The age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1897-1902, 1899-05-18
At THE ANNISTON COUNCIL
According to Story Action Was
Taken There.
EUFAULA CHURCH MADE CHARGES
1t Was Claimed That He Had Been
Seen to Fall to the Ground from
Intoxication at Eufaula
Railway Station
EUFAULA CHURCH MADE CHARGES

IL - DSlH6 tdihtO dlhOH5 iiiShiDSlo VI liiO
church that the Rt. Rev. H. NJ Jackson,
d. D.. assistant Episcopal bishop of the
diocese of Alabama, has been requested
by his clergy to resign his sacred office.
1t is alleged that this unprecedented ac-
tion by the priesthood of the Episcopal
church is based upon we'll established
charges of excessive indulgence in alco-
holic stimuants.
The formal charges, it is said, were pre-
ferred against Bishop Jackson to the re-
cent Episcopal council at Admission by st.
James church. Eufaula which is said to
have attended the council almost in a body
to urge that action be taken.
According to the story, instances of over
Indulgence on the part of the bishop were
specified and proof offered.
It was stated with the sanctity of re-
ligion that he had been tipsy in public, and
had INDUCED in practices of grave un-
seemliness in private. Specifically, he had
of intoxication at railway station in
Eufaula.
Had Become Public Scandal
The allegation is that the bishops unfor-
tunate habits had become so much a pub
lie scandal that st. James church, Eu-
faula, had felt impelled to lay the matter
before the council.
The charges were so exceedingly grave,
md tho situa tiop which had therefrom
arisen so absolutely unprecedented that
the venerable and universally beloved, the
Rt. Rev. R. H. Wilmer, bishop of Ala
bama. who is now 80 years old, and whom
Bishop Jackson was to have succeeded in
the full bishopric of the diocese was sum-
moned from his home in Mobile to Annis-
ton to consult with and advise the council.
The result of it all was, the clergy are
said to have unanimously resolved to ask
Bishop Jackson to resign, and that ex-
traordinary request was preferred without
unnecessary delay. 1t is understood that
Bishop Jackson was present at the con-
ference.
The unfortunate bishop is said to be now
In Richmond for the purpose of consulting
his father, who is man of the highest
social station and of large wealth. Thus
the bishop has the question of his own
resignation under adyisement
The exalted station of Bishop Jackson,
his sacred calling. the powerful influence
of his church, lend to these charges against
his character the elements of profound
sensation and deepest emotion.
was Chosen Ten Years Ago
The Right Rev. H. M. Jackson was
chosen assistant Episcopal bishop of the
diocese of Alabama about ten years ago.
The moving cause of the election of an
assistant bishop was the ordaining ten
years ago of Bishop Wilmer. even then a
very old man; and DIR. Jackson was chosen
on account of his learning, piety and devo-
ton. He was then and is now man of
wealth.
He was a resident of Virginia when
elected. On coming to Alabama he deter
mined to make Montgomery his home, al
though strong efforts were made to induce
him to take up his abode in Birmingham.
He purchased the splendid residence of Ig
natius Pollak, the noted Montgomery mer-
chant, and occupied for a few years, when
he retransferred it to Mr.. Pollak. About
that time he purchased Roseland, the ro-
mantle ancestral home of the Toney
family. five miles from Eufaula; he having
married Miss Cochrane, a granddaughter
of the late Mrs. Washington Toney
For more than sixty years Roseland had
been under the patrician Toneys, the seat
of a splendid hospitality, and Bishop and
Mrs. Jackson have not permitted its pres
tige in that particular to suffer.
Health srowing Bad
Several years ago complaint began to bo
made that Bishop Jackson was negiecting
his parishes; and this called forth tho
statement that his health was very unsat-
isfactory. The years passed, and the
bishop did not seem to grow stronger, and
his parishes remained neglected, so 1t Is
said. Finally be became unpopular, and
that ended in his being largely forgotten
by the lay members of the church. 1t was
alleged in Montgomery that for weeks at
time he was not eoen down Loa;n; and the