Evening journal., 1921-10-14
FAIR TRIAL To
REV. WESTERN,
SAYSDR. WATT
tcontInued From FIrst rare.l


majority OF the citizens Of Eikton
sympathise with Mr.. Western and |
regard his treatment Of our church |
as an outrage II these statements |
concerned the writer personally, un-
less they maligned his character, |
they would have been permitted TO |
pass unheeded. but since they in
volVe the judicial processes to the |
discredit OF our Methodist denomina-
ton silence would be ineXcusa BILE.
what we're some OF those state |
ments? The public having been in |
formed with a show of credence that |
certain things were affirmed of the |
public mind in the town Of Elkton |
ragardng our church. It is simply in
the interest OF truth that those state |
ments be examined in the light Of /
the facts.
Despite the action OF the Con-
ference presumably the Quarterly
Conference. as the Trial Court is
meanD in unfrocking Western, It Is
evident that a large part OF the Elk
ton people are sympathetic with him,
and think that he has been maltreat-
ed by the church. The majority Of
the citizens have given vent to ex-
preston OF disapproval concerning
the nature Of the Trial accorded
western By the conference. and
characterize the demotion OF the
minister from the plane OF the pull
pit 10 that OF a layman as unjust
and unwarranted, either by the Ec-
clesiastical or civil law These
people regard the treatment OF West
rem by the conference, as an out
rage.
Now what are the fscts7 The
law Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church is very clear in all these mat
terss it declares that located
Minister is local preacher. II In Or
iers. then Local Deacon or Elder.
Every man who enters the Ministry
of our Church knows this and know
ing il consents to il and submits
himself 10 its operation. And the
man in question admitted in let
ter that he was simply a Local Elder.
whence the outrage spoken OF
LAS TO the process OF the trial
there is this to be said. As a prose-
cutting witness the writer could not
preside at the trial. but In accord
ance with the judicial processes OF
our church appointed an able elder
to act as president OF the trial court.
Mr. Western was waited on month
prior to the trial He was defiant and
and wiiful. He was informed month
before his trial that his conduct
would necessitate summoning him
before a tribunal for trial He ac-
cepted the situation and said in the
presence OF two witnesses that
month was SUFFICIENT in which to
prepare. He was asked II he de-
sired counsel. He replied no, 40
not want any counsel. He was
Uniformed that he could act as his
own counsel. He had full notice
Of the charges. a copy Of which was
In his hands in full time FOR de-
fence. Further although our law
does not permit anyone to act as
counsel except a member OF our
denomination the church granted
him the privilege OF having a law
yer not a member OF any church TO
sit with him and prompt him. The
representatives Of the press we're pres
ent and published the facts and said
that the church showed every cour-
tesv 10 the accused, and granted him
unusual privileges The trial was
conducted according to the recog-
nized judicial processes Of our de-
nomination. Mr. Western as a
former member OF an Annual Con-
ference knew all this. He entered
no protest. He did do this
'Three times as OF date OF Sep
q
asked for a postponement and in
each instance asked also for a
change OF venue: Furthermore he
appeared before the trial court, and
submitted TO trial acting as his owr
counsel with the advice OF his law
yer. It is apparent 70 anyone who
knows anything Of legal matters thai
these acts admitted jurisdiction, ever
had the Methodist church no Law
covering such cases. But our Law
and procedure are well known.
FOR example. when an Offence
is committed provision is made b.
which the offender is tried within
the bounds Of the district where th'
offence Is committed. Further, fl
the case of a local preacher he i
tried by a jury Of his peers, viz
either the district or quarterly con
ference. II no district conference
exist. then he is tried by the quar-
terlv conference. This is specihcall,
covered and provided for in Meth
odist law and procedure.
"The rights Of the accused ar
amplv protected. He can challeng
for cause. He can appeal, unless h
: forfeit that right by misconduct afte
the trial.
'Much is made in the news col
umns over the so-called degrade
ton Of Mr.. Westren TO the plane o
the local ministry The slghtes
familiarity with Methodist law ant
procedure would have shown tn
parties concerned that when a min
lister is located he automaticail
becomes local preacher. II
deacon OF elder. then he is simply
local elder Mr.. Western over hi
own signature so characterizes him
self. and without complaint. II
was defining his status in our min
istry. There is no question Of de
gradation in this process. it is mere
~ a legal detail familiar to ever
Methodist preacher and this is IN
first time Il has ever been called
question or ministerpreted.
Now as TO the question raised I
Mr.. Western concerning his leg
status after or before expulsio
-