The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-12-02
Conference Adjourns
Appointments for 1915 Announced at
Close of Session.
Final Session Marred by Personalities Growing Out
of the Nettles Case--Serious Charges Made
Against Preachers.
TSumter Item, November 3Oth.I

t6Q conference lay reaCeF, VICE SudEl'
ton DuRant who declined to accept the
Office.
P. B. Wells was elected secretary
pro tenn OF the Upper Conference to
raake list OF pastors prior TO the meet
ing of the 1915 Conference.
Alist of the committee and board
appointments was then read and plans
made for their organization Immediate
ly after the adjournment OF the Con-
ference.
Rev. J. B. Traywick made a beau
tiful prayer and after few words By
Bishops Wilson and Denny, the .ap-
pointments were read and the one
hundred and ffty-ninth and last session
OF the old South Carolina Methodist
Conference was held. In future there
will be two Conferences and two places
of meeting.
The feature of the days session was
the fight on the motion to locate Rev.
S. A. Nettles and not to give him reg
ular pastorate. The fight showed that
there were many warm friends Of Rev.
Nettles in both the South Carolina and
the Upper South Carolina Conferences,
but that these supporters of Rev Net
ties were in the minority. Many eio-
quent and able pleas were made in be-
half of Nettles, but these did not prove
sufficient to turn the tide in his favor.
A. e. Best, J. L. Harley, two Of the
signers of the resolution, took the floor
in urging its passage, but other than
these there were none to push the mo-
tion. Mr.. Best is of the Pacolet Cir
cult. He thought that in mercy to
others the resolution should be passed.
Rev. Harley is chairman Of the Anti
Saloon League in this State and, while
a personal friend of Nettles, favored
the resolution as he thought it would
be injurious to the church 20 continue
Nettles in pasvorate. He thought
this would be an act of mercy on Net
ties, as he did not believe that Nettles
would be acceptable anywhere, and
that his usefulness had waned.
Rev. L. F. Beatty, chairman OF the
Sunday school board, made strong
plea for Rev. Nettles, who he said had
sinned no doubt, but others also had
sinned and he believed that Nettles
vas sorry for his mistakes OF the past.
Rev. P. B. Wells also made a strong
plea for mercy, saying that while Rev.
Nettles had lot been acceptable to
some as editor of the Southern Chris
tian Advocate, it had never been shown
that he had not proved acceptable in
charge of pastorate. Rev. Best went
over charges against Rev. Nettles,
which were threshed out last year at
the Rock Hill Conference.
Rev. r. r. Dagnall made motion to
table the motion. but his motion failed.
Revs. L. F. Beatty, Henry Stokes, P.
3. Wells, B. G.. Guess, S. o. Cantey,
S. d. Vaughn, G. G. Leonard made
pleas on behalf of Rev. Nettles, while
J. G. Chandler and others asked for a
statement from Rev., Nettles before
they were willing to vote on the ques-
ton. It was after there had been re-
peated requests that Rev. Nettles be
heard from that he arose from his seat
and addressed the chair for recognition.
AS he rose to make his defense eY-
cry person in the house leaned for
ward to hear what he had to say and
his words were listened to with the
greatest intentness. He told of how,
as the son of of Methodist preacher
and knowing the hardships OF Meth
odist preachers life, he had received
the call to preach and after it had
come to him again and again, he went
into this work. For II years he filled
the pastorates to which he was sent
and Shen for nine years he had filed
the position as editor of the Southern
Christian Advocate. He had. during
that time never had any difficulty. with
any member OF the board and everyone
was now his firm friend and standing
by him. He realized his slults and
regretted them. No man could ever
say that he had lied and he despised a
lie. Ee had correspondence to prove
every charge he had ever made, but
thought that these charges should have
been brought before the Conference.
He still felt that he was called to preach
and he was willing to do what be be-
lieved to be his duty.
J. b. Mendley stated that he also
had had difficulty with Rev. Nettles in
the settlement OF his account. He
thought that he had been overcharged,
but was willing to pay for the sake OF
peace. At this point Rev. Nettles rose
and ask ! if he might ask a qrestion.
He was anted the privilege and ask.
ed if Mt .dley meant to say that he had
been charged what he did not owe.
Meudley stated that be did not think
that he owed as much as he had been
charged. Nettles then stated that he
had letters from subscribers stating
that they had turned over to Rev:
Mendley money which the latter had
not turned over to him. Mendley
further stated that he had heard Net
ties say that certain man had lied,
while he was discussing the settlement
with Nettles. After some more dis
cussion the vote vas called for and
Nettles was located.
SUNDAY SERVICE.
Sunday morning there was preach.