The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1899-03-17

overdose and that it affected him to
degree that was noticeable.
Another charge of drinking was to be
that a Topeka club member found DR..
Embree on the street at night in an An
toXicated condition and took him home
in a hack. The witness who was ex-
pected to prove this charge refused to
appear before the committee or to
swear to an affidavit.
Another charge, and one which has
come to the attention of those interest
ed in the defense since arriving here, is
that DR.. Embree conducted the last
prayer meeting before the Crith trial
and that he was intoxicated. A woman
who is a class leader in the church IS
the principal witness to prove this
/ charge. CA Mrs. Safford). If this testi-
mony is given several officials and
members of the church who attended
the prayer meeting in question will be
called upon by the defense to appear
before the committee and give teSti-
mony to the contrary These witnesses
have all signified their willingness to
attend. DR.. Thorpe gave testimony
damaging to DR.. Embree on both
charges during the session yesterday
Many friends of DR.. Embree, who are
members of the conference, were anx-
ious that he retire from the ministry
under charges and while it is generally
understood that he will retire from the
ministry he refused to do so under
! charges.
The criticism of Rev. A. ]. Coe by
| members of the conference, for making
7
] bree is growing. 1t is said that his ill
feeling toward ministers holding higher
| positions in the Topeka district goes
| back to the time when DR.. McChesney
was pastor of the First church. 1t is
! said that Rev. Mr.. Coe was bitter
toward him and that since then it was
I expected at one time that he would
bring charges against Presiding Elder
Madison in hopes of having him de-
! posed
| 1t is also claimed by friends of DR..
| - 1nf fol
| in the taking of dispositions, which was
done under his supervision, and that at
times when DR.. Embree was not present
he was not just in his rulings. Friends
of DR.. Embree protested and demanded
3 that the taking of dispositions be done
! in an impartial manner.
| Dr.. Bright, who with Rev. COe is act
! ing for the church, shows no bitterness
/ toward the defendant and is acting at
the request of the conference.
The story about the Crisman will is
| known by a large majority of the mem
| bers of the conference and was known
! by them before the conference con-
! vened. Many believe that there is con-
/ siderable interest being taken by mem
bers of the conference on this question
! and that a. many hope to have the en-
dowment of Baker university increased
and if possible to have the will changed
in favor of that institution, and that
| this will work against DR.. Embree.
! Members of the conference who are TAX
} ing no part in the controversy say,
however, that this Will not influence the
committee in any way, and that in their
opinion if the apparent fight between
J the two pastors is continued it will re-
suit in a change in the will, leaving the
church out altogether. This is a. point
made by the friends of DR.. En- bree that
to have the church left out and an en-
tireIy new will made is just what start
/ ed the present fight against Embree in
order that others might be benefited by
the changing of the will
/ The friends of DR.. En- bree claim that
/ the rulings of the committee trying the
case are unjust to the defense and that
/ the taking of dispositions was irregular.
Much of the evidence heard is hearSay
! only, and that notice was served that
/ dispositions would be taken at a certain
/ place and that afterward many of the
dispositions were taken at the residences
/ of those giving the testimony and that
/ DIR. Embree was not present. These two
| points, it is claimed, would cause much
! of the testimony to be thrown out if the
! case is appealed to the judicial confer
| ence, and that the verdict of the present
| committee, if the verdict should be
| guilty, would be reversed.
The testimony of DR.. Thorpe took up
! the entire time of the session yesterday
| afternoon. At last nights session Lee
| Sidweu and DR.. Warren P. Brockett tes
! titled regarding DR.. Embree being intox-
! icated at the wedding of Dr. Brockett.
! This closed the testimony for the prose-
| cution and at this afternoons session
| the evidence for the defense was COM
! menced.
A committee from the FIRST churcn,
| composed of Harrison Clarkson, Mrs G.
! A. Huron and John V. Abrahams arrived
here last night and appeared before the
special cabinet of the presiding elders to
| protest against the return of DR.. Thorpe
| to the First church for the ensuing year
A petition protesting against the return
| of DR.. Thorpe and signed by majority
| of the wardens, stewards and trustees of
| the First church was presented by them
| to the cabinet and their efforts will be to
have new man sent to the charge for the
coming year
| A prominent elder and member of the
cabinet said today; II think nj it very IN IN
welfare. of the church is above the ambi-
| tons of any man, and to put a stop to
| the trouble man. who will keep his
| hands out of this trouble and attend to
the church affairs should be sent there
| Petitions testifying to the unbelief in
| the charges brought against DR.. Embree
| and referring to the standing he holds in
/ the community signed by residents of
| Topeka have been received, but cannot