Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-06-30
Rev. Gilbert F. Williams Will
Make Public Address.
BEGINS OLD FIGHT AGAIN
Wants to Overcome Verdict of Ec-
clesiastical Court.
WILL BREAK LONG SILENCE
SAYS Trial Was Most Unfair-Wants
Record Examined by the
New Bishop.

In an effort to reha affiliate his good
name. which. he says was smirched ten
years ago when he was deposed and I'M
frocked by an ecclesiastical court In this
city, Rev Gilbert F. Williams. one-time
rector of Christ Episcopal Church. 9Th
and q streets southeast. has engaged the
auditorium OF Masonic Hall, and he pro-
poses next Thursday to publicly review
the charges upon which his reduction
FROM the ministry was predicated and to
give impetus TO a movement for his res
toration. Mr.. Williams address will be
open to the public. but he has issued a
specia! invitation TO the clergymen Of
his own and other denomina tons to be
present
The charge originally made against Mr..
Williams was that he was the father of
the child of a girl named Denham. Evil
dence was heard before an ecclesiastical
court of six members. and their recon-
mendation that he be reduced from the
ministry was acted upon by Bishop Sat-
terlee- Mr.. Williams alleged from the
very beginning that his trial was most
unfair. and he carried the matter to the
civil courts. securing a favorable ruling
at first from the late Justice Bradley.
which. in turn. was set aside by an ap
peal prosecuted by Bishop Satterlee in
the Court of Appeals.
Effort to Revive Case.
The public address is intended it is
said. to stimulate interest in the effort
to revive the case and have the record
reviewed by the newly elected Bishop Of
Washington as soon as he enters upon
the transaction of the duties of his office
Mr. Williams has authorized a state
ment hearing on the case as follows:
Some time ago. before a number Of
clergymen and laymen. privately invited
by me. ! made an address on some Of
my experiences before an ecclesiastical
court of this diocese. which had not be-
fore beeu known by these gentlemen.
TN the large public hall Of Masonic
Temple. Thursday next. at 10 am. 1t is
my purpose to make public address
concerning my case. and I invite to as
semble there the ministers Of all churches.
and especially the clergymen and laymen
who. in a prolonged correspondence and
In personal interviews with the late
bishop of this diocese. made the strongest
efforts to have him undo the manifest
injustice done me by the wholly unwar-
ranted verdict of that ecclesia stical court
In patient expectation Of the undoing
OF this action against me and of my
restoration TO the duties of my ministerial
office. have refrained from making pub
lie certain things which preferred to
suffer in silence. and thus save the par
ties concerned the severe criticism they,
in justice, deserve.
Views of Clergymen.
One of our most eminent clergymen,
writing me. declared Of my treatment that
1T was a wicked and shameful travesty
on justice Another said to me: 1t was
the most unrighteous verdict I have ever
know" These are samples. 1 shall give
number of them in my address.
II shall also dwell on my vindication
and the virtual rebuke and reputation
of the action of every one officially con-
nected with this action against me, as in
Dictated in the course taken by the do
cesar convention the year after the farce
of my trial in establishing a court OF APP
peIls. so that clergyman shall not have
his honored name stricken down by one
accuser without an opportunity to have
an impartial review of his trial
Il shall also have much to say of the
fact that. though severely crit 'cised in
one of our largely circulated church pa
pers for their action not one member of
that court who gave his verdict against
me. including the diocesan. ever dared
publicly To attempt to Justify himself
Il shall read some sentences from the
late Judge Bradleys decision in my IA
yer. and given without hesitation as he
said because of the manifest injustice of
that court"