The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-27
HAVE TENDER HEARTS
METHODIST MINISTER'S 10 NOT EN.
e THE REV. j.. II. BaRMELL.
Consider Ii UnseemIy TO Revoke the
License of the Crazy Preacher
Action OF the Conference.
to The Indianapolis Journal.

--
Special 10 The indianapolis Journal
kOKOMO. Ind. March 26.-There is con-
siderable smiling over the action of the
Methodist Conference to-day i'm its dubious
action on the case of the Rev. J. IA. Har-
well. the Cambridge City pastor. whose
forgeries and general crookedness came out
on him last winter. when he wens to Rich
mond and foated a quantity OF bad paper
and put the money in his pocket. There
Was no defense put in for the smirched
preacher, but the committee appointed to
try his case refused TO expel him on the
grounds that his friends had been able to
have him declared insane. The argument
was made that the conference would place
itself in a ridiculous light to expel a crazy
preacher. No one doubted Harwell's guilt,
and If there had ever been any doubt il
was all removed when Presiding Elder Ma
hin. of the Richmond district. made his re-
port on the criminal conduct of the Cam
bridge City minister. not only recently. but
for years past. The report showed that his
congregation had long been aware that he
was not living as a minister should. lie
never lived within his means and according
to the Rev. MIR. Mahin's report began a
system of forgeries to raise money when
he found himself i'm debt. 1t was also
shown that he had swindied the Methodist
Book Concern at Chicago several years ago
by putting I'm his pocket money which
should have been turned i'm. lie was let
90 at that time on his promise to make
good his shortage. but never kept his word.
Rev. Mr.. Mahin reported that Harwell had
handed i'm his resignation, but the confer
ence refused To accept this, because he
was afterwards said TO be insane. and the
presiding elder was instructed to hold the
resignation until the minister should re-
gain his mind The matter was left there.
1t is reported that this will settle the case
and that Harwell will never be reinstated,
even IL he should acknowledge at some flu
ture time that he is sane. There was
no evidence TO show that he was crazy
when he his forgeries and swim
died the people. Harwell has gone back to
Georgia. where he came from when he en-
tered the Indiana ministry two years ago.
and IL Is expected that he will never more
be heard Of in these parts. 1t is not known
whether he will attempt TO re-enter tho
ministry in Georgia, The conference
adopted the action of the committee recon-
snending that the license and credentials be
held by the presiding elder, and this is said
to be a charitable method of expulsion.
The conference also passed on the reports
of the special committees investigating the
charges against Rev. Walters. of Point
SMITH sSaE9l' of fS MisdiebnTy. h had a e aeS; ca al: The Ne
conference found him guilty of unbecoming
conduct and indiscretions. but refused To
his wife. 1t is Understood that Mrs. Smith
will now go into the courts with the case.
trict. reported on thirty-one charges. with
thirty-six local preachers. membership or
clio. and salaries paid. 26.377. and beneyo-
lences. 81. s44; seventy-nine churches. TWEEN
ty-two parsonages. cash raised for debt,
improvements and new buildings. S60.Sl; ac-
cessions, 9l3.
Elder Hudson, of the Goshen district.
reported s25 accessions. and his pastors
made 1899 visits.
Elder Marble. for the Kokomo district.
reported thirty-two pastoral charges; Sls.-
l2l paid on church Indebtedness; present In
debtedness. $S5.S91: accessions, LIB
Elder Herrick, of the Muncie district. re-
ported thirty-six charges, six new churches
built and many old debts paid on; access
sions, LOO.
Elder Mahin. of the Richmond district.
reported s.. 500 raised for improvements:
sixty-one Sunday schools, with 1000 attend
ants: thirty-eight senior and twenty-six
$500: church accessions, 90.
Elder LewelIer. of the Warsaw district.
gave In f,061 accesSions; members, S.5lg:
Sunday-school attendance, $500: senior
leagues. thirty-nine; Juniors. twenty-one;
raised for pastoral support, $22.423.
At a meeting of the Preachers Aid So
ciety the following officers were elected:
President. M Mahhin; New Castle; vice
L.. Wade. Button: treasurer. James
Meeks, Muncie: managers, W. III. Phillips.
Z. r. Hasty. G., w. II. Kemper. I'll. Rhodes.
Kokomo is being congratulated over her
thorough manner OF caring for the visitors.
This is SAID 10 ne the DTft time IN the MS
tory of the conference that a church has
been found large enough for all conference
purposes. The new Grace Church has
twenty apartments. These are used by
committees and auxiliary societies. For
general services all the rooms are thrown
together. Heretofore all committee and
side-line work was done i'm "A separate
building. The Grace auditorium seats 1000
people.
Devotional services this morning were led
by Rev. j. E.. carp. Conference business
followed until 10. at which hour the Foreign
Missionary Society was addressed by Miss
Harriet l.. Kemper. This afternoon evangel-
istic services Were conducted by Rev. e Il.
Gregg. Tonight was educational anniver-
sary of DE Pauw University. Addresses
We're made by Rev. NJ. A Farr. Greencas-
tie; Rev. w. II, Wise, Lafayette; Hon. r. 3.
Tenant, Terre Haute; Miss Sidelia Starr.
Greencastle: solo by Miss Alison Marion
Fernie. of Greencastle.
The following board OF examiners was ap-
pointed by the bishop: G. II. Brown. NJ. j.
Major, j. w. Cain. j. G. White, c. King.
r. NJ. stone. NJ. A. Harlan. +. C. Browne.
+. T. Albertson. G.. y. Eldridge, a. ). Pres
ton, A. S. Wootsen. S. Light. Il. A. Kemp.
j. L. carp. c. w. Parr, T.. l.. Semens. B. s.
Advanced TO fourth Year,. l.. Semens.
| s. r. Spritz. W. 4. A. White, j. A. Sum-
| walt. l.. G. zimmerman. $. H. Stokes Mar
| Tin Cause, Il. l. Major. c. l.. Steere. Fred
l.. Houghttry. julius l.. Hutchins. @. w.
Cooking. w. ID. Smith tlocatedl. W. Il.
Freeland. @. III. Myers. III. III. Comptore.
NJ. G. Pittinger. Thomas Johnson, j. NJ. II.
Reeves. A. l.. Weaver. Willard Pell and W.
The ninth question was taken rp and the
following brethren have completed the
studies in the fourth year and were adj
vaneed to elders: Thomas a. Graham. w.
| c. Z. Parsons. Grant Teeters. c. W. Smith.
! Henry Lucy and ID. 8. Jones