Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-22
N. E. CONFERENCE AROUSED
DR.. Goodell Replies to Accusation of
Being Divorce.
IOWA AFTER NEXT SESSION
Invitation to Meet at Des Moines
Extended by Senator Dolliver.
Amendment Tabled.

BALTIMORE. May 22.-The results of
ballots for two bishops were announced
at the general conference of the Metho-
dist Episcopal Church today. Neither
ballot produced an election but they
disclosed significant changes in the po-
sitions of the leaders, the chief feature
of which was the drop of the Rev. Charles
L. Goodell, pastor of Calvary NJ. E.
Church. New York city. from the fifth to
the tenth position. with loss Of 153
votes from the last preceding ballot. This
was believed to be due to the publication
of story that DR.. Goodell was a di-
vorced man.
DR.. GoodelTs statement to the Asso-
ciated Press attributed his loss of strength
to that fact. and also admitted the truth
of the charge against him, but added
that he divorced his wife on statutory
grounds and did not remarry until after
the death of his first wife, which he un-
derstood had occurred. DR.. GoodelIs s
statement follows:
DR.. Goodell's Statement
II am assured by those who have led
this movement against me that there is
no reflection in it upon my moral char
acter.
1.-The only thing charged against me IS
that am divorced man. That is true
But the divorce was granted on the
and l understood that at the time of my
second marriage my first wife was dead
For twenty-five years l have had the
fullest confidence of the NJ. E. Church
and have filled her greatest pulpits. Ny
present church Is the largest M. E
church in the world.
THE bringing of this charge at the
moment when my election to the episco
pacy seemed possible l regard as a politi
cal move. which is below the dignity Of
the average political convention.
THE fact that it was brought at 81
late a moment that l could not meet i
and that l am not a member of the gen
eral conference and SO have no right Il
the floor will carry its own lesson t
all right-minded people. and / think tina
in the end it will prove a boomerang IL
the camp Of those who have hurled 1t. :
Vindicated at Trial.
Dr., Goodell said he secured the divorce
at Providence in 1885, while in charge OF
church there. He asked for and OBJ
tained church trial, the result Of which.
he said. was a vindication Of his course
in the matter.
Des Moines. Iowa. through Senator j.
DOiutcT, Invited the general confer
ence to hold its next quadrennial session
in that city.
Consideration of the report of the COM
mittee on education on the division of
the board of education. Freedmen's Aid
and Sunday schools. was continued today.
and another section Of the report dealing
with the reorganization of the three
boards was adopted.
An attempt was made by Judge Will
liam L. Woodcock of Altoona. Pa, by
amendment, to change the name of the
board Of Freedmen's Aid to that of
Southern Education Society. Mr.. Wood
cock said the name was a relic Of the
civil war and offensive to the brethren
of the Methodist Episcopal Church
South.
Cries Of NO." No from all parts
Of the hall were uttered at this state
ment. Judge Woodcock declared that if
the name could be changed it would help
to bring together the northern and
southern branches of the church.
Rev. Dr. J. d. Walsh of Paintsville.
KY. denied that the term was offensive
and opposed the amendment on the
ground that the negro race was still a
freed race and that the name of the
society was powerful factor i'm raising
the funds for negro education. DIR.
Walsh's statement met with the ap-
proval of the conference. and the amepd-
ment was tabled.