The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1898-10-04
But He Did Register
a False Name.
NO W0MAN'S NAME APPEARS
SENSATIONAL SCENE AS THE
CONFERENCE CLOSES.
The Accused Minister Denounces
The Men Who Rob Him of
the Right to
Preach.
Oakland Office San Francisco Call.

Oakland L
sos Broadway, Oct. 5.
DIR. Briggs, of the NJ. Z. Church South,
has been acquitted of immortality by the
ecclesiastical jury which spent four days
in trying his case. But he has been 10
Gated" by the conference, which action
will prevent him from accepting pas
torate in any other conference.
This morning when the ministers met
Bishop Hendrix after some formal mat
ters stated that he would announce the
verdict in the case of Rev. DR.. Briggs
He prefaced the verdict with a few re-
marks on the manner in which such trials
are conducted. He stated that more Sc
crecy had been observed in governing this
trial than in any other Of which he knew
The verdict was short. It was to the
effect that DR.. Briggs was not guilty OF
immortality, but he was guilty of falsity-
ing, in that he had registered at the Russ
House on March %, and on another occa-
sion under an assumed name. The Bishop
explained that the vote was not published
because it had been kept secret so that
the record does not show who voted Tor
or against Or. Briggs. The verdict had
the approval of eight jurors.
L desire to say in explanation, SAID
the Bishop, that l presided over TINS
trial of DR.. Briggs in the interests of pub
lie decency. l wanted the trial TO pc
strictly private, and II was private. In
the verdict there appears the name OF no
woman. In presenting the verdict have
adopted a rather unusual form. The bal
lot OF the jury is kept inviolate. A record
OF the number of votes for or against any
issue and the ceTtihcation of all the jury
that these figures are correct being the
only fact that Will be given TO the pub
lie. In the summary two votes would
have entirely changed the final verdict.
No expert testimony was introduced
during the trial, which consumed four
days On Friday we worked until mid
night and all day Saturday. The time
consumed was less lengthy than was de-
frQh q ma or txTaG -ar~frr
and important and of an unusually grave
nature.
During the trial the charges of con
spiracy against members of the confer
ence were not sustained, and l wish to
commend counsel on both sides for their
ability shown during this trial"
Rev. DR.: Lamar arose and was recog-
nized by the Bishop, although there were
many wishing to speak. He said the
case because witnesses could not be con-
trolied and much of the testimony could
not be completed while the postoffice Off
Gals declined TO attend the trial.
The question then arose as to whether
DR.. Briggs should be located. Some min
lister stated that the acquitted pastors
character could not be passed upon, while
others differed in their views. Rev. Mr..
Carpenter, counsel for DR.. Briggs, said
that they should stand by the decision Of
the jury, and not go further -.,-
ment Of the conference. Bishop Hendrix
stated that as DR.. Briggs was present he
should come forward and be heard. The
acquitted minister lett MS VIE and ad-
vanced toward the pulpit. With his eyes
fixed upon the Bishop he said. with hand
appraised: Brethren, you cannot locate
me- Your jury has found me innocent of
immortality, and you cannot locate me
without degrading yourselves and your
ministers If 1 am not acceptable either
am not acceptable, for no charges of I'M
acceptability have been entered against
me. l am being antagoniZed from per-
sonal feeling. It was a fair jury and an
impartial trial, and now you try to locate
me secularly. 1t is infamous, scurrilous,
an outrage. It viii contaminate the pure
atmosphere OF thousands of homes
throughout this land. Come right out and
admit that it is on personal grounds. If
YOU do not state the true facts you are
hypocrites and false pretenders. II you
locate me you must locate Lamar. What
who has allied himself with the Examiner
"a scurrtlous, degraded sheet.
sion was out of order, and vote was
called regarding the. locating of DR..
Briggs. He was Inundated by Just one
vote, the conference standing thirty to
thirty-two against him.
The conference will be held next year at
A discussion was had upon the subject
of edftorship of the Pacific Methodist Adj
vocate. Some of the members did not
agree with the policy of the editor, h Z.
The following are the new appoint
ments:
San Francisco Distriot-c. 3. Reddick, pre-
san Jose. ]. z. squires; Oakland, w. P. An
drews; Alameda John Harmon; Hollister, l.
T. Belts; Santa Rosa, j. A. BatcheIor; STOCK
ton. II c. Meredith; Walnut Grove, A y
Paul; Gait. p. N. Blankenship; Milton. H
w. Curran; Linden, A Odom; Gilroy ]. B;
Needham; Salinas J. Healey; San Lucas and
Bradley, D. Braughn; San Benitos ); = zen
dergragt; Mountain View, W. A. Boohn; Peta-
luna. r. Z. Allen; Healdsburg, r T. rage;
Cloyerdale, c. c. Black; Ukiah, w. Z. Coffin;
z. Clark; Lalzeport w M. Acton Upper Lake
c. 7. Clark editor Pacific Methodist Adyo-
cate, r. Y. Wilson; conference secretary Oh
missions, W. P. Andrews.
San joaquin District-J. ]. Keeney, presiding
elder. Fresno, J: r. Sawyer; Fresno circuit,
=. H. Greenei Big Dry Creek. +. NJ. Station;
Selma, p. T. Ramsay: Sanger. J. f. Roberts:
Dinuba and Orosa, J. Hedgpeth; Visalia. j. w.
Ray; Woodytne and Exeter, W. H. Cooper;
Kingsburg, E J. Page; Bakersfield, c. Z. At
J. NJ. Brown; MADEIRA, W. A. Finley; MERGED,
c. E. W. Smith; lie Grand r. A Sawrie; Mo-
desto. J. G. Simmons; Mariposa. H. Neate;
Horntos and Cathey, J. d. F. Houck; Sonora,
A F: W. Walters; Los Banos, w. e. Phillips:
and Waterford, c.. II. Frazer.
Colusa District. Emery, presiding elder.
Colusa. Claude NJ. Davenport; Chico, L. A
Greene; Willows. w. D. Taylor; Red Bluff L.
G. Renfro; Princeton, J. NJ. Pratt; Yuba city
-: Wheatland, z. J. Needham; Lincoln, T.
Buie; Sacramento, W. Z. Vaughan; Winters
and Davis J. c. Hyden; Elmira and Dixon
Il Fl. McWhorter; Woodland G. o. Steele;
knights Landging William Armstrong; Max
we'll O. i. Russell; Gridley, -; Suffer and
Grace, G. ". Archer; Arbuckle, l.. G. Smith;
Sulphur Greek, S. r. Wilson; Orland. S. T.
Reeve: Millyilie and Ono. -; Big Valley
-; Anderson, J. NJ. Parker; Rockville. r.
G. Patterson.