The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-03-30
ELOPED With HIS ORGANISE.
This Charge Against Rev. Mr.. Bragg Pre-
scented 10 The Conference.
70 VISIT RGEDOLpH-AACON COLLEGE.
The Case of tho Row v. ". Wheeler, OF
clifton Forge. 10 Discussed ut fsster-
days scssiop-The Charge.

FREDERICKSBURG. VA. March %
special.-The second days session Of the
annual conference OF the Baltimore Con-
ference OF the Methodist Episcopal
Church South was called to order
promptly at $50 o'clock this morning by
It's presiding officer. Bishop Cranberry.
and after the opening prayer by the Rev.
J. W. Duffy the conference got down 10
business.
A communication was read from Mr.
". {. Perkins. a member OF the prelitnl-
nary for the year 1870 for the Christian
Endcavor Society. requesting the confer
ence TO endorse this great society and It's
movement. This was referred 10 the sun
day-School Board.
Mr.. Bragg's Case.
The Rev. J. T.. Armstrong presented
the charges that had been made undef
question - against the Rev G. NJ. Bragg
tor immortality. Mr.. Bragg was formerly
pastor Of Calvary church. Baltimore. and
some time since disappeared. IL Is az
legged. tor some months last summer win
his Organist Miss Ianthe Phelps. Ihese
charges were referred to the following
conmiffee. J. T. Williams. j.. l.. BiOyd.
j R. VanHorne X. Vi. Wheeler. William
Melville, o. Il. burgess, Ruids W. wilson,
Sylvdnus Townsend, +. +. carson ana
}. l.. kcbier.
leyan Female Institute. read an exhans-
tive and interesting report Of that insu-
tuition which made a most creditaple
showing for the school. and was received
with marked interest by the conference.
The following preachers VINO nave been
preaching on trial under the various pre-
siding elders. were preselted TO the con
ference from the examining committees
h. V. Register. a. NJ. Anderson. ia. H.
Dashel J. II. wills, Charles w Siooie
f. A. Gaines, ID. NJ. Browl l.. Is: At
kins Oliver n. Cook. Jessie c. McNeer,
CORTLAND J.. Smith, William stevens, ana
w. A. Reed.
a. lam dig" Enough.
The applications Of Messrs Reed and
Cook were Withdrawn. In the matter OF
Mr. McNeer. the examining committee re-
ported that he had barely passed, ana
the Rev. G.. A. Holman hoped that he
would not be received on trial, as in his
judgment "he is as big as he VIII ever
get Mr.. McNeer's case was, however,
ably champiOned by Presiding Elder Ham
mond. and ne passed. The other appli-
cants were all received by the conference
on trial
Messrs Payne. Riddick. and Rowe, of
the Virginia Conference; DIT }. j. Lar
fefty, President Smith. OF Randolph Ma
con College. the Rev. Messoros, Japa-
nese who is about TO sail for Japan 10
engage in missionary work. and the KeV.
A. T. Saunders were introduced TO the
conference by the Bishop. Mr.. Saunders,
in graceful words, welcomed the confer
ence TO his house, his manse, his church,
and his study as well as TO the hearts OF
the people here.
President Smith invited the conference
TO visit Randolph Macon College on Mon
day next to take lunch. This invitation
was accepted with hearty good VIII.
The members Of the conference VIII
leave this city on a special car az l2;4o
ArNal nd 1T
o'clock the same day The interval will
be employed in inspecting the college
and grounds and enjoying the hospitali-
ties Of the institution.
Charge W IA Drlnkin.
Under question 20 which was now again
called by the Bishop, the case OF the
Rev Vincent W. Wheeler was called up.
Mr. Wheeler has been charged with i'm
morality in drinking TO excess, and has
been three times investigated and ac-
quilted. but his case created considerable
excitement and discussion In the confer
ence to-day. A paper was read, signed |
by certain parties in Clifton Forge where
Mr.. Wheeler lives. protesting against
bringing this matter before the confer
ence.
The Rev. Mr.. Davidson. the present |
pastor at Clifton Forge. rose to speak TO |
the paper. but there were several obJec-
lions raised. and IL was insisted that he |
should not discuss certain matters. Bishop |
Granbery said he did not know what |
Brother Davidson was going TO say, but |
hoped he would make no personal allu-
siOns.
MIR. Davidson said a deplorable state of |
affairs existed at Clifton Forge: that he |
regarded the paper of protest as an at
tack on him; that the whole object of |
the parties who signed the paper was to |
have Mr.. Wheeer's character passed by |
the conference in order that he might be !
moved from Clifton Forge; that one OF
s.fs Of he a
most important witnesses against MI.
Wheeler. and had declined TO come to the
conference TO testify and said he would
not tell what he knew except under oath.
Objects to some Of the Witesses.
He expressed doubts as to the reliablilty
of the word of some of the slgners OF
the paper and was proceeding TO enter
into a vigorous defence OF himself, Wnth
he was stopped by the bishop MT.
Davidson was interrupted ana stopper
several times by those VINO appearsu 10
be friends of Mr.. Wheeler, ana manly
Mr.. Wheeler, who is tall. athletic ana
ne-ooking man, got the moor. ne sdiu
he had no fear 10 meet an lnNtsusatioi,
but he had received no notice una, ulete
would be any. except very lnoennlte
letter from his presiding elder teiilhs
him the matter might probably come UP.
he said he had been badly treated Ny
his minister at Clifton Forge, VINO hau
gotten very cold To him. and had hnaly
stopped speaking to him.
DIR. Hammond's Vigorous RspN.
Dr Hammond the presiding elder. re-
p)ied vigorously TO Mr.. wheeler ana
ssaId thai I'm answer to his letter notifying
NJ Wheeler of the probability OF tins
matter being brought up. Mr., Wheeler
had written him in reply, a threatening
and bulldozing letter. -
An investigation was ordered, anu the
foliowinr committee Of investigation APP
pointed: ]. W. Duffy. r. II. ;. hough,
and j. T.. Armstrong. After which the
conference adjourned till Friday morning
pRTERsBURG POLITICs.