The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1914-12-02
.THE conference ADJOURNS
Appointments For 1915 Anuounc-
ed at Close of Session.
Foal Session Marred By Personalities Growing Out of the
Nettles Case-Serious Charges Made
Against Preachers.

f. o. Watson for his long and faith
full service as secretary of the South
Carolina Conference.
:. b. Harper was elected secretary
of the South Carolina Conference and
II. f. Turnipsecd of the Upper South
Carolina Conference.
Upon motion of Rev. Watson T..
Duncan a vote of thanks was EXTEND
ed to the city of Sumter and it's people
for their hospitality, to TIE churches
of other denominations in the city, and
at the qualification of the Conference
at the presence of Bishop A. w. Will
son. Part Of the resolution referring
to Bishop Denny in complimentary
manner was stricken out st request
Of Bishop Denny, who declined to al
low this part of the motion to remain.
T. ii. Tatum of Bishopville was
elected Conference lay reader, vice
Charlton DuRant. who declined to ac-
cept the office.
p. Il. Wells was elected secretary
pro tenn of the Upper Conference to
make list Of pastors prior to the
meeting Of the 1915 Conference.
A list of the committee and board
appointments was then read and plans
made for their organization imme-
diately after the adjournment of the
Conference.
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 fifty-ninth and last ses-
sion Of the old South Carolina Meth
odist 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.
Stephen Abraham Nettles and not to
give him a regular pastorate. The
fight showed that there were many
warm friends of Rev. Nettles In both
tho South Carolina and the Upper
South Carolina Conferences, but that
these supporters Of Rev. Nettles were
in tho minority. Many eloquent and
able pleas were made in behalf of
Nettles, but these did not prove suf-
ficient to turn the tide in his favor. A
II. Best, j. J.. Harley, two of the sign
ers Of the resolution. took the floor in
urging its passage. but other than
these there were none to push the
motion. Mr.. Best is Of the Pacolet
Circuit. He thought that in mercy
to others the resolution should be
passed. Rev. Harley is chairman Of
the Anti-SaloOn League i'm this State
and, while a personal friend Of Net
tics. favored the resolution >aS he
thought it would be injurious to the
church to continue Nettles in q pas
torate. He thought this would be an
act Of mercy on Nettles. as he did not
believe that Nettles would be accept
able anywhere, and that his usefulness
had waned.
Rev. l.. +. Beatty, chairman Of the
Sunday school board, made "a strong
Plea for Rev. Nettles, who he said had
sinned no doubt. but others also had
sinned and he believed that Nettles
was sorry for his mistakes of the past
Rev. Il. l.. Wells also made "a strong
plea for mercy, saying that while Rev.
Nettles had not been acceptable to
some as editor of the Southern Chris
tian Advocate. it had never been
shown that he had not proved ac-
ceptablc i'm charge of pastoratc.
Rev. Best went over charges against
Rev. Nettles. which were tnreshed out
last year at the Rock Hill Confer
cncc.
Few. II. IL. DaSnall made a motion
10 table the motion, but his motion
Failed. Rcvs. L. +. Beatty, Henry
Stokes. Il. Il. Wells, Il. q. Guess, $. O..
Cantey. :. ID. Vaughn, G. G. Leonard
made pleas on behalf of Rev. Ncttlcs,
whne Rev. j. G. Chandler and others
asked for statement from Rev. Net
ties before they We're willing to vote
OH the question. IL was after there
had been repeated rcqucstS that Rev.
Ncttles hc heard from that he arose
from his seat and addressed the chair
for recognition.
AS he rose to make his defense cV-
cry person in the house leaned for
ward to hear what he had to say and
his words were listened to with the
greatest intentncss. He told uf how
as the son of u Methodist preacher
and knowing the hardships of Il
Methodist preachers life, he had re-
ccivcd the call To preach and aftc,
il had come to him again and AGAIN