Evening journal., 1908-03-10
DENOUNCES POLITICS IN
METHODIST CONFERENCE
George E. King Says Some
Ministers Could Give
Wire Pulling Lessons 10
Mr.. Addicks

MF. HddIckS
That laymen Of the wilmington
Methodist Conference are becoming
tired OF political practices that creep
into the sessions Of the ministerial CON
ference Is evident from the tart state
ments made today by George E. King.
OF Epworth Church. this city. Mr..
King Is one Of the foremost membera
OF Epworth Church. and his remarks
were provodked by the charges attack
ing the validity Of the credentials oe
the Rev DR. A. W. Lightbourne thar
arc to be heard at the Conference
session beginning next week in AS
bury Church. The Epworth conere.
cation is standing behind Dr. Light
bourne in the present situation. he hav-
ing pen a pastor OF that church. and
poth Epworth Church and the Meth
odist church az Middletown have
ADOPTED resolutions expressing conf
dence IN the minister.
Mr. King attributes the charges
against Dr. Lightbourne to politics h,
the conference. '''e1 III
for political wire pulling some min
lsters could give lessons 10 ! -
Aaaloks In his palmiest days" saws Mr.
Methodist laymen have bsoon,.
thoroughly aroused at the condition -
alelrs existing among a large n,,,,ho,.
on the ministers OF the VVllminoto,,
conference, as revealed In tho mil
charges TO be brought against tbo p,,-
Dr. A. w. Llghtbourns. the riftod -
tor OK Wesley M. u. Church az 1,a,-o.
spirit OF jealousy that is entIrel,, nm
becoming. seems an too provaiene
among the ministers OF the Confer
onee. One preacher ia too plad N e,,,.
some tault IN his brother niniatsr.
which he can magnify ana "roi as a
sweet morsel beneath hia tongue LET
me say, the laymen of the Nathodist
Chureh are growing tired OF the nm
ohfisuanlika conduct OF some dsrelict
ciergymen OF their denomination. ana
VIII demand that they cease their pettv
Jealousies. backbiting and poiitical
vaccinations, and preach the GospeI.
Ior which we, as laymen, pay them
Praises Or. Lightbourne
ine ~caHe against Or. Lightbourna
savors OF persecution. and not prosa-
louuon. intellectually, he has no SUI
periors IN our Conference bounds. Re-
Tore returning to the ministry. which
ne temporarily abandoned in Young
manhood, he was editor-in-ohief Of the
NEW York Mall and Express for nine
years, and was afterward secretary OF
the Wool Exchange. OF New York.
Leaving these very lucrative secular
positions, on account OF a firm convic-
ton that he ought to preach the Cos
pei he accepted q small circuit position
on one OF the lower districts OF our
conference. In doing this Dr. Light
bourne sacrificed a life of luxury and
aifiuence TO which his abilities entitled
him. TO become a humble preacher oe
the Gospel OF course his brilliant at
tainments, as well as Cody life. imme-
diately attracted. attention, and his call
20 the more important appointments.
like Dover, was a natural sequence.
Naturally you would suppose his
brother ministers Of the Methodist
faith would be glad TO have suoh an
lable defender Of the faith In their
midst But, alas from appearances.
the very opposite is true. and there
seems TO have been a studied effort to
get rid of him. Beautiful exhibition OF
lbrotherly lovel At the present time. il
IFS reported, more than one preacher OF
the Conference Is travelling from place
/ 20 place-even going as far as the New
England States. where Dr. Ldghtbourns
formerly preached-trying 10 find evi-
idence to support a charge OF irregular
credentials. II is their open boast that
they viii expel this faithful preacher
from their fold They cannot find "a
flaw in his moral character so they
resort TO some charge Of insufficient
credentials. a charge TO which we lay
men attach no significance
I "Who pays the bills for travelling ex-
lpenses, etc. Of these detectives %
THE money that is contributed to SAL
aries Of preachers was never intended
lby those contributing to be used in any
such unholy employment. The appeal
Is made. very sanctimoniously. for Of
lferings to support the work of tho
Lord and then part Of those funds
are used to do work not Of the Lord.
These are plain words but I am speak
ling plainly, as 7 think the time has
come 10 call a halt
II am sorry 10 have to speak in
such manner Of some preachers Of my
own denomination, but their conduct
lalong these lines has become so dis
pleasing that some of us are almost
ASHAMED 10 be known as Methodists.
For political pulling and machl-
nations they are adopts, and could have
given j. Edward Addicks. In his palm-
lest days. lessons in that particular
accomplishment. In the midst Of this
class OF ministers appears Rev. DR.
lIightbourne. with high ideals and a
Christian character unimpeachable,
land he has bsen a thorn in their flesh.
His very. presence Is a stinging rebuke
to their unholy practices, hence the ef-
fort to dispose OF him."
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