Evening journal., 1908-03-21
DR.. LIGHTBOURN
IS ACQUITTED
CcOntInued From First PaGsl

Atg0nNAhAeA EANeAt
ference at Easton, Nd; recognized as
an elder by the Wilmington Confer
ence in session at Crisheld, and ad-
mitted into Conference membership
at the session IN Easton, Md
The second count was Tying and
the two specifications under Il also, by
a unanimous vote were not sustained,
they being TO the effect that DR.. Light
bourn had said that the Rev G. A.
Grise, now deceased. knew OF the nc
ltitious credentials purporting TO he
from the Congregational Church.
After announcing that the charges
were not sustained, the committee went
on 10 say that Il was evident to them,
from the testimony, that the certificate
purporting TO be from the Congrega-
tlonal Church was false and fictitious,
lalthough Il was shown that Dr. Light
bourn had no knowledge Of such fraud
lulent certificate or nothing TO do with
its presentation.
Il ought TO say" said the Bishop.
chat this last paragraph Is what IN
llaw IS known as obiter dicta and be-
I lyond the strength of the committee.
That matter was not committed 20
them. All the committee can say is
was he guilty OF the charges or not
lguilty'~ He is acquitted"
shall the character Of A. ". Light
bourn be passed" asked the Bishop OF
the Conference
Z so move called out the Rev.
Vaughan S. Collins.
: Flower Shower for Or. Lightbourn.
There was an outburst OF applause
from one end OF the church TO the
I,fI.rv a.. .tsI,f.I, t,,lnfefnrl and wait fn4.a
Joined. DR. Lightbourn had been sit
ting toward the rear Of the church,
and slowly walked forward. No soon
er had he reached a position in front
Of the bishop than Miss Mary Cannon,
Mrs. James L. Carroll and Mrs. j.
Milton Davidson Of Dover. marched
proudly down the aisle1f near the
mi Idle Of the church. They bore large
bouquets, which they proceeded 70 un-
load into the arms Of Dr. Lightbourn
before he was aware what was hap
penlng Bishop Goodsell had not in
terrupted the applause. bat he didn't
like the flower shower.
= hope we shall have no demonstra-
tlon." exclaimed the bishop SHARPLY.
1T Is not agreeable and proper"
And not agreeable TO me, sir" i'm
terjeoted DR. Lightbourn.
There have been some things soid
and done which I have wished other
wise' continued DR.. Lightbourn. "lSut,
brethren. stand before you this morn
ing feeling ! have not an enemy on.
the oartll take this action as a
direct call from Almighty God to in
creased conservation and Increased ac-
tivity In the church. There are somo
things we cannot understand. There
are some things we can understand.
We will know each other better when
the mists have rolled by In the mean
time let us live each other Jnd work
Ger the Master. No friend Of mine
can prove his friendship by entertain
ing any unfriendly sentiment In view
Of this case"
Question Of Certificate
Bishop Goodseil again "a, fhe
I, last part Of the jurys finding and
:. said that select number has no
authority beyond the issue committed
to IL. Anything beyond that is sur
plussage, Illegal and therefore that
part Of the finding should not have be-
, come part Of the record. The Bishop
stated, however that there was no way
Of getting rid OF II since the finding
Z had been made
At this juncture the Rev. Or. Robert
Watt moved that this conference re-
, store to DR.. Lightbourn his original
parchment now in the custody Of this
conference. It is the original creden-
"A tial from tho Independent Methodist
Church, endorsed by Bishop Andrews
when DR.. Lightbourn was received
into the Methodist Episcopal Church."
explained Or. Watt
Dr. Lightbourn explained that he was
( originally ordained into the Indepen-
, dent Methodist Church. and from there
went on his orders into the Whining
ton Conference. He left this confer
ence in 1885 and was ordained into the
Congregational Church as he came
church he came back into the Will
1 mington Conference in 1892. He said
he never had credential from the
oCngregational Church as he came
back into the Wilmineton Conference.
Another minister explained that DR.
Lightbourn's ordination into the Con-
gregational Church is not questioned
and is regular end that ordination has
not been withdrawn.
Bishop Goodsell explained that this
original parchment could be restored,
but the only value 4. would have 10
DR.. Lightbourn would be a pleasant
"Reminiscences
{ III that is the case I Travelled five
Z years, from 1880 TO 1885. on pleasant
reminiscence and might not continue
; 10 travel on itg" asked Or. Light.
!. bourn.
r Certainly not" said Bishop Good
sell. Or. Watts motion prevailed. Then
, there was prolonged discus
: sion as TO just how to clarity beyond
doubt the standing of llr Lightbourn,
and Bishop Goodsell suggested a mo.
tion that the certificate on which DR..
Lightbourn was admitted from the
Congregational Church be restored to
him.
II There is no such certificate Il Is
fictitious" several ministers called out.
The Rev. T. e. Terry moved, in view
Of the fact that the jury or select