The Bamberg herald. [volume] (Bamberg, S.C.) 1891-1972, 1906-05-17
DR.. WADSW0RTH WINS.
Eiased Action Of North Georgia Con-
ference in Suspending Minister
Promptly Turned Down.

Dr.. W. ". Wadsworth, former paS-
tor Of the Hartwell, Ca, Methodist
church, whom the North Georgia
Methodist conference suspended last
November for one year, en- charges
Of in6lscreet behavior toward a mar
ricd woman Of Hartwell, was fully ez-
onerated Of the charges by the con-
mittee of 25 on general appeals OF
the general Methodist conference in
session at Birmingham.
Formal charges were first brought
against DIR. Wadsworth at the North
Georgia Methodist conference ct New
nan on November %, last. A commit
tee had previously Investigated the
Doctors alleged misconduct, but had
reported that no trial was necessary.
IN the conference, however, Dr.. J.
W. Qu!iliaa, the presiding elder, upon
ceins asked whether there were any
charges pending, said that there were.
jccted to this procedure.
Rev. D. c. Brown then asked that
another Investigating committee be
appointed. This was done, and Rev.
NJ. g. Williams was named to pros
ecute the c2se.
This committee went into an inyas-
tigaticn, and later reported to the
conference that it believed DR.. Wads-
worth to be guilty Of the charges
preferred, and recommended his sus-
pension for a year. This was done by
the conference.
DR.. Wadsworth claimed at the time
that a telegram from the members
of his Hartwell church taking his side
in tho matter, and bespeakinS his tr-Ss
reproachable character had been with
held in scne way from the irvestigss
ing committee.
DR.. Wadsworth is greatly pleased
over the decision Of the committee.
and gives out this statement in which
he sets forth certain facts not hith-
erto brought out:
Last November, when, through the
prejudice ard i'll will CT the reigningS
oligarchy in the North Georgia con-
ference, and the illegal procedure AM
unjust administration Of the bishop,
l was suspended fer year, ! was
compelled to bring my case befora I
the bar of public opinion. ~
> "A favorable verdict, not only
throughout Georgia, but also the
south, wherever the articles were
read, was the immediate result. s..
have not found these last five months
a shadow on the face OF any mar,
woman or child whom mad knoWn,
and have also had the ccnfdenee
and sympathy of multiplied thousands
Of strangers who believed in fair PLAY
I do not think it is putting It too
strongly to say that the acticn OF the
conference was od!ous to the great
masses of Georgia Methodists. This 4
has been very comforting TO me.
"I> have bided my time quietly, feel
ing sure that when could properly
present my case to the unprejud!ced s
court, which I believed the general
conference committee on appeals to-
be, that l would secure reversah
of the verdict. Yesterday had thae 8
opportunity. The committee was
composed Of 25 prominent men, each
representing a different annual coEsE
ference. They gave me in five MIN
utes an overwhelming vindicaticn
have never felt humiliated a moment
by the prejudiced verdict Of a major
ity of the North Georgia conference
of nine. I am glad row, however,
that the story of my complete exon
GRAFTON by the highest and largest
court in southern Methodism will find
it's way, over the entire country.
am glad to be able to tell the pub
lie. to whom appealed that have
made good my Claim. ~
WILLARD w. WADSWoRTH." .,s
.-;Dr. Wadsworth entered the North !.
GEORGIA conference 30 years ago. He
was transferred to Knoxville to sue
cced Dr. Alonzo Monk, and from that
church went to Hartwell. He also
made a trip around the world, and
he wrcte several books, among them
.'Thc Coming Kingdom" published
in 1889, AMI "!Among the Ocienta!s,
published on his return from his ex-
tended tour He followed this WITH
"The Teachers Value in the Foreign Z
Field"