Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1909-01-12
Rev. P. N. Dwello, of State Cen
ter Methodist Church, Defend
ant in Church Action
HEARING At TAmA WEDNESDAY
Rev. J. g. Wyatt, of Kenwood Park,
Cedar Rapids, Accuses DweIo and
Two Other Preachers With SANDER,
and Libel-History Of the case-six
Pastors on Committee.

An intensely interesting, and prob
ably highly sensational investigation
in the Methodist church will take
place Wednesday at Tama, when Rev.
p. N. Dwello, pastor of the Methodist
church at State Center. will defend
himself against charges of SANDER. libel
and the use of defamatory statements,
preferred by ]. B. Wyatt until recently
pastor at kenWood Park, Cedar Rapids
Associated with Mr.. Dwello. as CO.
defendants in the action, are Rev. w.
E. Ross, of GAINESVILLE, in the Cedar
Falls district, and Rev. c. w. Rogers
lately of Strawberry Point, in the Du-
however, is only against Dwello, be-
cause the other pastors are not mem
bers OF this district.
Hearing Begins at 10.
The hearing at Tama will be held in
the church Of Rev. H. o. Pratt, be-
ginning at 10 O'clock. Rev. w. F.
Pitner, OF this city, superintendent of
the Marshalltown district, will preside,
and an investigating committee Of
six pastors Of this district will hear
the evidence
What Caused Action.
The action against Rev. Mr.. Dwello
and his brother pastors had its incep-
ton at the last conference at Mt.
Vernon in October, when Dwello, Ross
and Rogers preferred charges against
Rev. Mr.. Wyatt, alleging that he did
not pay his debts. The preachers
bringing the charges were interested
because they had followed up Mr.. Wy
att in charges that he had filed, and
claim they experienced difficulty in
their work because of their predecess-
ors alleged failure to meet his financial
obligations.
Wyatt Withdraws; Charges Dropped.
Arrangeme were made to proceed
with an investigation before the con-
ference, but a compromise was effected,
whereby Wyatt agreed to withdraw
from the conference providing the
charges were dropped and the con-
ference would pass favorably on his
character. This the conference did,
and Wyatt surrendered his parchment.
He is now out of the ministry, altho
still member of the Methodist church.
Wyatt Now Seeks vindication.
Now Wyatt is seeking vindication,
and has brought the charges against
the preachers who caused him to lose
his position in the ministry.
II the case against Dwello should re-
suit in decision favorable to Wyatt,
It is presumed that similar actions
against Ross and Rogers will be
brought In their own districts. Dwello,
however, according to Wyatt, was the
leader In the charges against him, and
therefore he DIS making test case with
Dwello.
Should Dwello be convicted he will
simply be suspended from the ministry
until the next conference session. If
Dwello is acquitted Wyatt still has a
right to bring the charges at the next
session of the conference
Six Ministers on Committee.
The six ministers of the Marshall
town district who have been selected
to act as an Investigating committee
in Rev. Mr.. Dwello's case are DR.. III. o.
Pratt, of Tama; Rev. j. B. Jones, of
Geneva: Rev. j. H. Hayward, Of Mon
tour; Rev. N. A. Mershon, of Toledo;
Rev. A. r. Bishop, Of Iowa Falls; and
Rev. w. II. Donsr, Of Conrad.
Rev. L. L. Lockwood, Of Belle PLANE,
will act as attorney for Rev. Mr.. Wy
att. Rev. Mr.. Dwello will handle his
own case. with the assistance Of Rev.
J. II. Black, of Grundy Center.