The Washington times., 1908-07-02

The unfrocked divine. Gilbert F. Will
Hams. has had widely distributed a
lengthy printed pamphlet. prepared by
William a. Meloy. his counsel at the
ecclesiastical trial, which sets forth at
length what he declares to be the
discrepancies OF the testimony against
the clergyman and reviews the entire
case.
In the preface Mr. Meloy says: LAS
a matter of common justice to Mr. VIII
liams and because my argument before
the ecclesiastical court was denied a
place in the record and so his bishop
had neither argument, brief, nor hear
ms on behalf Of the defendant in con-
sldering the work OF the court, I have
yielded to his urgent request to pre-
pare this statement presenting his case
TO the public. but most of all 10 his
brethren Of the clergy"
Bishop Pronounced Sentence.
On the findings OF the court, Mr.
MelOy comments:
In the early morning OF the 18th OF
March. 1888. Il first became known what
that decision was, when the bishop OF
the diocese announced his sentence, de-
posing Mr.. Williams from the ministry.
THE friends Of the accused minister
especially those who had followed the
trial from day to day, were paralyZed
with establishment at the unexpected
event. Many of the most prominent
leading chUrChAen of the diocese, mel
most distinguished for learning, intelli.
gence, and wise Judgment, undertook
tho task of reading every word Of the
testimony and proceedings as stenO-
graphically reported. They rose IRON
that task. most COnsciendOUsly per
formed. with The established conviction
that the majority finding was not sup
ported by the evidcnce-that the de.
fendant should have been acquitted, not
condemned
Every effort was made. the pamphlet
continues, on the part Of these men q
have a reconsideration, but this was
steadily refused.
A brief synopsis Of the statement!
contained IN the pamphlet and prepared
/ Tor the public after every effort 70 Oh
| tain a reconsideration had failed is a.
follows.
Prior TO the events I'm question. anJ
for many years Gilbert Fearing VIII
hams had stood foremost among tn,
clergy OF the city. and was recognized
and distinguished for sound learning
! high native talents. mag.ianimOus an,
generous disposition. great zeal any
success in the ministry OF the church
a cody and 5lameless life.
III Health Forced Retirement.
| Severe and long continued Ill healtl
| had forced him under the advice Of HI
physicians TO give up preaching in TIT
summer o. 1897 and TO seek In she SoUtl
| a change Of climate and Of al his sur
roundings.
1T was whIo he was thus absent #
the fall and winter Of 1897 that a younl
woman of the congregation was IN
f! subject Of comment and unfavOrable re
marks She was a sprightly, active CIR
/ Of about twenty years, always ready Z
/ assist in church work. and she enjoye,
/ the attention OF young men az her hom
/ and on excursions 20 the resorts arount
! Washington
The matter became current gossip
| and a crowd Of young men once ven
/ turcd 10 blame one OF their number, q
/ which he replied, NO. l. is the parson g.
/ took wing. and was soon so rife in tn
/ parish that the Vestry deemed Il ad
/ visable 10 have their pastor retur1
/ home to meet the scandal
/ He was written 10, and started Dac
/ Immediately despite his precarlouS con
| ditiOu. His homecoming was general
/ known. but tOT twenty days he wa
/ confined most OF the time 20 his home
I AcdllW4lAt no b-AtL NlAHLtt VA NttS sNot
/ dalous gossip could be found, and n
/ young woman. while discriminating n
! one declared the charges wholly an
utterly false.
Leaves for South Again
In an III advised moment. he too
/ the advice Of his best friends. believin
that on account Of his health and IN
gossip his usefulness to his congrega
ton was impaired. and resigned on 81
months leave again TO seek health 1
the South This was % the Doth da
( Of February. Outwar, there appear
ed no reason why ne uld not y
one had come forward accuse him.
NO sooner had he le Washingto
/ than some one wrote an article alleg
I ing that he had fed from the FengJ
/ ance of an angry father This stOr
the father declared utterly false on IN
/ witness stand.
Both father and daughter declare
that no charge was made against N
Williams until the DIN or / SDi -1l1 !
! when the girl accused the rector
| Because there was no witness
/ Drove publication of either libel q
/ SANDER. Mr.. Williams had no legal n
dress. and found II impossible 70 tan
/ legal action
From that time he pressed with q
the ardOr and earnestneSs OF a ma
conscious of his integrity and lnuI
i Cence for a trial which ne was sur
would vindicate him. He was lndle
nant when his bishop suggested q
easy way OF getting out Of the churcl
Court Declared Illegal.
THE court, finally assembled to TT
! him. was one unauthorized by II