The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-03-30
REV. LOHIHER GUILTY.
Committee Sustains All Speci-
fications of Heresy Charge.
HE STANDS FIRM
Many Secrets of Trial Have
Leaked Out.
FIRM
STANDS

Arkansas City. March 2e-The commit
tee which tried Rev. Granville Lovthsr.
pastor Of the Methodist church al Nc
Pherson. OF the charge OF heresy. return
ed a verdict Of guilty this morning. as
forecasted in Saturdays Eagle The YER
dict o. the committee was unanimous. and
+ all three specifications OF the bill Of
charges were sustained. II the verdict IS
+ binding on all ministers they must believe
/ the literal serpent story.
/ The verdict OF the committee was rot
/ read until but Few minutes before the
/ adjournment OF the morning session OF
| the conference. Then Rev. c. J. Howes
/ presiding Judge OF the trial COMMITTEES.
{ stepped forward on the platform and
amid 4 profound hush read the verdict
I The conference then silently adjourned
ard the ministers departed 70 their Iodg-
/ ing houses Rev. Lowther was not IN the
room when the verdict was announced.
Rev. Mr.. Lovther this morning notified
the committee that he could not con
scientiously sign an agreement not 10
teach his doctrines. which were alleged to
be hereucal, and thus secure al acquit-
( tai. Rev. Mr.. Lowther's statement 70 the
committee was as follows:
To the president and committee in the
case against me for heresy in which you
have found ne guilty OF the charges pre-
ferred. and agree not 70 execute the pen
atty, providing I would sign = paper
agreeing not to teach in public or in pri-
vate the views which have been the basis
OF the charges against me. I beg leave
- z -. Il .
Of regard ard sympathy which offers ne
a possible way of escape from the con
sequences OF your decision, but must de-
cline 20 accept it because I could not be
honest with myself and the cause OF
Christ which 7 as a minister Of Christ
represent. and enter into such an agree
nent."
The result Of tn. conviction OF Rev.
Lowther was his expulsion from the
Methodist ministry.
This afternoon as the members OF the
conference discussed the result OF the
trial among themselves, various opinions
were advanced. The majority of the
clergymen were grieved that Rev. Afr !
Lowther was compelled 70 leave the min !
istry. and some thought the charges /
against him were trivial. and noa-essen- /
tial- Some ministers stated that Rev. /
Granville Lowther was not the only he /
retic in the conference.
Since the trial is over many secrets are /
leaking out. One Of these is that the at /
torneys for the defendant desired 70 put 1
him on the witness stand TO interpret I
what he meant by thee statements in the ]
paper on "'Atonement." which was the
basis OF the charges preferred. The pres
ident OF the committee overruled this re-
quest. and the prosecution was only viii
ing that he should be allowed 70 testify to
facts about the reading Of the paper.
IN order TO give their client an oppor-
tunity to interpret his statements 70 the
committee, his attorneys withdrew him
from the witness stand and secured per
mission for him 10 take part IN the argll-
ments. He thus secured an opportunity
70 explain his views. but It did rot 90 In
as evidence.
It is openly charged today thai Rev. 7.
A. Davis distributed copies OF the ALLEGED
aereticaI paper among ministers before
the conference convened. and that some
who had read the paper were on The
trial committee.
Rev. " II Rose. Junior counsel for the
defendant. urged his client TO appeal his
ease 70 the general conference. Rev. 3Ir
-owther, however. has not decided what
be viii do about the matter.
Some Of the ministers are expressing
iesire that they be not assigned 10 the
Of the Mcpherson church when
he appointments are read next Monday.
'or the church has petiuoned for the re-
urn Of Rev. Mr- Lowther. and IT IS feared
hat his successor VIII not md his task
- aasr- o-a