Richmond planet., 1910-04-30

An unusual combination OF cir
cumstances prevails at the session Of
the annual conference of the Afri-
can Methodist Episcopal Church. OF
New Jersey. which met Thursday
at Camden. y. j.. in it's thirty-eighth
annual session in Macedonia a. NJ. +.
Church at Third and Spruce Streets.
where the Bishop Wesley J. Gaines.
is presiding and yet is held und er
$1,000 bail on the charge Of en-
bezzling some Of the accounts OF the
conference funds.
Every effort was made to create an
impressive scene when the confer
ence opened this morning. but the
friends OF the Bishop prevented Il.
Instead OF permitting their director
TO board the pulpit OF Macedonia
Church and be arrested just as he
was in the act OF calling the con
ference to order, his friends advised
him that he had better accompany
them 10 the nearest once OF n mag.
istrate and learn more about war.
rant that was said to be out for his
arrest. In the meanwhile IL was learn.
Ell that a constable from Jersey City
had arrived in town and was hunt
he was under arrest.
The Bishop was directed TO 20 be
fore Justice OF the Peace :. =.
Colding, at Ann and Chestnut Streets
Tor a preliminary hearing In the
meantime while the secretary OF the
conference. Rev. Joseph II. Morgan.
OF Bordentown. Was told that the
Bishop was ready to submit 10 arrest
and the secretary went 70 the Office
OF the magistrate where. he was met
by the Bishop. Secretary Morgan
was represented by SpeI ~ Simpson.
attorney at law. OF this city.
Toe complaint was read and the
Bishop admitted the charge except
that the Finance Committee had
authorized the payment OF the al
legged embezzled funds. He was i'm
mediately placed under $1,000 bail
for a further hearing TO be held i'm
Jersey City, Saturday morning az ten
O'Clock. Bail TO the sum OF $1,000
Was promptly supplied and the
Bishop returned 20 resume the
charge OF conference. An effort was
made TO oust him on the charge of
being under a criminal Indictment
but failed and the voice Of Bishop
Gaines prevails over the sessions.
The charges leading up TO the ar.
rest OF the Bishop date back for some
time. The complaint. however. which
was made before Justice OF the Peace
Robert Miller. in Jersey City. on
Tuesday directs that the Bishop be
taken into custody and brought 10
Jersey City 70 answer the charge of
maladministration and misappropri-
alton OF funds in connection with
the thirty seventh annual session of
the New Jersey Conference OF the
\. NJ. r. Church which was held in
that city April 1926, 1909. II Is
charged that he caused TO be appro-
priated from the expense money that
should have gone TO the benefit Of
superannuated ministers and widows
the sum OF $3.50. In accounting for
this expenditure it is stated that
the Bishop caused 20 be entered on
the books OF the conference "Mlscel-
laneOus Accounts of Conference
$50"
Just how long this practice has
been in existence the warrant does
not state. but II is alleged by his
accusers that he charges when press
has been in progress for a number
or years and that it's scope not only
covers an operation In New Jersey
but also in New York and Pennsyl-
Vanla' which conferences are also in
charge OF the Bishop. who has vet
two years to serve before his time
OF appointment will expire.
II seems that the Bishop receives
a salary OF $4,000 per annum as
Bishop from all three conferences.
To this amount he is allowed a spe.
cial appropriation OF $500 as expense
money. But from all accounts the
members Of the black cloth cannot
live on That salary and is compelled |
to have other assistance. This. seems
to be the wrong doing of the Bishop. |
II is charged that the Bishop names |
his finance committee but a few
before the appointments in |
pastorates are read. Add
ed TO this is the charge that no on
portunity is given the conference to
approve of the appointments of the
Bishop, for If they did there would
be some very undesirable appoint
ments to follow. So that all which
for the members OF the con-
ference is to let the appointmentsl
of the finance committee go by with.
Dut voice of protest.
Ten accusers OF the Bishop charged
hat he meets the finance Committed
and directs them to appropriate the
sum of $3.50 to himself as "ex-
1t is said that he has not
pet been turned down In his demands
md that in this sort OF graft" hel
receives at least $500 more to his
salary and expenses OF $500 an.
lually.
Although the case has taken on