Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1895-11-15
THE VIRGINIA METHoDIsTs.

The most interesting feature of yes
terday's proceedings of the Methodist
Conference, in Richmond, was letter
read by Presiding Elder ]. II. Amiss
from Rev. George w. Carter asking for
an investigation of his case. 81 am
informed" writes DR.. Carter to Mr..
Amiss, "that there is report that my
recent marriage, contracted on the Sd
day of April, 1895, involved me in i'm
morality. This is, therefore, to request
you, when my name is called at our
next annual conference, to ask at my
instance that committee be appointed
to investigate the same"
The Bishop appointed committee of
investigation, which met yesterday
evening for the first time. The commit
tee consists of Rev. ]. NJ. Anderson, 1.
T. Taylor and R. NJ. Chandler.
This case is attracting considerable
attention. DIR. Carter, who is to be the
subject of the investigation, is about
seventy years old and one of the best
known and most eloquent members of
the conference. DR.. Carter asks for this
committee to investigate charges of i'm
morality in having married while being
divorced man.
The conference sat last night at
Broad street Methodist church. DIR.
Carter's first wife, Virginia lady, OBJ.
tanned limited divorce from him in
Louisiana in 1872, which, by the laws
of the State, became absolute after the
expiration of a year. In 1874 DR.. Car.
ter married Mrs. Mary Borden, OF
Louisiana, who afterward obtained 6
divorce from him. In both instances
the cause of the dissolution of the mar
rage bonds was abandonment by the
husband. In neither case did DR.. Car
ter make any defense. His first wife's
death occurred in 1891. In April of
this year DR.. Carter contracted his
third marriage, his bride being Miss
Statham, of Lynchburg.
It is stated by those close to DIR.
Carter that his defense in the investiga-
ton now in progress before the commit.
tee OF the conference is this: DR.. Car
ter claims that his divorce from his
second wife formerly Mrs. Berden)
not having been granted for the scrip.
tural reasons recognized by the Meth
odist church, was, therefore, void so
far as that body was concerned. This
being true, the defendants marriage
with Miss Statham was not at
variance with the ritual or any other
Law of the church.
Bishop Galloway called the confer
ence to order yesterday morning.
Bishop Granbury occupied seat in the
pulpit during the days session. Among
members of other denominations who
occupied seats there and were intro
duced to the conference was DR.. Hoge.
In acknowledging his presentation DR..
Hoge said there were probably not a
dozen persons present who had attended
more Methodist conferences than he.
In the matter of the Cannon-Laferty
controversy committee of nine was
appointed to investigate and report
upon it.
Under question "Who are admitted
OH trial? 2" two names were proposed
from the Petersburg district-A. L.
Franklin and George E. Booker Smith.
1t appears that Mr.. Franklin, who is
very young man, had never had any
collegiate training, and DR.. Tillet said
that he thought it would be better for
him to go to college for several years.
He was admitted, nevertheless.
Under the question "Who are the
deacons of one year," sixteen were ad-
vsnced to the class of the fourth year.
Nine candidates were chosed for elders
after examination.
Nearly all the reports show crafty
ing condition. When the name of Rev.
DR.. Sledd, of Centinary, was called this
well. known divine said that he had just
completed his eighth year at that
church, that the last was az pleasant to
him as the first one, and minated that
he was sorry that it wasn't 30 that he
could return to this charge.
Rev. DR.. w. F. Tillet, of the Wander
bilt University at Nashville, spoke in
the interest of that institution of learn.
ing.