The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1900-04-07
THE QUARTERLY CONFER
ENCE ACTS.
Expels "The Irish Evangelist
from the Nj. E. Church, South
The History of Bad man
who Wore the Cloak of
Religion.
Special to The Observer.

Quarterly Conference of West
Market Street Methodist church
met last night to consider charges
of immortality and abandonment
recently brought against Evan.
gelist j w Lee, II member of the
congregation The evidence was
considered conclusive and the &C
cused was depused rom the min
lstry and expelled from the
Methodist Episcopal Church,
South.
The evidence established the
fact that since leaving Greensboro,
after the whitewashing given him
10y this same Quarterly Confer.
ence last fall, Mr. Lee has been
In Washington City, living un-
lawfully with the young woman
whose name was mentioned in
connection with the former char
ges. At lhe trial last night the
principal evidence introduced
we're two atfidavits from d ifferent
land-Iadies in Washington fror,
whom Lee rented rooms. One OF
the affidavits stated taat the rooms
were rented Lee with the belief and
under standing that.he was the uncle
and guardian Of the yonng WON an.
They had not occupied the rooms
long, however, before their illegal
relations were discovered, and il
Is stated that Lee made insulting
proposals to the Iandlady, when
he and his paramour were driven
from the house. The other afiiant
says that Lee and the woman
represented themselves as being
husband and wife, and With this
understanding she rented them n
room. While they remained in
this house their relations we're
those of husband and wife. Dur
ing all this time he represented
himself to he minister of the
Gospel, and was very active in
doing city mission work and i'm
losing on ihe good church people
of Washington.
No evidence was needed to SUD-
port the charge of abandoning his
family. His wifo and three chill,
dren live in Greensboro, and 1t is
well known that for the past few
months he has contributed nothing
to their support. When the bill
or charges was drawn against him
short time ago and a copy sent
him he forwarded his family SIS,
the only money they have received
from him since he has been in
Washington.
This fellow Lee is what might
be termed a "smooth article I"
apparently a scoundrel of the
deepest hue. For years he has
been roaming over the country,
preaching and raking in the cash,
special attention being paid to the
latter. After managing to be in. d.
vited to hold meeting bis habit
was to inform the minister, or
those in charge, that, while he
expected no reward in this world
Tor his services, there would be
certain necessary expenses at
tached, and the amount named vus
usually neat little sum.
He called himself the "Irish
Evangelist" and the "Paddy
from Cork" mark he bore was
about the only genuine thing
about him. After coming TO
America he lived in New York,
where he said he was salesman.
Protesting religion, he emlgrated
to Virginia, where he held a mum.
ber OF revivals up and down the
eastern shoreof that State. Some
eight or ten years ago lie moved
his family to Greensboro and pro.
ceeded to edo" North Carolina.
Since his residence in this State
he has been prominently before