The Washington times., 1902-10-15
BISHOP SAHER[[E
SUSTAINED BY COURT
Former Christ Church Rec
tors Petition Dismissed.
END OF SENSATIONAL CASE
Accused of Immoral Conduct, Rev. Gil
bert F. Williams Was Dismissed
From Priesthood.

From Priesthood.
The Right Rev. Henry y. Satierlee.
bishop of the diocese of Washington,
and the ecclesiastical court which dis
missed Rev. Gilbert F. Williams. rector
of Christ Church. this city, from the
! priesthood were upheld yesterday by the
Court OF Appeals of the District. The
I decision was delivered by Chief Justice
Alvey. The questions involved are dealt
with separately and on every material
point the findings of the church court
are sustained. In his opinion Mr.. Justice
Alvey says:
1T is we'll known as matter of fact
and church history that the Protestant
Episcopal Church in the United States
is a regularly organized ecclesiastical
establishment and, like all other such
organizations. is independent of State or
Federal interference"
A Woman His Accuser.
The Rev. Gilbert F. Williams was
formerly rector of Christ Church in
South Washington. In the winter of
1897 he was accused of immoral conduct.
his accuser being a young woman, one
of his parishioners. Bishop Satterlee, to
diately organized an ecclesiastical court
to investigate the charges against the
rector. The trial lasted for several
weeks, and was the sensation Of the
hour. After lengthy deliberation the
court found the rector guilty and he
was deposed from the parish by the
bishop, and dismissed from the priest
hood Of the Church.
Nothing further was heard of the mat
ter until about a year ago. when Mr.
Williams applied TO the Supreme Court
OF the District for writ OF certiorari to
compel Bishop Satterlee and the mem
bers OF the ecclesiastical court Of the
Episcopal diocese OF Washington to for
ward to the clerk OF the court verified
copies of the proceedings which resulted
in his dismissal for review. In his pc
titfon Mr.. Williams averred that the
court which tried him was without juris-
0iction because 1t was illegally organ
Azcd and constituted. and also because
testimony was admitted at the trial
which should have been excluded.
At the hearing. which was before the
late Justice Bradley, Mr.. Williams was
represented by Attorneys William E.
Neloy and Henry E. Davis, and Bishop
eatterlee and the members of the &C.
elcsiastical court by Hallam Hallam
End r. Ross Perry & Son After hear
ing argument the court ordered that the
writ should issue. From this judgment
Bishop satterlee and the other defen-
dants took an appeal to the Court of
Appeals for the District.
Church Has Jurisdiction.
In discussing the case. Chief Justice
Alvey said that the Episcopal Church
has jurisdiction over its own affairs and
rs members. as prescribed by its con-
ttftution. One of the rules is that each
member of that church shall be liable
tor presentment and trial on charges
preferred against him. He may be triei
tue ltdClluS o.
soctrine contrary to the tenets of the
Protestant Episcopal Church, or for vio-
ktion ot the constitution or canons OF
Ihe church.
The question of the constitutionality
VI the organization of the ecclesiastical
fourt was raised by Mr.. Williams There
3 no doubt. Justice Alvey says, on this
eoint. The bishop OF the diocese Is en-
covered under the constitution TO as
,emble court to try any one of the
members OF the church who is accused
II violating the rules. This Bishop Sat
erlee did. and II was wholly within his
lower AID his jurisdiction. The ac-
nsed in this case. the court states. was
GOT charged with an ecclesiastical OF.
ensc. nor a violation of the tenets G:
he church. but of an offense against
pciety. So far as the question OF the
light of temporal courts to review the
hdings OF ecclesiastical courts is con
Erned. II Is SELDOM that the former ever
Undertake such a course. and Justice
.lvey said It would not be done in the
Bse under consideration.
The judgment OF the lower court was
eversed. with costs, and the case re-
banded with directions that the peti-
Ion for certiorari be dismissed.