Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1893-02-25
CONGRESS-.

creasing the appropriation for the ex-
penses of the civil service commission
was adopted. Mr. Harris of Tennessee,
said he would be glad to have the act
which created it struck from the stat
ute book. Mr. Mcpherson introduced
resolution directing the finance COM
mittee to ascertain during the recess of
Congress the effect of the tariff laws
upon imports, the growth, development
and prices Of agriculture and manuiac-
turing articles at home and abroad, and
upon wages.
The House held a night session to
consider private pension bills but no
quorum was present.
SAYS IT Is A SLANDER.-The GAZETTE
recently reproduced an article from the
Fredericksburg Lance which stated that
Rev. X. C. Anderson, married Metho-
dist minister, on the Stafford circuit,
had been forced to leave that section on
account of his attentions to l6-year-
old girl, member of his congregation.
In reference to the matter Rev. Rum
sey Smithson, Presiding Elder of the
Stafford circuit. says:
l have been personally acquainted
with Rev. Il. c. Anderson for several
years. He lived in the bounds of the
Winchester district, of which | was pre-
siding elder for four years, ending with
my appointment to the Fredericksburg
charge. 1t was at my instance that he
was appointed by Rev. DR.. Hough, OF
Washington District, as supply in
charge of Stafford circuit.
He came to the Methodist Episcopal
Church, South, about four years ago.
For number of years prior to uniting
with the Methodist Episcopal Church,
South, he was in the local ministry of
the Methodist Protestant Church and
represented his circuit as lay delegate
in the Maryland annual conference of
that church. He was also recommend
cd bv the quarterly conference of the
circuit to which he belonged to the
Maryland annual conference of the
Methodist Protestant Church as L suit
able person to be received into the trav-
cling connection of that church, and
being adjudged as suitable, was ac-
cordingly received. Some time after
this he returned to the local ministry
and served his church in that ca
pacity until he came to the Meth
odist Episcopal Church, South. He
came with clear credentials from the
Methodist Protestant Church. | my
self, saw his license to preach, which
had been rene we'd annually up to the
time of his withdrawal from that con-
nection. 1 also officially signed the
renewal of his license after he came TO
the Methodist Episcopal Church, South.
IL should be remembered that the
moral and official character of every
preacher in tie Methodist Church,
whether in the lDcal or travelling ranks,
must undergo IN annual examination
bv the Conference of which he is a
member and in case of Il licentiate his
license is no longer valid, unless re-
newed by action Of the Conference to
which he belongs, and this cannot be
done unless his character is approved
by said Conference. Also III the inter-
val of Conference; provision is made
in the law of the Church for the arrest
and investigation of the character of
any preacher.
Sometime after Rev. r. G. Anderson
became connected with the Methodist
Episcopal Church South, he received a
recommendation from the quarterly
conference, of which he was member,
to the Baltimore annual conference as
suitable person for ordination as
local deacon, and upon this recon-
mendation, and representation made of
his case by those who knew him, he
was elected by the said annual confer
ence to deacon's orders, and was
ordained by Bishop f. Il. Hendrix.
have thus briefly traced the history
of Mr.. Anderson in his ecclesiastical
connection that the public may know of
certainty that the Methodist church
is not so loose touching the character
and department. of its ministers as ~
certain ignoramus in this city seems to
imagine.
In accordance with the laws of the
Methodist Episcopal Church South, the
rumorS affecting the moral character of
Mr.. Anderson in this vicinity were
carefully investigated by a competent
committee, appointed by proper au-
thority, and after most scrutinizlng
investigation there was not found the
least shade of moral obliquity in the
case, not even an opproach to an i'm
propriety. The committee, or grand
jury, finding nothing on which to
base bill of charges, dismissed the
case, and will SO report to the next
quarterly conference of Stafford circuit
have given the history of this case,
not only as vindication of the integri-
ty of the church, but also in defense of
the moral character of one of its minis
tiers, which has been repeatedly assailed
of late by an INSCRIPTIONS sheet of this
city, called the Free Lance. That the
assault of this paper on Mr.. Anderson
is vile SANDER cannot be questioned.
That this sheet after assailing the char
acter of Rev. r. c. Anderson in most
villianous manner, should say that he
(Mr Anderson nerer had any moral
character to reflect upon, is reflection
upon the church to which Mr.. Ander-
son belongs, and which has endorsed
his character. For this sheet to call
upon the church to assist it in getting
rid of any immoral character, in consid-
Grafton of the source-the moral depth
from which it comes-is piece of i'm
pudence and audacity unparalleled in
the history of the human race. For
such a sheet to speak in condemnation
of any immortality, supposed or real, re-
minds one of the devil reproving sin.