Year: 1876

nee' W uIaVet 6elolLuetb W toe OnhrBos


Against him.


Rev. Uriel Graves, who has been m lie promi-
nent among preachers by charges preferred
against him before the Lutheran Synod, which
concluded its session in this city on Monday,
fearing that the investigation would be re-
ferred to committee before he would have
an opportunity to place himself in proper
light before the world, would not consent to
such reference until he was allowed to read
before the Synod denial of the changes.


We had not space to permit his replies yes
terday, but in justice to the accused and for
the Information of the public 1t Is printed this
morning. Mr.. Graves does not reply psrticu-
1arly to an intimation in one of the specifca-
tions that he borrowed money On false pre-
tences, but made verbal statement to the
effect that he knew nothing upon which this
indefinite charge was based. The following is
his statement, read Just before the adjourn
nent of the Synodical convention:


RELIES.


Dear Brethren Of the Synod of Maryland:
can but thank you, on my own account, for the
patience you have manifested IN giving two
entire days to the investigation of charges pre-
ferred against me by two brethren of this body.
Influenced by the belief that the time cannot
be given at this convention essential to fully
investigate ard thoroughly settle this matter,
and profoundly awake to the damage done my
self by the spreading before the Synod, and,
through her, before the werld, charges which
two days investigation, in my opinion, have
utterly failed to substantiate, and which, If
due time be given me, believe can, to the
entire satisfaction of this honorable body of
ministers and laymen, prove to be without
valid foundation in fact. / ask hearing at
my hands of formal denial to each charge
and specification thereunto annexed. / can
only pray that until the charges can be proved
a wise and discriminating public will withhold
its verdict.


On the principle that "the accused is pre-
sumed to be innocent until proven guilty."
desire it to be borne in mind that during two
whole days the prosecution have not succeeded
in establishing single count In their declara-
ton, nor yet consented to vote on solitary
specification. l therefore affirm that, in NY
opinion, by the evidence have already given,
and such additional testimony as am able to
furnish now if needed, l can prove to your
satisfaction myself not guilty of either charge
or specification.


Under the first charge, to w.t.: schism,
make answer, first, that by the meetings held
with the young men of my church in the
church building, and without the knowledge
and consent of the council Of said church,
nothing in wrong, in design, or schismatic in
operation was intended. These meetings were
not held at midnight" but at seasonable
hours, both by day and night, and there was
nothing done at these gatherings unbecoming
or in violation of good order and decency.


2. The meetings at Raine's hall, at which l
preached, am prepared to..prove by all who
had anything to do with my preaching there
that my part of the work did in no way in
terfere with my pastoral duties at the Third
church, and that such service did in no way
foster the division of said church.


8. affirm my preparation now to lay be-
e. TX u. HI -
every unbiased mind the full conviction that
whatever may have said about my ideas of
organizing q church at some future day after
my own idea Of what should constitute Luth-
eran church had no design to influence any
member Of the Third church, of Baltimore,
to withdraw from said church, or in any way
to distract the congregation.


+. can prove, l believe, to the perfect salts
faction of the Synod that did not use the
records of the Third church as a means Of in
formation or guide to the new congregation
in any wise detrimental to the old society.


CoNTUNACY.


L am ready at any time you will give a hear
ing to my vindication to prove by compe ent
evidence that l have not manifested contu-
macy in my office as pastor; that In
every instance / gave due consideration
to the well-considered and Christian advice of
my elders and deacons, and that In every case





q deep conviction of my own judgment that
the counsel offered was not wise, and in mat
tiers in which felt in duty bound not to 90
against the convictions of my own judgment;
that / am not aware of having used abusive
and injurious expressions nor slang phrases,
and If / did it was probably in the heat OF ex-
temporaneous uttersnces in temperance lee
lures. did not write any letters that / con-
sidered or that can be fairly shown to have
been incendiary and abusive. did not ignore
the rights of the council in simply asserting
my own rights. I did not neglect my pastoral
work, but am prepared to prove that did
more preaching, holding prayer and lecture
meetings in my church, and more pastoral
visiting than was done during the same period
by any one of my fellow Lutheran ministers
in Baltimore. By giving public readings and
paid lectures did not neglect my pulpit and
pastoral work, and while l did this in some
instances for money, 1t was for the purpose of
enabling me to pay more speedily some debts
l had incurred before coming to Baltimore,
and which debts my moderate salary did not
enable me to hquidate as rapidly as desired.
Moreover, in these lectures and readings am
not aware Of having made an unbeeoming ex-
bibition OF myself.


3. DEFAMATION OF HIS BRETHREN.


l did not say in an assembly of another de-
nomination that the unfriendly attitude of
some Luthern ministers toward me was caused
by their want of sympathy with rev1vals.
attributed their hostility to different cause.
In speaking of ring unfriendly to me to re-
porter of the Baltimore Gazette, alluded to
parties not living in Baltimore or Maryland.
The reporter may have misunderstood me.


4. PECUNIARY OBLIGATIONS.


1 have never evaded my pecuniary obliga-
tions, or eQuivocated in regard to them. have
always acknowledged my just debts. If have
neglected courteous letters, IT was by oversight
or forgetfulness. In public statement in my
farewell sermon in the Third church, and pub
lished in the Lutheran ObSerUer, stated what
l 1regarded as true. If there was any inaccu-
racy, it was from the failure to recall, at the
moment, every item. l have never concealed
the fact that my wife has debts in her own
name, as she also holds property in her own
right.


l acknowledge that by misfortune became
involved in debt in Pennsylvania before / came
to Baltimore, but have never repudiated
them. gave my creditors the best security
in my power. Since came to Baltimore
have paid out of my moderate salary S416
yearly on those debts. still acknowledge all
my just debts and my wife's, and will pay on
them as speedily as my revenues from salaries
or raid lectures, &C., shall enable me. These
statements believe can establish as soon as
the Synod can find time to give hearing to