Peninsula enterprise. [volume] (Accomac, Va.) 1881-1965, 1895-11-23
Virginia Methodlsts.

RICHMOND, VA, Nov. 20.--The one
hundred and thirteenth annual ses
sion of the Virginia Conference OF
! the Methodist Episcopal Church
South, adjourned at o'clock this
afternoon, ending one of the most
| notable gatherings of this body in
many years past.
The first business of conference
this morning, after the reading oil
minutes of last nights session, was
hearing the report of the committee
charged with the trial of Rev. DR.
George w. Carter. The accused was
charged with marrying, in April last
while having wife living, from
whom he had never been divorced
| for scriptural reason Of inhdelity.
DR.. Sledd, chairman of the commit
tee, arose and briefly stated the case
and elaboration with which the
trial had been conducted, and called
for the report of the secretary, which
was as follows:
1.-The committee of nine appointed
to try the case of George w. Garter
present the following verdict:
"First-That the specification is
sustained by the evidence.
"Second-That the specification
does not sustain the charge OF i'm
morality" 49,,
On motion of Rev. R. It. Wilson,
DR.. Carter. at his own request, was
granted location. This ends Dr..
Carriers case, which is one of the
most remarkable of its kind which
the Virginia Conference has ever
been called upon to consider. The
eventful life which DR.. Carter led,
his brilliancy as pulpit orator, and
the peculiar ecclesiastical questions
involved in his case made it one of
the most interesting as well as one Of
the most notable known to the oldest
members of this conference. A num-
Der Of DIR. Carriers friends opposed
his retirement from the ministry.
They argued that the action OF the
committee on trial was final and the
matter could not be carried further
But DR.. Carter, it is believed, pre-
ferred that after being fully vindica-
ted by the committees report to pur-
sue the course he has.
The committee in the case of Rev.
J. f. Griffith sent in a report which
set forth the belief of committee, af-
ter careful and prayerful considera
ton, that DR.. Griffith was guilty of
imprudent conduct as charged. But
the committee did not believe the
brother intended to defraud any one
in any of the financial transactions
investigated, and it then recommend
ed that his character be passed, with
a censure upon his conduct, which
was done by the conference.
A session of the Methodist Con-
ference was held Tuesday night, and
reports were submitted giving the
following statistics:
Number of local preachers. 13S
Number of white members. ..,.S4, 235
Number of colored mem bers. 81
This is really gain of 1000 mem
bers, though an apparent loss of 2,
391. because of Withdrawals to North
Carolina.
Number of infants baptized, 1,I43;
adults, 5000.
Number of Epworth Leagues, IS;
members, 3,649.
Number of Sunday-school, 1888; off
GERS and teachers, S,412; scholars,
SO, $40.
Number of societies and churches
and number and value of church
edifices:
Societies, "A; churches, 73O; value
of church edifces, 81, 500, 319.45
Number of pastoral charges and
number and value of parsonages:
Pastoral charges, 2O9; parsonages,
1913; value of parsonages, $24O,S15.
Number of district parsonages and
value of same: Parsonages, z; value,
$4,000.
Amount raised for all purposes,
S419, 751.0S.
This total amount shows decrease
over the last conference year, due to
decrease of members.
The total amount raised this year
for foreign missi ons was SIG, 1896 -;
domestic missions, $9,70S.5S.