The Chipley banner. (Chipley, Washington County, Fla.) 1893-1943, 1897-12-04
PREACHERS ON THE RACK.
SENSATION SPRUNG IN THE NORTH
GEORGIA CONFERENCE.
CHARACTER" QUESTION The CAUSE
Three Prominent Ministers "Held Up"
Committee VIII Make . Full
Investigation,

Friday was q day of rather sensa-
tional developments at the North
Georgia Methodist conference, in ses-
sion at Athens.
1t started off when Bishop Gala
way, in his address to the class of
young ministers about to be ordained
as deacons. said that their characters
had been passed on by all the men,
bers of the conference, and that it was
the duty of those members TO jealousy
guard those characters, and say moth
ing that would injure their reputa-
tons. Bishop Galloway declared that
gossip was the worst enemy the con-
ference had. This was taken to mean
a reference to the gossip going the
rounds about certain members of the
conference.
Then Rev. J. A. Zimmerman, whose
circulars concerning the condition of
the conference have caused so much
comment, arose on question OF
privilege, and read q statement in
which he said that his object in send
ing out the circulars was to bring
about the investigation OF rumors and
charges that were going the rounds,
and not because he knew or believed
them to be true.
The conference decided that all such
matters should take the regular
course and could be brought up when
the twentieth question was PROFOUND
ed by Bishop Galloway.
When the call of the twentieth ques-
ton was started at the afternoon ses-
sion, it was soon made manifest that
bombs were to be exploded in the con-
ference. This question refers to the
character Of the ministers, and as
each minister's name is called his
character can be arrested il charges
are to be investigated or protected.
When the name of Rev. j John w. Heidi
presiding elder of South Atlanta dis
trict, was called, Rev. E. NJ. Stanton arose
and arrested his character. When the
name of Rev. Ellison E. Cook, presid-
ing elder of the Dalton district, was
reached, Rev. E. M. Stanton arrested
his character. Rev. G. @. Carey arose
when the name Of Rev. J. T. Gibson,
pastor of Walker street Methodist
church of Atlanta was called and ar
rested his character.
The name of Rev. Walker Lewis OF
Atlanta was called, and Rev. @. @.
Cary arose to make some remarks pre-
sumably about the recent controversy
between him and DIR. Lewis over the
published letter Of Mrs. FELTON,.
Bishop Galloway would not allow
Mr.. Cary to proceed with any state
ment unless he wished to arrest the
character OF DR.. Lewis. The charac-
ter of DR.. Lewis was passed without
objection.
Committees were appointed, to whom
the cases of these three prominent
ministers were referred. The ministers
holding up the character Of these three
preachers would not talk for publica-
ton, as they are to appear before the
committees.
What the Charges Are.
II is learned, however, that the
charges that will be investigated con-
corning Revs. Heidi and Cook are that
they will not pay their debts, and that
the charge concerning Rev. Mr.. Glib.
son is that he has been imprudent
with women. The committees to
whom have been referred these charges
will investigate them thoroughly.
They are made up Of the very strong
est men in the conference and the re-
suits of investigation will be watched
with interest.
Nothing in the Charges.
One of the oldest members OF the
conference stated that he had investi-
gated these charges TO the very bottom
and found nothing in them but idle
gossip. Nevertheless they have been
made and the conference will settle
them in the usual way. II the COM
mittees find there is nothing in them
that will be the last Of them. II they
are found to be Of sufficient weight 70
warrant investigation by the confer
.noo Il will he made,