know
nothing of them myself. have heard
nothing about them. I do not desire to
find fault with any member If the COM
charges be read"
'Tnat's right" Good" and mo, nol''
cried In low tones number OF voices.
Mr.. Craig then went on to say that he
would not discuss the charges.
II am called before the bar of the
church to answer to the accusation of
what l said before civil bar in defend
ing man who was on trial. was dis
charging my duty, Mr.. Chairman, and /
have not been consulted ABOUT it in any
way. have no knowledge of it. I OBJ
ject to this case leaving this Conference
until the charges have been Investigated
and my character investigated. In the
church the case is precisely the same as
in other courts. probably know as
much about discipline, as this man. Pll
have to ask you. Mr.. Chairman, for
ruling in the case. want 1t understood
that was in the discharge of duty. That
is all that I have to say. l have not been
consulted about this charge. No one has
spoken to me- My hands are clean-''
His speech was greeted with applause
by the Conference.
BISHOP FITzGERALD'S RULING.
Bishop Fitzgerald said:-"The commit
tee was appointed to inquire ginto the
status of the case, not the merits. That
is all the committee was entitled to do.
This committee comes and says
that if these charges and speci
tications be true or taken in
another way. .Granted that they be true.
They constitute case which does not
come within the jurisdiction of this Con-
ference and they so report This, in the
Of he hoir is y,nr
competent aud proper report. But
in the Judgment of the Chair the
committee has exceeded its power
in referring it to She pre-
siding elders and in so far as they took
action in that line, there should have been
q point of order called for. 1t is a little
delicate to remind conferences that they
have no right to do SO aud so. This Con-
ference mas power only to pass on the
csse.o
After some more desultory wrangling
over fine points of parliamentary uling
and the rules of the Conference, Mr..
Gutteridge moved that reconsideration of
the motion be tabled, and it was carried.
A motion by DR.. Baldwin was N ade that
the report of the committee be adopted
down to aud including section three.
The motion prevailed by a large vote.
DIR. CRAIG INDICATED.
DR.. Craig then Said:-
WduU buo OOAlE10uCo w pass ApOA
my character"
Cries of 'sVotel Votep' greeted this de-
mand."
.'Ali who are in favor of passing upon
the character of Mr.. Craig will please
raise the right hand" said the Bishop.
Nearly every hand went up and the
negative OF the m otion was put.
"His character is passed." said she
Bishop, ''and Mr.. Craig stands vindi-
Gated"
Having disposed of the famous
Lowndes-Ru -Russell-Craig controversy to
the satisfaction of all but very few. the
Conference turned its attention to other
matters.
A discussion arose in regard TO the
time when the memorial service should
be held. Some were in favor of 1880 A.
M, Monday. aud some at 4;30 P. NJ. 1t
was finally decided that it should be
held at 1880 Monday morning.
Announcements that the meeting of
committees on all sub jects would be neld
in the basefne enG at 2:30 P. NJ. this after
noon was made and then the morning
session adjourned,