The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-16
His Veracity Questioned
by Minister Accused
of Ineficiency.
WOMEN DONOTGET
RIGHTS OF LAITY
Whole Question Is Laid on
Table by Overwhelming Ma
jority-Case of Rev. J. F.
Valiant Not Disposed OF.
Ministers Received and
Characters Passed.

Lyn chburg, Va, November ls.-That
which echpsed everything else in the
way OF a special feature on the ioor
OF the Virginia Conference OF the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
during the session OF to-day was the
following statement made by Rev. J..
r. Valiant, of Berlin, Nd. with refer
ence TO a letter written to him by
Rev r. N Potts. presiding elder Of
the Eastern Shore District: Il hold in
my hand a letter from DR.. Potts. The
whole letter is false from start to
finish
The arrival of the hour for an order
of the day prevented the reading OF
. the letter TO the conference. which he
was about to do. but he will be heard
at later session. This unusual oc-
currence on the floor OF the confer
ence grew out Of the fact that DIR.
Potts had made a motion that the con-
ference locate Mr.. Valiant. on the
ground of inefiiciency, as a travelling
preacher.
Mr. Valiant, not being willing to be
located, was granted the privilege of
giving his reasons on the conference
foor why he should not be located.
When DR.. Potts made the motion that
Nr. Valiant be located. Mr.. Valiant at
once asked that he be given the prtvi-
lege OF speaking to the conference in
his own defence. Bishop Denny grant
ed him the privilege. stating thSt to
be the right Of every preacher under
such conditions.
valiant Makes Defense.
Mr.. Valiant stated that he had been
a travelling preacher in the confer
ence for twenty-five years, and that
the arraignment for insfaciency as a
. cause for his location had been brought
against him not only by one presiding
elder, but by three. He said next
that in making his defense he had put
In writing WHAT he hsd 10 ~.
He referred first in his written ac-
count to the disorganized condition Of
church which he had served recently.
and Of how the iII-feeling existing be-
tween some Of the members had been
a great hindrance in the progress Of
the work which he had attempted to
do. He cited as one instance an official
member of the church. whose dealing in
real estate transactions had been such
as to cause him to be considered dis
honest. and that he. a. his pastor. had
felt that man should be removed. and
some one else be elected in his place.
He said that he had consulted DR..
Potts about the matter. and that DR..
Potts advised against the removal Of
the official He cited next an instance
where he had received word from DIR.
Potts that ten candidates at one place
desired to unite with the church. and
that when he went to find them he
could find only one candidate. and he
had not yet united with the church
He said he was giving this simply as
information and not with the desire
to question bis word
He then produced q letter which he
had received from On. Potts, and said.
and this letter u false from start to
finish"
This expression was mot with oppost-
ton by several members Of the con-
ference. who claimed such charges
should not be allowed to be made by
one preacher against another on the
conference door, but that before q
committee was the proper place for
them to be made, II the making Of
charges was necessary.
Bishop Denny held that q preacher
recommended for location against his
will. had the right to make his defense
on the conference floor
AeD0Faal Service.
The hour for the memorial service
as the order Of the day having ar
rived. Nr. Valiant retired from the
floor and this matter Of his defense
against location will be resumed at
later session Of the conference.
Contrary to the expectation Of many
visitors present when the order OF the
day arrived for the consideration Of
the resolution with regard TO granting
to the women Of the church equal
right With the laity. but in keeping
with the expectation Of many o. the
members Of the conference. the whole
matter was laid on the table without
discussion.
W. w. Royal read again the reso-
luton on this question that he had
read on Thursday.
After the reading. DR.. Royal spoke
TO the question, and In beginning his
remarks. he said: II am in favor OF
granting TO these Cody women ali the
rights which they are seeking He
said further that what he had to say
he wanted To -clesr the ground for
what Nigh: be said on this gr-a; cues
ton and avoid misunderstanding He
called attention to the fact. FIRST that
the pubic generally docs not under
stand the differences between the an
nual conference and the general confer
ence. ard does not know that only the
general conference 10 the Iaw-makinx
cody OF the church
He said further that he hoped no
lengthy discussion OF this subject
would ensue. sand SAID that his con-
nec,son with II wss not OF his seek
Sne and not Of his avoiding. The
question involved In the resolution. he
SaiA. wss simply the rsquest from
lie.eVe women for :ee.eee men % the
church 70 give them rights somewhat
correia;ivc with those which the men
eajoy.
BISHOP Denny asked the aaeOtton "
@ granting the right u she pulpit 20
- women was saclUoe4 On the vsgbss
/; q the Iasty 1avesvea - the reOoou-
C00eiouO1 e UlG0ob HuDA