The Mathews journal. (Mathews C.H. [Court House]) 1903-1937, 1912-11-28
VALIANT REMAINS
With METHODISTS

LYNCEBURG. VA Special
Religious services were conducted
ut the opening Of Saturdays ses
sion Of the Methodist Conference
this morning by Rev. ]. H. KRbler.
After the singing of n hymn and
prayer, Bishop Denny gave an
other talk, based on the fourth
chapter John, which engaged the
wrapt attention of the audience.
The speaker, in forceful words.
spoke of the dynamic power OF
Christ, without which the world
cannot be saved He spoke of the
tnadeQuacy of Christian Science 10
meet mans needs, and said that
Moses went down into Egypt to-
do slum work. There he was
forced to kill n man. Il took God
forty years 10 teach Moses the les
sons he needed, and then he be-
came one of the meekest men OH
earth.
Bishop Denny spoke OF the nom
aSgreSSiveneSS of CnitariSm and
its failure to evangelize the world.
His reference to the Bible and the
origin OF our chronology was
strong.
The minutes of Fridays ses-
sion were reid and approved.
Kew. DIR. BIcCsoc- read Christian
greetings TO the Conference from
the Baptist Association, in session
at Petersburg, which was n cordial
recfprocation of the spirit and SEN
ttnlent expressed I'm the message
from the Conference.
MIR. w. w. Vicar made a report
of the Preachers Relief Society.
II was requested that the follow
ing be elected directors of the So
cicty:
II. Ferguson, j. O. Reed. j. E.
Granny, e G.. MoSeley, +. W.
White, S. .. Collins and w. w.
Vicar.
CASE OF VALIANT.
Rev. j. l.. Valiant, who was ac-
cuSed OF ineiiCienCy by his pre-
siding elder, DIR. Il. N. Potts, re-
summed his defense OF yesterday.
DIR. It. N. Potts took the floor
and made a strong speech, in
which he declared that Mr.. Valiant
was utterly deficient for the work
OF travelling preacher.
DIR. w. w. Lear followed In a
speech In Valiant's defense.
DIR. Lear commended that Mr..
valiant had done good work,
as the reports from time to time
shows. DIR. Lear recalled the his
tory of MIR. FaIiant's connection
with the Virginia Conference,
and spoke highly of his work on
the West Buckingham circuit,
which was in DIR. Lear's district.
DIR. James Cannon followed MFR.
Lear. DIR. Cannon said that the
Berlin circuit, which Dir. Valiant
had served, and other charges he
had severed, owing to environ
HetltS, were not n proper test OF
preachers success. II any
other preacher had been put 10
the same test, he said. a similar
failure would have taken place.
DIR. w. III. Edwards, OF Rich
mond, gave n history OF the Ber-
lin circuit, declaring IL To be a
very hard field.
Dr. Potts replied that IL was
largely through his own efforts
that Berlin had made as good
report as has been made.
Rev. y. IA Jolllff, presiding
elder of Petersburg, who had Mr..
Valiant In his district, said that
the people of that vicinity de-
ciared Mr.. Valiant TO be utterly
lacking in common sense. They
also were heard TO declare, ne
NOulu lOt near
him preach.
Rev. q. IL. Lambeth said that
If Mr.. Valiant Is to be located on
account OF his unsatisfactory re-
port while he was pastor Of West
chesterfield, then number of
other pastors in the Petersburg
District ought To be located, in
asmuch as their reports were no
better than his.
THOUGHT HIM UNSUITED.
Rev. T.. T. Dadmun said that
while ne sympafhIzed with Mr..
valiant, lie thought he was un-
suited for the Itinerancy, but
thought lie would be useful In
the local ranks.
Rev. II. Nj. Beckham said that
the fact that MFR. Valiant had
been moving from circuit to cir
cult and from conference to con-
ference was proof of the fact
that he was inefficient While
ne sympathized with Mr.. Valiant,
Mr.. Beckham syInpathized more
with the church than he did
with Mr.. Valiant or any other
preacher. He thought Mr.. Va
liant ought TO be located.
DIR. w. a. Christian, In a
strong speech, said that while
there were a number of witnesses
I'm the case the conference had
heard many of these witnesses.
He argued that the people of
the church whom he had served
ought to be heard, declaring
that they had asked for Mr.. Va
liant's removal.
DIR. Christian strongly re-
viewed the testimony OF these
witnesses and Thoughts that as q
matter OF justice 10 tie church
and TO MFR. Valiant that he
should be- located.
The vote was taken. with f03
for retaihing Mr. Valiant I'm the