Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-11-21
THE METHODIsTs.


had its first sensation in Portsm onth on
Saturday. 1t was the fight between
Rev. DR.. Paul Whitehead, presiding
elder of the western Richmond district,
and Rev. Joseph Cannon, editor of the
Methodist Recorder. The charges,
which grew out of the editor assertion
that DR.. Whitehead was unworthy of
belief and incapable of making en- &C
curate statement where his judgment
! was biased, were referred to commit
| tee, as were also resolutions demand
ing the unconditional return to the
| United States government of the $685.
| 600 paid the book committee.
The expected sensation developed
when the Bishop reached in his call the
| question "are the preachers of blame
less life?" DIR. Paul Whitehead objected
70 DR.. Cannon being declared OF good
character. DR.. Whitehead said his
complaint was based on certain editor
ials written by Mr.. Cannon, in which
his Or. Whitehead's) honor and char
acter had been attacked and then he
had notified Mr.. Cannon in writing
| that he would bring charges against
him before this conference. A motion
was made to take up the matter
at once and investigate it in open ses
sion. DR.. A. G. Brown moved as a
substitute that the whole matter be re-
F.! ferred TO a committee of nine elders, to
be appointed by the chair. DR.. Brown
read from the discipline showing that to
be the proper course and argued forci-
bly, against having this disagreeable al
fair discussed ia public. The chair de.
cided that it was competent for the
| conference to refer the matter TO q
committee. Dr. Cannon asked if the
person complained against would have
the right to reply to the charges before
the conference after the report of the
committee and was answered by the
chair in the affirmative. DR.. Cannon
then asked au explanation Of the
charges as the letter he had received
from DR.. Whitehead contained IN
charitable, unchristian and untruthlul
charges against himself aud other Iuiu-
jsters. He desired to know if charges
of immortality were implied or charged
DR.. Whitehead said that he had stated
the charges in the notice which
he had served on DR.. Cannon. DR..
Cannon here again took the floor but
was Interrupted by Rev. 4. G. Carroll,
who rose to point of order, that the
discussion was out of order. The
bishop replied II am granting the
accused oil possible leniency." Dr..
| Cannon quickly replied: II do not az
ceps it as q favor. claim that it i
my right" The Bishop said: II grant
that you have the right" Rev W. P.
, Wright asked to he named as joint
complainant with DIR. Whitehead in the
charges against DR.. Cannon. Rev. A.
G.. Browns motion to refer the whole
matter to q committee was adopted.
The resolutions or the book scandal
arraigns the employment ofprofessionel
lobbyists, as incompatible with the
dignity of the church, denounces the
lobbyist himself, demands the resigns-
ton OF the book agents Barbee and
Smith, aud deplores the fact That no
attempt has been made to administer
church discipline to the lobbyists and
! demands the return without revenue
the entire amount received from the
| government
Rev. Mr.. Cain moved that the re:olu-
tious be laid on the table. The motion
created considerable confusion and
some embarrassment, but was rejected
by vote of 81 to rs The resolutions
were then, on motion referred to .
special committee.
Dir. W. w. Smith addressed the con-
ference in regard to the 100000 that
the Virginia conference is expected to
raise as It's proportion of the twentieth
century educational fund and the great
necessity of training and education in
all paths of life. DR.. Smith said that
with the proper efforts 100000 could
be raised in the Virginia conference in
six months.