The daily morning journal and courier., 1904-04-07
HERESY TRIAL TO BE
 CONDUCTED IN SECRET
ALM0STRIRST BUSINESS BEFORE
 NY. EAST CONFERENCE.
Rev. Borden P. Bowns, of Boston uni- versity, chosss Rev. pr. Buckley to Defend aim-commit,ss Appointed for shs Trlai-Rev. c. J. North Pre- sides Over the First session of she "cour,-marsial.u
"courl-n,artlaI."

New York, April 6.-Preparation for the trial of Rev. Borden F. Bowne, of Boston university, who has been charg- ed with heresy by Rev. George A. Cooke, of Trinity church, West Med- ford, Mass, was almost the first busi- ness transacted at the fifty-sixth an- nual session of the New York East con- ference of the Methodist Episcopal church, which opened in Simpson Meth odist Episcopal church, Clermont and Willoughby avenues, Brooklyn, to-day. The matter came up during the read- ing of the report of Dr. c. s. Wing, one of the presiding elders for Brooklyn, under whose charge Professor Bowne is, although he is assigned to Boston.
 Immediately after this Professor Bowne walked to the front of the church and announced that he had chosen Rev. J. M. Buckley as his coun- sel. Several ministers were heard to chuckle at this statement and say: That's the last of the charges.
 Dr. Buckley then said that, while he believed that trials of this kind were always conducted secretly, he wanted the members of the committee to un- derstand that there would be no change in this case. Amid general laughter he added:
 Tn matters of heresy only experts can be relied on to report the proceed ings of the courts. We do not know whether there are any experts in her esy or not. but it is certain that the lay press of the country will not be able to report the proceedings cor rectly.''
 Just at this point Dr. Buckley was interrupted by a member, who contend ed that the doctor was pleading his cause before the whole body.
 In reply to this Dr. Buckley declared that he did not intend to begin prac- tice as an attorney so soon, and he added
 with startling headlines and per newspapers of the country would be delighted with the proceedings, but think that the public har no right to inquire into our denonlinatiinal affairs, but only has the right to know whether we think Professor Bowne has the right to continue in the ministry or not only say this because know of "a case where the story Of the trial leaked out"
 Rev. w. H. Burgwin was chosen as secretary of the committee to try Pro- lessor Bowne.
 The ministers chosen to try Professor Bowne were appointed to-day on the nomination of Dr. Wing, and began their work in the Dekalb Avenue church behind closed doors. Rev. c. J. North presided, and the other members of the select number" were Rev. J B. Adams, of Grace church, Brooklyn; Rev. D. W. Couch, of Epworth church, Brooklyn; Rev. John Rippere. of the Fourth Avenue church, Brooklyn; Rev. J. o. Wilson, of the Nostrand Avenue church, Brooklyn; Rev. D. c. Downey, of St. Johns church, Brooklyn; Rev. c. l.. Goodsell, of Hanson Place church, Brooklyn; Rev. j. w Johnston, of the John Street church. Manhattan; Rev. A. H. Wyatt, of Huntington, L. l.; Rev. F. L. Strickland, of Flushing. l.. T.; Dr. c. F. Mains, of the Methodist Book Concern; Dr. w. " Kelly, editor of the Methodist Review; Rev. F. B. Uphanl, Rev Herbert Welch, Rev. c. H. Buck, and Rev. $. o. Curtice.