The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-04-01
UR. WHEELER EXONERA1ED.
Hs, However, Wittdravs from The Hslh-
odist Conference aud the ministry.
TIE SCENE At YES. LRDAY'S SESSION.
uishsr Education for NOMENCLATURE OF
Int. est TO Wesleyan femn insN'"'e
and Randolph Macon Discussed.

FREDERICKSBURG, VA. March 81
special.-ro-day's session Of the Balti-
more Methodist Episcopal Conference was
opened with prayer by the Rev. Christie
pher Sydengtricker. Then the report OF
the Board OF Education on the Randolph
Macon College was read. The report
recommended that committee. consist
ing OF the Revs. T.. II. Wnisner. H.
Smithson. r. 4. Fishburne, George H.
Hill. NJ. l.. Walton. and Drs. Smith ana
Bond be appointed 10 raise during TINS
year In this conference $1,000 10 be APP
plied-x5.v0o towards paying the debt OF
Wesleyan Female College. at Stauhton;
$4,000 for Randolph Macon Academy, any
10000 for the endowment OF chair OF
Biblical literature at Randoiph-M@oo"
College. ,,, ,ho
conference on this subject.
dolph- Macon College for the higher edu-
cation OF women at Lynchbrrg, whlch ne
stated was the only endowed collese ioI
the higher education OF women III -,,s
ginia. and Dr. Bond devoted his remarks
10 the Front Royal Academy. IL was
also stated that DR. Bond had raised III
Staunton during the past year 10Y 1900
leyan Female College the sum OF slpv,,
but during a discussion OF the report u
Developed that the $1,000 had string
tied TO IT, for II was said TO be coupied
with such condition that IL couIo haruiy
be considered available.
The usual assessment of 5000 for Ran
doph-Macon College was, on motion iaiu
aside for future action. and Win TINS
amendment the report was adopted
4 ia nfu' Scene.
An immense crowd had been attracted
10 the church in expectation OF the report
OF the committee that had been appointed
to investigate the charge OF inioXicatlon
against Rev. Vincent w: wheeler, oil
Clifton Forge. Va, and the crowd was
not disappointed. The Rev. j. w. Duffy
presented the report Of the committee.
which was i'm brief that the INVESTIGATING
committee having fully examined the
matter. did not deem a trial necessary
This was a full exoneration or Mr.
Wheeler. and on motion from Presiding
Elder Hammond Mr.. Wheelers character
was passed by the conference. Al TINS
point MIR. Wheeler. who IS an unusualiy
large and fne-lOOking man. arose ana In
tho midst OF the most intense and pain
full silence i'm broken voice ana with
tears streaming from his eyes. forinaliy
announced his withdrawal from the minis
try and membership OF the Methodist
Episcopal Church South.
Many Of the members Of the conference
sohbed audibly as this startling announce
ment was made. and as Mr.. Wheeler
slowly passed out OF the church there
we're rev cry eyes.
v.sieyar Insfifure.
The business was resumed by making
the report of the. Wesleyan Female In
stitute the special order of the day for
Monday. and that the report Of the Board
Of Education on Payne and Lane Inst-
tutes for colored Methodists was read,
recommending an assessment on this con-
ference of 500 for their aid.
Dr. Smith. of Georgia. made a most
vigorous address In favor OF this report,
which brought forth considerable APP
plause and great laughter when he mar
rated how he had come on the circuit of
this conference during the war, and when
he reached his appointment a Lewisburg
ne found no Parsonage, and the inventory
Of the parsonage furniture. when handed
him by the stewards. showed one set of
knives and one rOlling-pin
Resolutions of sympathy FOR Rev. Ut.
Gardner were offered and passed. he hav-
ing been called from the conference by
telegram TO the bedside OF his dying VIE
John III. Dils and W. G. Shirlock of
the East Baltimore district. II. NJ. Reed
and William d. Keene. of the Washington
district. and William Stevens. of the
Moorefeld district were admitted to dea-
cons orders.
c. J.. Potter Of the Lewisburg district,
was made an elder. and John II. Cooley,
Henry l.. Houk William S. Hammond,
and John w. Mcneil were, after a fer
vent exhortation from the Bishop and ex-
dfulNttlON before tnt NHoit eShhVAt H'N'
admitted TO full connection.
To ve.s H. Washington.
Rev. Dr. Hyde, Of the Committee on
Invitations, presented invitations TO the
conference to hold it's next meeting from
Washington. ID. c.; Mount Vernon Place
Church, Baltimoree Roanoke. Salem, and
Charlestown.
Drs. Carter. Smithson. Head. and Mr..
Johnson seconded Washington. and on
rising vote Washington received so large
vote that its selection as the place of
meeting for the next conference was made
unanimous.
A Magnificent Spectacle.
most pronounced and beautiful mag
netic storm prevailed here on Friday
night from to IL o'clock A vast arc of
Intense white light spanned the northern
heavens like the tabled bridge Of Bifrost.
Up from this from pole TO zenith, rolled
soft. fieecy waves of light that looked
like sea foam, shot through with the
electric spark while ever and anon long.
delicate pink streamers shot upwards to-
wards the stars. Underneath the arc OF
light was gathered heavy mass OF black
clouds. intehsifyng the light above; =.
1t was probably the finest auroral dis
play ever seen here.