The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1898-03-26
REV. DRIVER ACQUITTED
THE MARION MINISTER EXONERA-
TED BY THE NJ. e. CONFERENCE.
Investigation Showed the Preacher
Had Smoked n Cigar and Taken
Drink on a Prescription.
Special to the indianapolis Journal.

! sensational case of the Rev. Mr.. Driver, Oh
| Marion, was closed at noon to-day, when
| the North Indiana Conference committee
\exonerated the preacher This verdict was
| generally expected. as the Indiana confer
| ences have been very conservative in their
| investigation when brother ministers have
| been accused. The Rev. Drivers friends
insist that in this case a good man has
been spitefully slandered and prosecuted
| by his enemies at Marion and at other
| places where he had previously preached
and where witnesses were found who were
| willing to testify against him. The serious
| charge of immortality was not sustained,
| but the preacher acknowledged his guilt on
| some minor 'indiscretions' and took his
| forgiveness by the conference in a humble
! spirit. The trial extended over two days
and was desperately fought by those OPP
posed to the Marion preacher. Witnesses
| were not only brought here from Marion
| but from Fort Wayne, Pana, ILL.,, and other
points where the preacher has been in
charge, to show up his former record. Four
witnesses We're brought from Ma
rion last night 10 testify against him.
The main charge, that he had been init
mate with woman in his congregation,
was not sustained by the Investigating COM
mittee after it heard the evidence The
of which the committee accused him. The
indiscretion" was smoking a cigar with a
friend on one occasion and taking a drink
OF whisky, which was prescribed by ply
stefan for an ailment. The committee re-
ported to the conference just before the
noon hour that there was not sufficient evil
dence to warrant q trial" but as he had
admitted 'impropreties" and promised to
be more careful and discreet in the future
on motion the accused was exonerated, his
and hn
the ministry. 1t was evident from the
unanimity of the vote of the conference
that DIR. Driver is held in high esteem by
his brethren. Mrs. Driver has been with
her husband here ever since his arrival
1t is rumored that Driver will bring damage
suits against the Marion newspapers which
have DETAINED his character. One of the
newspapers, which has been the most per-
sistent in following up its charges against
him, had representative here during the
conference. He stated that although DIR.
Driver was acquitted by the conference he
would yet be handled by the newspaper as
II he were the most dangerous man who
ever lived in a community" 1t is given out
that the, Marion paper is attempting to
Tonight was observed as the educational
anniversary Of De Paw University. Ad-
dresses were made by President H. A. Goblin
and Chancellor w. H. Hickman, of the
university.
The third day of the M. E. Conference
had the largest attendance of the session.
Several hundred visitors mostly women
from surrounding cities, took advantage of
the beautiful weather to visit the sessions.
me church was decorated with old gold
and national bunting in honor of De Paw
University, which was given the right of
way on the programme tonight The de-
votional services were conducted by Rev.
M. f. Stright. Bishop Fowler then opened
the business session. The following persons
| advanced to the second year studies: John
| 7. Hammond, Lester c. Poor, John Bling
ham, j. Q. Statesman, Ray J., Wade, Cal
| vim j. Graves w. L. Lewis, H. M. Strong,
| Thomas P. Schaeffer L. P. Pheifer, A. A.
| Stockton, A. l.. Brandenburg and w: d.
Trout. J. E. Sweitzer was continued on
| trial and c. E. Hollopeter reported de-
| ceased.
The preachers on the supernumerary list
are A. L. Forkner, w. B. Randolph, S. c.
Miller ]. w. Lewellen, D. D. Powell, ]. V.
Skinner &. 3. n; Rogers ": / Taylor i.
Cary and P. S. Cook.
J., H. Hartwell; of he Richmond district.
withdrew from the conference.
The superannuated preachers were an
nounced as. follows: r., l.. Brewington,
Thomas stabler, N. f. Smith. NJ. Mahan,
J. P. Nash, I, Cooper ]. Johnson son" de
ceased, N, Gellam, y. D. Peddycord, W.
charch j. G W Tdwr y n NJ MSr Dc M
Wyo00lport, T 6; Neal, ": F. curtis; ] A, y.
| lips, A. Greenman, w. M Van Slyke, 4. G.
McCaster, r Loudly, E. M; Baker, J. H.
ecMWaShia fe g. P Lssy w M b. Mff eag1g
S. McCarty, F. A Robinson. William Peck,
| A. L. Lamport, j. L. Ramsey, y. c. Wool
| pert, T. H. c. Beal and w. o. Pierce.
Bishop Fowler here stated the conference
would be pleased to hear from the pioneers,
referring to the above list. He said: ut
will not be long until we will be where
| they are if we have good luck"
A class composed of thirteen was or
| dained deacons by the bishop. They were
H Hoover. Everett M. Foster G. H. Kemp
A. 7. Duryee, Edward Trippeer, David
w Shoemaker, Earl Naftzger, Ivan r.
Goodwin. J. o. Campbell and Frank N.
| Sandifer.
The committee on education met this af-
ternoon with Rev. Lamport as the chair
| man.
| conference to name committee to oper-
| ate with the other conferences of the State
| relative to establishing a deaconesses home
| at Indianapolis. The pastors at NObleSville,
Kokomo and Muncie were named as the
Routine business took up most of the NJ.
E. Conference session Wednesday and
| Thursday. The presiding elders of
/ each district then made their yearly re-
ports. The elders and districts are as fol-
| lows: Fort Wayne, Elder f. Il. Simpson;
Warsaw. Elder ]. A. Lewellen; Goshen
Herrick; Kokomo, Elder NJ. S. Marble.
Rev. Milton Mahn informed the confer
wor Of the f Ala
| On motion of Elder Mahin, Revs l.. Guild,
]. H. Jackson and Hays were appointed
a committee to audit the accounts of the
| treasurer.
The resolution by Elder Mahn asking
|
time for holding the annual conference the
| first week in April instead of the last week
| in March, was adopted by a vote of "a
| to II.
The following ministers were advanced to
| the elders order: r. A. Semans, S. F. Spitz,
| w. T. A. White ]. "A Sumivalt, Levi c.
! Zimmerman, S. H. Stokes, Martin Cause,
| Ernest j. Magoi Frederick l.. Houghtby
| julius l.. Hutchens George Cooking, Will
| liam B. Freedland, H. H. Compton, Thomas
| J. Johnson Willard Pell, w. p. Heron,
| Melville G. Pittenger, Thomas A. Graham
| Ralph c. Jones, Nathaniel p. Barton, Syl-
| vester Billheimer and Grant Teeters. Those
| who were to continue in their studies were:
Lincoln Steere and Thomas Graham. l.
| SeamonS was permitted to continue his
| studies in the Boston School of Theology
| Grant Teeters was advanced to elders
| order and left without an appointment to
| continue studies. Solomon S. Harter was
passed in his studies, as he was ordained
| deacon last year. he could not be advanced
| at this time. He was continued in his
| studies with L. j. Speckeine. Charles H.
| Nets was advanced to the third year Will
| liam A. Crest continued and advanced
| to the third year. Fl. c. Heston> was passed
| in the studies of the fourth year.
| The following We're appointed to NOM
mate officers for the Preachers Aid So
| ciety: NJ. Mahin, president; G.. II. Hill. vice
| Meeks, treasurer; N H. Phillip, f. f.
| Hasty G. w. II. Kemper, II. Roads and
| c. NJ Kimbrough, managers.
| The Boston University men banqueted at
| Hotel Ingram Thursday night The guests
| of honor were Bishop Fowler. Professor
Marcus d. Buell., of the Boston University
! Rev. c. +. Line. of the Minnesota Confer