Keowee courier. [volume] (Pickens Court House, S.C.) 1849-current, 1906-12-12
CREIGHTON GUILTY OF immortality.
CASE WILL REMAIN UNCHANGED UNTIL
GENERAL CONFERENCE.

Columbia, Dec. 5.--After delibe-
rating all night over their verdict,
the trial committee, clothed by the
Methodist conference. with full pow
ers to dispose of the charges Of gross
immortality brought against Rev.
G. w. Creighton, came to an agree
ment at 7 o'clock this morning, find
ing that the specifications proved
sustained the charge, and deposing
tho accused from the ministry and
expelling him from the membership
of the church.
Conference had been kept theo-
retically in session since Monday
afternoon, since it had been thought
unparliamentary, under Methodist
law, to adjourn the session or an.
nounce the appointments of minis
ters to churches until IL should be
known whether Mr.. Creighton would
be restored to ministerial good stand
ing. Many of the ministers who
have been attending the conference
had gone home, but there was still a
fair number in the Washington
street church when Rev. l.. f. Beatty,
chairman of the trial committee, read
his report. 1t was received in due
form, and Rev. Mr. Daniel, counsel
for the accused, was asked if he de-
sired to give notice of an appeal.
He replied in the affirmative and the
notice was noted.
Rev. @. D. Mann, who has Just
been elected to the House of Repre-
sentatives from Oconee county, arose
to a question of personal privilege.
The chair told him to state his ques
ton.
eff that report is right" said Mr..
Mann, ::then three -fourths of this
conference ought to go with Creigh-
ton"
A dozen members were on their
feet, calling out that the brother was
ont of order, and the chair so ruled.
Mr.. Mann took his seat and that was
all of the Creighton case. The ap-
pointments of preachers for the
coming twelve months were then read
and the conference was adjourned
until the next meeting, year hence,
in Gaffney.
The following facts regarding the
case will be of interest:
The charges made against Mr..
Creighton are technically embraced
in the term "immorality." The spe.
ciic charge is lying and SANDER, but
Mr.. Creighton is not yet convicted,
and even if he shall be adjudged
guilty of the charges it will not be
such reflection on his moral char
acter as the general public might
infer from the use of the term ''im-
, morality"
The case is based on certain arti-
c'es appearing in the Christian Ap.
peal, of which Mr.. Creighton is the
'ditor and publisher. The particu-
lar editorial on which the accusation
rests was published in the issue of
November 3, 1904, and is headed
"Rings and Results" The editorial
said For many years the existence
of a ring in the South Carolina Con-
ference has been boldly asserted and
the charge is believed by many to be
true" The earticle then discussed
what is meant by ring and states
that such charge could be proved
either by direct testimony or circum-
stantial evidence. The editorial
continues as follows: "We shall con-
slider in their order circumstances
that show conclusively concert of
action for definite purposes, if not
existence of combination in the
conference.
zone set of men organize the con-
ference, select the members of all
committees and 80 distribute them
selves in the organization that they
are able to keep themselves fully in
formed of everything that takes
place, inspire action, shape move
ments, control measures, and bring
to bear active influence to promote
or defeat any and every action as
they may approve or disapprove.
The organization of the conference