Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-09-22
PREACHER RESIGNED
Resignation Of q Minister Be.
cause Of Nafeine Wife-Con-
ference Sensation
TRIAL LATE SUNDAY NIGHT
Result May Involve Expulsion Of One
of the Leading Bishops-Hennes Re-
fused to Live With His Wife, But
Would Support Her - Sensational
Trial Ended Dramatically.
Special to Times-Republican.

Keokuk, Sept. 22.-The sensation
that arose in the southeastern Iowa
conference OF the NJ. q. church here
Saturday came to sudden and ex-
ceedingly dramatic close late Sunday
night by the voluntary resignation of
Rev. p. j. Henness, the minister ac-
cused. Hennes, who lires in South Da-
kota, separated from his wife during
reasons therefore. His wife was pres
ent at the conference, often in tears,
but her husband would not speak to
her. No charge of infidelity was in
volved. After the trial committee, APP
pointed by Bishop Hamilton, and COM
posed of thirteen prominent divines, had
been in session far into the night, Mr..
Henness himself took the stand. He
said it was evident to himself and to
his attorneys that he was not to have
fair treatment, and then he handed the
parchments of his ordination In 1887
to the committee, following with his
Resignation from membership in the
church as we'll as from the ministry.
Turning to his wife, who was present,
the self-unfrocked minister exclaimed:
Woman, behold the wreck of man
you have made"
His wife broke down at this dramatic
exhibition. The committee for the trial
of Mr.. Henness Immediately closed it's
session, having lost its Jurisdiction of
the case by his action in placing him
self outside the pale of the church.
Mr.. Henness after maintaining sill
ence stubbornly for a year, said that
the reason he left his wife was for con-
tinual "nagging," which broke down his
health and rendered it impossible for
him to do ministerial work The charge
against him before the conference was
simply his separation from his wife,
whom he agreed to support but refused
to live with. No question of immoral
ity was involved, the claims of the
prosecution being that Mr.. Henness'
conduct was unclerical, and that min
lister so separated should not be sent
out as pastor over a church by the
bishop.
Saturday afternoon Mr.. Hennes tried
tc have the case ventilated on the floor
of the conference. but Bishop Hamfl-
of eleven members. with two judge adj
vocates and two attorneys for Hennes.
The charges before the trial commit-
tee, which is sitting with closed doors.
are that under the conditions Hennes Is
not suitable minister to be sent out
as pastor. No question of sexual
morality is involved. The verdict will
settle the policy of the church on the
question. Hennes and his attorneys in
sisted that a correspondent OF the As
ISOLATED Press be admitted to the ses-
sions of the trial committee, but this
was refused and executive sessions
were ordered. The trial makes a sem
sation in the conference and Is ex-
pected to continue until Monday.
Sunday night a second bombshell ex-
ploded when the friends of Hennes be-
gan to call attention to the fact that
his case is parallel with that of one of
the Oldest bishops of the church. They
are saying that If this conference de-
cides that refusal to live with wife
is unclerical conduct, then the Iowa
conference must memorialize the gen.
eral conference of the church to take
action on the case of that bishop. 1t is
claimed that the proceedings will have
results far-reaching.
Reports made to the conference show
within it's territory 31,511 full members.
1856 probationers, 27,416 Sunday school
pupils and 1914 officers and teachers.
The church buildings number 337, vail
ued at $947,650, and 120 parsonages are
valued at $173,S50. Among the divines
making addresses was Rev. j. w. Han
char pracidant of the Iowa WaS1ey1n
University.
Muscatine was chosen as the place Of
meeting next year.