The Washington herald., 1911-08-08


served to-day upon Rev. F. J. Pretty
man. presiding elder of the Washing
ton district NJ. Z. Church South, TO
appear for trial at the September
term in this county for defamation Of
character in the case OF DR.. J. o.
Knott, who recently appealed from an
adverse decision in Washington, d.
c. The matter against DIR. Prettyman
originated with the officials of the
church OF which DIR. Knott has been
pastor until recently.
They feel the civil court will give
justice where the ecclesiastical court
did not. The officials OF the church
met this afternoon and agreed 10 ad-
vertis, for sale within thirty days
to the highest bidder the new church,
including both the church and parSon-
age. The membership is united in its
protest against having any official
connection with DR.. Prettyman.
When the above dispatch was brought
TO the attention of Rev. Forest J. Pret-
lyman. of this city, who IS presiding
elder Of the Washington district Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South. he
declined absolutely TO discuss 1t, either
for publication or otherwise. He pointed
out that when announcement was made
last Friday of the action of Bishop Col
lins Denny in ordering the expulsion of
Rev. J. Q. Knott from the church, both
as member and minister. PrettyInan
had made no statement and that the
same conditions which then rendered II
impossible for him TO discuss the case
in any way wrr- operative now. Under
his VOWS to the church Dr. Prettyman
felt that it was impossible for him TO
disclose the nature OF the charge upon
which Mr. Knott was tried OF say any
thing about the trial.
Problem Arises.
The appeal taken to the courts for re-
dress in behalf Of Mr. Knott. at War
renton. raises several very interesting
questions, not the least important OF
which is, ITO what extent may civil
tribunal review or pass judgment upon
the action of an ecclesiastical COURT?
Knott was tried before regularly
constituted ecclesiastical tribunal. In
the parlance of the church of which he
was a member. il was called a com
mittee on trial. and Bishop Collins
Denny. OF Richmond, who presided. was
stvled its '.chairman." Still. the "COm-
mittee on trial was, in fact, a court
OF thirteen brothers of the cloth Of Mr..
Knott all Clcrgymen OF the Methodist
Episcopal Church South, and what they
did was TO sit as a jury. or rather as
iuriStS on the bench hearing the evidence.
The thirteen men serving in this ca
paCity did not eXpel Mr.. Knott. That
action was taken by Bishop Denny. who,
as chairman. sat in the capacity Of trial
Judge. and when the thirteen clergymen
brought in their verdict of guilty, bishop
Collins. as judge. imposed punishment.
His sentence was that Knott should he
expelled both from ''membcrshiD and
ministry in the church. From this
there was TO appeal except to a standing
board of appeals Of the church. Of which
Bishop Denny is chairman.
Court Dismissed Former Case.
More than ten years ago it was held
by the Supreme Court of tho District
of Columbia in a case involving the un-
froCking OF clergyman, that 1t was he
yond the Jurisdiction OF the civil courts
to pass Judgment in review upon the rec
ord Of an ecclesiastical trial, If the
church court were regularly constituted
and based On proper ecclesiastical pro-
cedure
The dispatch from Warrenton does not
make it clear that the loyal supporters Of
Mr.. Knott at Warrenton intend TO ask
10 nave any OF IIt proceedings or lne
court which met in the trial
Of his case at Mount Vernon Church last
week reviewed, hut that separate pro-
cecdings have been instituted involving
alleged defamation of character.
The extent to which the civil court or
a grand jury may be authorized to trench
upon the proceedings of a star cham
ber" church court in such a case raises
several Very interesting legal and eCclesi-
aStiCal questions. II the charge of defa-
ma ton Is based upon something said
outside Of the ecclesiastical court, state
mentS made by members of the church,
whom Mr.. Knott regarded as prejudced
against him, and made at WarrentOn in
the preliminary investigation Of the case,
the situation may assume n wholly diff
ferent aspect, but If the civil proceedings
Instituted at WarrentOn are broad enough
to involve a review by secular courts of
Interesting clash OF judicial authority
would follow that lawyers and church
men Of all denominations would follow
with tense interest.
Knott left Washington last Saturday.
While here he was with his wife at the
Hotel Harris, near the Union Station
With them was registered friend whose
name is on the blotter of the hostelry as
Miss Grail, Atlanta, Ga" There is mail
at the hotel awaiting the call
Of Mr.. Knott. who registered as from
Va, and Is believed 10 have
gone to that place.