The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1897-11-27
THOSE SENSATIONAL CHARGES.
Which Were Made to the North Geor-
gia Methodist Conference.

Sia Methodist Conference.
Savannah Ga, Nov 26.-Edltor Morning
News: AS Methodist, jealous Of the hon
or and reputation of his church, I read,
with regret, a sensational telegram in
your issue of the oath inst, from Athens,
which was calculated to suggest that a
number of the presiding elders of the
North Georgia conference were under sus-
picion of gross immortality. Your editorial
notice in yesterdays paper was ell right,
and merits the appreciation of Methodists.
Permit me an opportunity to state the
facts on which this telegram is based.
1 have before me full statement of the
matter, as published in the Atlanta Jour-
nal. This gives what purports TO be a
complete statement of what different peo-
pie have written or said to the preacher
who brings the charges to the attention of
the conference. 1t appears that only one
presiding elder is. suspected of immoral
ity, in the sense of a violation of the law
of virtue and chastity, and that against a
few Others the complaint is made that
they are not prompt in the payment of
their debts Under the law of the church.
any conduct which is contrary to con-
science, or the divine law, or is dishonest,
is classed under the general charge of I'M
morality. One of the rules of
the church insists, as 1t ought, upon hon
esty in money matters, and the Methodist,
be he a preacher or layman is subject to
be disciplined and to expulsion from the
church if che borrows without a proba-
bility of paying, or takes up goods without
a probability of paying for the same" If
it we're proven upon him that he failed to
pay a debt that he was able to pay, or
xuif Nf
ability to liquidate it, he could be tried
and expelled for an immortality. A full ac-
count of the matter indicates that the
preachers who are charged with careless
ness in this respect can probably excuse
their conduct and thus save their charac-
ters and regulations. A perfectly honest
man, preacher or layman, may owe money
which he is really unable to pay.
1t seems also that Mr.. Zimmerman and
other preachers In the conference COM
plain of favoritism on the part of the
bishop and bis advisers, the presiding eld-
ers, in the distribution of appointments,
but such complaints are, unfortunately,
to be expected, no matter how just and
right the decisions of the bishop may be.
There are necessarily a large number Of
hard appointments and a comparatively
few which would be regarded, In the judg-
ment of the world. as desirable, and &C.
easionally, we find a Methodist preacher
who Is disloyal enough to complain,
through the newspapers, of the authori-
ties. Such preachers ought to be turned
out summary. l am glad TO believe that,
with a few exceptions, the itinerant Meth
odist preachers are consecrated, faithful,
loyal and even heroic men. One or more
disgruntled members of this goodly com.
pany can do a great deal of harm. The
manly and right course with such men
Is to resign, but some of them seem to
prefer to remain in the church, to which
they have avowed allegiance. and do what
they can to disturb its peace and har-
mony, because, forsooth they imagine
that their great talents are not appreci-
ated. Samuel 3. Adams.