The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-05-20
BLOW TO BISHOP HARGRO7E.
The Committee on Appeals Wholly Ylndl'
Gates Dr.. D. 6. Kelly.
ANESGBILITY OF BISHOPS DEFINED.
They are Entirely Responsible to the Gen.
eral Conferencc-Action on the Death
OF Rev. j. Il. Laurens.

MEMPHIS, TENN, May i9.-Bishop
Haygood opened the Methodist General
Conference this morning. DIR. S. b.
Jones, of the South Carolina conference,
conducted the devotional exercises. The
minutes of last nights session were
then read and approved. Bishop Hay
good then retired and Bishop Fitzgerald
took the chair.
Resolutions OF sorrow were offered on
the death OF Rev. J. b. Laurens. of the
Virginia conference, who was mis-
sionary to Mexico, and did grand work
there. The resolutions were unanimously
adopted
a resolution providing for the appoint
ment OF a fraternd messenger for the
Southern Presbyterian Assembly now in
session at Nashville was offered and
unanimously adopted. At this juncture
DR.. Knowles. general secretary Of the
American Sabbath Union, was presented
to the conference.
DIR. KELLY INDICATED.
The call for reports Of standing COM
mittees was then taken up, and the fol-
lowing was submitted as report No. of
the committee on Appears
I'm the case OF DR.. Kelly, who appeals
from the action of the Tennessee Confer
ence, the Committee on Appeals reverses
the action of the Conference
This short report is a vndication OF
DR.. Kelly, who has already suffered the
punishment of suspension for six months
for being a candidate for Governor on the
prohibition ticket in this State In 1891.
nh 10 aIc hard blow TO
Bishop Hargrove. being a declaration
that his action in the trial OF Kelly was
contrary to Church law. While Or. Kelly
was making his canvass for Governor
the annual Conference met, and Bishop
Hargrove. over the earnest protest Of
the Conference. appointed the Committee
Of Trial, when the Conference claimed
that its right and the law Of the Church
bore the Conference out. DR.. Keiley's char
acter was arrested and he went on trial.
The board did not allow the Conference
20 const-ue the law. which was its right
hut construed it himself I'm q way that not
only displeased the Conference, but many
other members Of the Church and many
outside people.
ANfENABnTTY or 4 BISHOP.
Discussion Of the report Of the com
mittee Of seven "a whom was retefren
the report Of the Committee on Church
Trials having been made the special or
der Of business at a previous session. the
matter was then taken up.
The first question and answer which
are as follows. were adopted without dis
cusson:
90 To whom is bishop amenable for
his conduct?
"A. TO the General Conference, who
have power to try and acquit. suspend, or
expel him for improper conduct
Question 2, and answer l were read.
They are:
@. 2. What provision IS made for the
trial Of a bishop if ne should be accused
of immortality in the interval of the
| General Conference?
A. /. When a bishop shall be under
! report or he accused OF immortality, three
| travelling elders shall. after notice has
| been given him, carefully inquire into
! the case. and if they believe an invesu-
! cation necessary they shall report the
| matter 10 another bishop. and it shall
| be his duty 70 summon together al some
| convenient place not less than twelve
travelling elders and also the witness by
! whom the accusation is expected 10 be
| established, and the said elders shall be
| a committee for the Investigation Of the
| charge brought against the bishop. And
! If two-thirds Of them believe trial IS
necessary they shall suspend him until
the ensuing General Conference. The
| presiding bishop shall cause an exact
record Of investigation signed by the
president and secretary to be transmitted
to the General Conference. BY this rec
ord and such testimony as may be OBJ
! tanned. the case shall be considered and
determined by the General Conference
without the Intervention of another com
mittee." After discussion the report was
adopted as a whole.
DR., Tigert offered a formal protest TO
the action in which the report Of the
committee Of seven is adopted. His pro-
test was agreed upon and spread on the
Journal
sUNDAY-sCHooL EDITOR CHOSEN.
The same telers employed on yester-
day were appointed for to-day, and bal
loting Immediately begun. For Sunday
| School Editor, w. d. Kirkland was elect
| ed.
Upon motion the calendar was taken
up in the order named by the commit