The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1911-08-10
DR.. PRETTYMAN SUED
Charges Made Against Or. ]. 0.
Knott.
CHURCH CASE TAKEN TO COURT

Charges OF defamation OF charac-
ter were filed Monday in Warrenton
against Rev. Or. +. J. Proityman.
presiding elder of the Washington
district. NJ. Il. Church, South, as a
result of charges said to have been
made by DR.. Prettyman against Rev.
DR.. j. o. Knott. former pastor OF
the Epworth Methodist Church. Alex
andria, and later pastor OF The War
renton church. As a resnult OF the
charges against the Rev. Or. Knott,
he was expelled from the ministry
OF his church last week. DR.. Pretty
man has been ordered TO app ar at
the September term OF court at
WarrentOn.
Members Of DR.. Knott's former
congregation in Warrenton are re-
sponslble for the action against DR..
Prettyman Indignant oyer the dis
missal of their pastor. they have de
cided TO ignore the church authOri-
ties. and carry the matter into the
civil courts. They feel the church
authorities have done a grave injus-
tice.
The members OF the congregation
held meeting in Warrenton Mon
day and decided to offer for sale
within 80 days the new church and
parsonage which they recently pur-
chased The membership of the
church is united in its protest againiS
having any official connection with
DR.. Prettyman.
They charge the church trial was
held a secret, that Rev. DR.. Knott
had no opportunity to defend him
self. DR.. Prettyman has been noti-
fled OF the case filed against him.
The high position of DR.. Pretty
man I'm the church and the popular
ity OF DR. Knott in the Baltimore
conference has added significance
to the controversy.
Just what the charges against DR..
Knott were has never been made
public. The hearings were held be-
fore "A special committee sitting in
the Mount Vernon Place Church, in
Washington, last week. They were
conducted with great secrecy.
DR.. Prettyman assisted in the
prosecution against DIR. Knott. DR..
Prettyman refused to discuss the
charge against him, or the charges
against DR.. Knott The question
is entirely a church one he said. and
Il Is not proper for the public to
know anything about it, DR. Knott
is in Warrenton. and is expected
to leave shortly for Europe with his
wife
Immediately after the announce
ment OF the committee which con-
Quoted the hearing. Rev. DR.. Kern,
of counsel for Rev DR.. Knott, noted
an appeal to the genreal conference
committee OF the church. The mat
ter will also be called to the at
tentiOn OF the general conference
in Richmond next March. The find
ings Of the committee were announc-
ed by Bishop Denny, who presided
at the trial
During the hearing DR.. Knott
made a vigorous denial of the
charges. He minated they had
been made by enemies. A number
OF witnesses We're called by both
sides. Members of his congregation
absolutely refused to believe the
charges and stood solidly back OF
him.
II is understood Or. Knott did not
want to bring suit against DR.. Pref
lyman. but that his congregation IN
sisted in taking action.
Members Of the congregation have
refused to make public just what
connection DR. Prettyman had with
the bringing OF charges against DR.
Knott. As presiding elder Of the
Washington district It is supposed to
be his duty TO assist in prosecuting
any minister OF the district against
whom charges have been brought
DR.. Knott yesterday said he did
not desire to discuss the charges
He added it was an ecclesiastical pre-
ceeding and therefore not a public
one. He said he hoped the matter
would be finally settled with the
right prevailing. He minated hli
home people are better judges OF his
guilt or innocence than the mem
bers OF the trial committee, who, II
instances know him but slightly.