The Meeker herald., 1895-12-14
A SERIOUS MATTER.
METHODIST LEADERS CEN.
SURED.

odist Leaders with seriou. Onenses IL
Acquitted by an Ecclesiastical Court.
Denver, Dec. IA verdict of not
guilty was brought in at 1:30 this
morning in the case of Rev. +. F. Pass
more, who was cited to appear for
trial yesterday morning before a spe-
eial committee of seven ministers for
falsifying and disseminating dissen-
sion among the Methodist ministry.
The case was one of heated discussion
and lasted from 9:3O o'clock yesterday
morning to the time the verdict was
brought In. At 1870 last night the de-
fendant was acquitted of the charges
made against him, but the decision of
the jury was reconsidered and the
case was again thoroughly gone over
with the above result. every member
of the council signing the acquittal.
The case is the first of Its kind which
has ever come up in Colorado. and one
of the most important in the history Of
Methodism.
The language used by Rev. Mr.. Pass
more, and for which he had to explain
included the following paragraphs,
which appeared in an article contribut-
ed by him to "Our Nations Crisis"-it
is fair sample Of the whole tenor of
his statements:
81 find the Methodist Episcopal
church. in her bishops. ministry and
press, with few exceptions, has Joined
hands with gamblers, Sabbath-break-
ers, saloon keepers and harlots."
Mr.. Passmore based his statement
on the fact that the persons referred
to voted the Republican ticket.
The difficulty between Rev. Mr.. Pass
more and the Methodist church had
Its origin at the last session Of the
conference where Mr.. PASSWORDS ac-
t1ons and words were discussed. A
committee or his friends was then ap-
pointed to advise him to adopt differ
ent methods than those he seemed
bent upon following He firmly re-
fused to do this and then the matter
was referred to his presiding elder,
DR.. W. G. Madison, who presided at
the investigation.
The verdict as rendered is as fol.
lows:
1--WE, the undersigned committee Of
Investigation Of the charges against
Rev. f. f. Passmore, a member of the
Colorado conference of the Methodist
Episcopal church, do find as follows:
"On the charge of 'falsehood,' we do
not believe that the specifications and
evidence Justify verdict of guilty,
nevertheless we do believe that the
specifications in evidence show that the
defendant has indulged in unwise. un-
charitable and indiscreet public utter
ances In his use of personalities con.
cerDtng hiS hrathran
ION the second charge. that of dis
sension, we do not believe that the
charge ia sustained by the specifica-
tions and we are therefore unable to
find the defendant guilty of this
charge.
1--WE recommend that the president
Of this committee of investigation ad.
monish the defendant, the Rev. F. F..
Passmore, to desist from utterances
concerning his breathren which would
arraign their Christian characters"
This verdict was signed by Il. ]. WIZ
cox, D. ]. Moore, N. H. Lee, G. B. Al
len, ]. R. RAIDER, G. B. Spencer, ]. f.
Harris
The verdict is causing many COM
ments. Rev. Mr.. Crane, the prosecu-
tor at the trial, said:
"Why, l cannot for the life of me see
how that committee could return such
a verdict. They completely exonerate
Passmore and back up his charges
against the bishops. and others in the
church. This thing is not settled vet
by any means. The Colorado confer.
ence, which meets In Leadville the lat.
ter part Of next August, will take this
matter up. They cannot afford to have
the leaders of their church DETAINED
and maligned by a man whom 1 be-
lieve to be wholly irresponsible for
what he says.
"The verdict of the committee will
disrupt the Methodist Episcopal
church Of Colorado, and 1t will be some
time before the church will be able
to outlive the stain cast upon 1t by the
verdict his morning."