Shepherdstown register. [volume] (Shepherdstown, Va. [W. Va.]) 1849-1955, 1905-03-30
Southern Methodist Conference.

succeeding Rev. d. Z. Hamlll, who
is made pastor of the Staunton Church.
The following are the appointments
for Winchester district
Winchester-C. D. Bulla.
Frederick-C. L. Potter.
Stephens City-William Stevens.
Niddletown-W. S. Hammond.
Strasburg-W. l.. Smith.
Woodstock-D. II. Kern.
Woodstock Mission-J. II. White.
Edinburgh. G. hewitt.
Front Royal and Riverton-G. D.
White.
Warren-N. n. Hall.
Linden. n. Kline.
Page-H. A. Wilson.
White Post-H. n. Stricken lone 10
be supplied by W. A LYNCH.
Be.ryville-J. II. Smith.
Brucetown-C. II. Buchanan and W.
d. Eye.
Martinsburg-J. w. Canter.
Berke!ey-J. G. Michael.
Charles TOWN.. P. G. Coe.
Jetferson-C. Sydenstricker.
epherdstown-D. F. Eutsler.
Bakerton and Halltown-T. @. Jones.
Rev. ]. G. Thrasher is returned to
Dunkirk, Nd; Rev. G. D. Harris, for
merly of Martinsburg, goes to En-
manuel Church, Baltimore Rev. B.
G. Snyder, Sudbrook, near Baltimore I;
Rev. George Hazel, Brunswick Rev.
E. L. Wolff, Rockville; Md; Rev. j.
P. Stump, Alexandria; Rev. Frank
A. Strother, Hamilton; Rev. S. K.
Cox, Elkton, Va; Rev. W. Fl. h.
Joyce, Luray; Rev. Il. L. Hout, St.
James Church, Roanoke; Rev. J. O..
Knott, Lexington; Rev. S. R. Neel,
Collierstown; Rev. ]. R. Van Horne,
Covington, Va; Rev. G. K. Heydrick,
Slanesville. W. Va.
The statistical report showed the
following facts:
Number of local preachers. 49, total
membership, "a, S29; increase in mem
bership, 1913; infants baptized, 1883 );
adults baptized, / ,40l; Epworth Leagues,
2l7; Sunday Schools in the conference,
6OG; teachers in Sunday Schools, 1896 ;
scholars in Sunday Schools, 43, sol col.
lection for superannuated preachers,
$l3, 4O3; foreign missions, 81 ,04O; do
nestle missions, 80, 554 special dona-
tions, S633 church extension, $3,413 /;
number of churches in Baltimore con-
ference, 500 number of societies, $50 !;
value of church property, Sl,59S, 9O5 {;
debt on church property, S77, 0O4 num-
Der of parscnages, 1853 preachers were
paid during year, Sll4, 228; presiding
elders were paid, fl2, 1853; paid for BIZ
BILE cause, 1912; value of district par
sonages, $4,000.
A sensational feature of the session
of Conference were charges brought
against Rev. John 0. Knott, a native
of this vicinity, now pastor Of the
church at Lexington, Va. Mr.. Knott
was formerly pastor Of the church at
Salem, Va, and while there he built
a new church. Some members of that
congregation charged that he had
bought the windows for the church
and had been given rebate by the
firm from whom they had been pur-
chased. They accused him of "immo-
rality," in that he had refused to give
the price of the windows. Conference
decided that a trial was necessary,
and appointed as committee to con-
slider the charges Revs. E. V. Reyes
ter, B. !. Ball, J. R. Van Horn, W.
O. Ross, Thos. Cooper, ]. II. Boyd,
D. F. Eutsler, W. L. Dolly, R. L.
Fultz and ]. P. Stump secretary.
Rev. ]. S. Hutchinson was designated
as prosecutor, and Rev. ]. A. Kern,
D. D., was Mr.. Knots counsel. The
facts as brought out at the trial show
ed that Mr.. Knott had agreed to put
the windows in the church, and had
induced number of persons to place
them as memorials. The Washington
firms price was SITS, but they agreed
to give $3.50 rebate. They requested
that Mr.. Knott should not name the
rebate, which he agreed to, and the
$3.50 was by him turned into the Con-
ference collections. The prosecution
of Mr.. Knott was pushed by a man
who was interested in another firm
securing the contract. There was abb
solutely nothing in the affair refec-
ting on the integrity Of the minister
and not one Of the charges was sub
stantiated. Tuesday the committee
made its report to Conference, which
was adopted, as follows:
eve, the committee of trial in the
case of Rev. John o. Knott, Of Lexing'
ton, Va, believing the charges brought
against him to have been occasioned by
combination of circumstances and
understanding between the parties
concerned, and some lack of careful
ness on the part of Brother Knott, beg
leave to bring in the unanimous verdict
of not guilty as charged"
When the verdict was announced
the entire assemblage of over 800
ministers, lay delegates and spectators
vociferously applauded. In vain
Bishop Duncan pounded with his
gavel to restore order, but the large
congregation would not stop the ap'
proving applause for some minutes
Many of the ministers were visibly
affected, and when quiet was restored
Bishop Duncan, in thanking the trial
committee for its verdict and express
ing his entire confidence in Mr.. Knott,
stated that he had never witnessed
such a remarkable scene at any Meth
odist Conference. The "lack of care
fulness" referred to by the committee
was the failure of Mr.. Knott TO have
kept on file certain receipts and state
ments. One of the gratifying fea-
lures, to Mr.. Knott, of the unpleasant
episode, was the fact that after the