Pine Bluff daily graphic., 1902-11-30

the following:
After the Monticello district hac
been exhausted, the name of Rev. w
E. Thompson, of the Little Rock con
ference was called. and Presiding Ed
er Riggin of that district advanced
to the front of the rOstrum and said
that he desired to make complaint
against Mr Thompson, and that his
character was arrested.
Mr.. Hess said: Have you notified
him that his character was to be al
rested?' In answer, Presiding Elder
Riggin said, NO He said that Mr..
Thompson attitude toward him had
been such that he could not consist
emily notify him.
Mr.. Riggin then called upon DR..
Godbey and said, DIR. Godbey arrests
Mr. Thompson's character
DR.. Godbey arose and said he did
not understand the matter. These
were not his complaints. He fully
endorsed the charges, however, and
so did Mr.. Riggin and Rev. Thomas.
Thereupon the bishop directed him
to make the charges specific.
DR.. Goodbey then said that Mr.
Thompsons character was arrested
for immortality; that the charges in.
volved were:
/. Plagiarism.
2. Attending the theater in viola
ton of church rules.
3. Malicious attacks on Ministerial
brethren.
4. Conduct towards females which
involves ministerial character.
That he had been sheltered from
scandal during the past year, and this
'play to the gallery which Mr..
Thompson had made
(Here the bishop interrupted Mr.
Godbey and said, II would not use
that term"
DR.. Godbey, however, continued,
"and this play to the gallery had been
made with a view Of shielding him.
SELF
Mr.. Thompson arose at this point
and said he was willing to answer any
charges that might be made against
him. "These charges made by Mr. God
hey have long since been Investigate
ed, and there are gentlemen here who
will vouch for the fact that they have
been refuted,' said he He said that
he was very glad to have an opportun!-
ty to go before committee and have
the whole matter investigated. He
said:
Il only regret that DR.. Godbey and
Presiding Elder Riggin, who. accord
ing to these specifications, claim to
have known these facts during the
past year, have never mentioned such
matters to me in particular.
DR.. Godbey arose and said he had
done so: that he had called Mr..
Thompson and Judge Ratcliff together
face to face, and there Mr. Thompson
had acknowledged to plagiarism.
Mr.. Thompson arose and said with
some emotion, Il now and here charge
you with a total misrepresentation OF
that fact"
The bishop admonished the breth,
rem not to go beyond the bounds,
and here the matter abated for the
time being.
The bishop announced that he
would refer the complaints against
DR.. Thompson to committee of three
members, as follows: Rev. Horace
jewell P. w Ramsey and r. r..
Moore.
At this point Mr. l.. B. Leigh. one
of the secretaries of the conference,
desired to ask the bishop that he be
allowed to present the resolutions
adopted by the First Methodist church
of Little Rock at its conference Mon
day night. endorsing Mr.. Thompson
fully and refuting any charges tha;
had been made against him the past
year in this connection.
Bishop Hoss asked that he be per
mitted to read the resolutions betore
they were presented, SO that no mis-
takes might be made. He retained
them. subsequently returning them t.
Mr.. Leigh with the statement tina
they involved charges against mem
ber of the conference, and it woult
not be advisable to present them 3
that time. unless Mr.. Leigh wished t
make charges against the member.
Then the name of Rev. James Thorn
as of Winfield Memorial church wa