The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-27
CLOUD ON THE CONFERENCE.
CHARACTERS OF THREE MINIS
TIERS CHALLENGED.

Rev. John w. Heidi of Atlanta an'
Rev. Ellison II. Cook, Presiding Ell
der of the Dalton District, Accused
of Not Paying Their Debts-ReV. j
n. Gibson of Atlanta Accused o
Imprudcnt Conduct with Women
The Matter Referred to Committee
for Report.
Athens, Ga, Nov. 26.-This has been
day Of rather sensat ional developments al
the Methodist conference.
1t started off when Bishop Galloway in
his address 10 the class Of young minis
ters about to be ordained as deacons' said
that their characters had been passed on
by all the members of the conference and
thar it was The duty of those members
10 iealously guard those characters and
saw nothing that would injure their repu-
tatlons. Bishop Galloway declared that
gossip was the worst enemy the confer
ence 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 cir
culars concerning the condition of the
conference, have cause so much comment
arose on a question of privilege and read
statement in which he said that his OBJ
ject in sending out the circulars was to
bring about an investigation of rumors
and charges that were going the rounds
and not because he knew or believed them
to he true. He said he was a loyal minis
ter and lived a pure life, and what he did
was for the clearing up of rumors and
charges that have been made
The conference decided that all such
matters should take the regular course
and could be brought up when the TWEEN
tieth question was propounded by Bishop
Galloway.
When the call of the twentieth question
was started this afternoon it was soon
made manifest that bombs were to be
exploded in the conference. This ques-
ton refers to the character of the minis
tiers, and as each minister's name is call
ed, passing on his character can be stop
ped if charges are to be investigated or
preferred.
When the name of Rev. John w. Heidi
presiding elder of the South Atlantic dis
trict. was called, Rev. E. NJ. Stanton arose
and challenged his character.
When the name of Rev ellison r. Cook
presiding elder of the Dalton district was
reached, Rev. E. NJ. Stanton challenged
his chSrac ter.
Rev. c. c. Cary arose when the name of
Rev. J. T. Gibson pastor of Walker Street
Methodist church of Atlanta, was called
and challenged his character.
The name of Rev. Walker Lewis of At
lanta was called and Rev c. c. Cary arose
TO make some remarks, presumably about
the recent controversy between him and
DIR. Lewis over the letter of Mrs. FELTON,
in the outlook. Bishop Galloway would
not allow Mr.. Cary to proceed with any
statement unless he wished to arrest the
character of DR.. Lewis The character of
Dr. Lewis was passed without objection.
Committees were appointed to whom the
cases of those three prominent ministers
were referred. These committees are now in
session, but will not report until tomorrow,
or perhaps Monday. The ministers hold
ing up the character of these three preach
ers will not talk for publication as they
are to appear before the committees 1t
is learned, however, that the charges that
viii be investigated concerning Revs. Heidi
and Cook are that they will not pay their
debts and that the charge concerning Rev.
Gibson is that he has been imprudent with
women
The committees to whom have been re-
ferred these matters will investigate them
thoroughly. They are made up of the
very strongest men in the conference and
the results of their Investigations will be
awaited with interest
One of the oldest members of the con-
ference stated tonight that he had in
vestigated these charges to the very bot
tom and found nothing in them but idle
gossip. Nevertheless, they have been
made and the conference will settle them
in the usual way. If the committees find
there is nothing In them, that will be
the least of them. If they are found 10
be of sufficient weight to warrant investi-
vii b0
In the face of these specific cases. the
general charges of the Zimmerman circu-
lar and the contents of Mrs. Felton's let
ter fade away. 1t is almost certain that
the conference viii take no notice of
either of these matters.
The conference INDICATED the course of
Rev. Du Boise in not taking up his APP
pointment last year, only one member
casting a dissenting vote. The call of
the twentieth question has not vet been
completed and before it is through, there
may be other arrests of character.
In conference to-day Bishop Galloway
delivered a strong address to the following
class of young preachers who are to be
ordained deacons: ]. A. Burtz, r. C.
Cleckley, S. S. Cowan, j. o. A. Grogan. j.
w. Hunt c. c. Jarrett, e. W. Jones, II.
*. Kendall, Jr., J. G.. Logan, II. D. Pace,
J. L. Pattillo, A. NJ. Pierce. j. r. Robins,
i. w. Rogers and A. G. Shonkle.
rev J. II. Hammond, president of Yves
leyan Female College, addressed the con-
ference and succeeded in raising 50 500 for
that college. Delegates to the general
conference were selected as follows: W.
a. Gambler, w. P. Lovejoy w T. Glenn.
X. j. Bigham ]. d. Hammond, w. w.
Wadsworth, NJ J. Cofer Lay delegates:
= +. Jones, F. A. Quillian, F. H. Dozier.
H. M. Mcintosh and b. S. Wilingham.
NEGRO COOK NSSATLTED