The Washington times., 1931-09-29
BISHOP CALLS
= PARLEY Of
ELDERS
Secrecy Hides Whether Trial
Of Pastor. Is Discussed;
Roanoke Session on Tonight
Nv Times staff Correspondent

ROANOKE, Va, Sept. 29.-With
the secret trial and acquittal OF
the Rev. DR.. William A. Shelton
pastor of the Mt. Vernon Place
Church, in Washington, forgotten
rs far as possible, the 147th SeS,
sion Of the Baltimore conference
Of the Methodist EpiscopalChurch
South got under way here today
Theology, church business, and
devotion were the only problems
admittedly before the conference,
but there was an air of expect.
ancc concerning possible reactions
f. om the Washington pastors
trial i'm Alexandria last week on
charges made by his former secre-
tary, Miss Carrie Williams.
Hints were heard that a de-
mand for church action against
DR.. Shelton's accusers would be
made.
Plot Charge Hangs
Supporters of the Capital
clergyman, who was declared
absolutely innocent" by a jury
of ministers, have freely asserted
DR., Shelton was the victim Of a
plot and that the charges were
preferred only to vilify him.
The likelihood that the Rev.
DR.. w. e. Lambeth, who preceded
DR.. Shelton at the Mt. Vernon
Place Church, would be involved
In counter charges was slim. how
ever, despite that he was con-
sidered the ace prosecution wit
ness at DR.. Shelton's trial.
Clergymen pointed out that DR..
Iambeth's pastorate at Durham.
N. c., was in the North Carolina
Methodist Conference, not in the
section meeting here today. which
includes part of Virginia and
West Virginia and all of Mary
land and the District Of Colunl-
bia.
Matter Of Jurisdiction
It was explained that the
present conference, having no
jurisdiction over DR.. Lambeth,
would be unable to consider any
plea for further exoneration Of
Dr. Shelton except as 1t might be
confined to the Baltimore Con-
ference and separate from any
consideration Of DR.. Lambeth's
part in the case.
Bishop z. d. MOuzOn, of Char.
iOtte, N. c., the head Of the con.
ference, is, however, also the
leader of the North Carolina
division. As such, he would per-
sOnally entertain any demand for
q church trial of DIR. Lambeth, pro-
vided charges were brought In
either district.
Bishop Mouzon held a brief
meeting with his cabinet of eight
elders yesterday, and another
meeting was called today. The
proceedings were secret, and if
friends of DR.. Shelton presented
any appeal for prosecution Of his
accusers, the fact was carefully
guarded.
The annual meetings of the
elders and ministers of the North
Carolina conference will be held
later in the fall.
Opening Tonight
The formal opening of the five
day session Of the Greene Me.
mortal Methodist Church was set
for tonight, with DR.. Nolan A.
Harmon, editor of the Baltimore
Southern Methodist, the preacher.
The bishops meeting with his
elders was the only business on
today's calendar.
The statement last week by
DR.. w. s. Hammond that the
trial ended the Shelton case as
far as the conference was con-
cerned was not accepted as
literally true, although the Mar
tinSburg, w. Va. minister was
designated by Bishop Mouzon to
preside at the trial in his alb
gence.
Nevertheless. It was held Ger.
tain further proceedings, IL any,
would be undertaken as gingerIy
rs possible, it being obvious the
church did not relish the recent
ecclesiastical quiz of the Wash.
ington cleric, one Of its greatest
scholars,
The Rev. J. H. Balthis. of
washington, and the Rev. z. v.
REGISTER, of Alexandria, Shelton
prosecutor, are among the board
Of elders.