Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1898-11-19
VIRGINIA METHODIsTs.

AT yesterdays session OF the Virginia
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church South in Portsmouth, the
report of The editors of the Sunday
School Magazine was submitted. This
showed that there are in attendance ID
the Sunday schools of the Southern
Methodist Church S51 600 children.
The roll was called for the presiding
elders to present applications OF candl-
dates for membership in the conference.
The name of Thomas Spencer Leach,
from Rappahannock district, was pre-
sented. The committee not being ready
to report, the calling of the list was sus'
pended.
Glasses of the first. second and third
year were called and disposed of salts
factorily. The name Of DR.. George b.
Booker was referred to the committee
on superannuated relations. a collec-
ton was taken up for the benefit OF DR..
Booker, who is broken down in health
in his old age, S107,7S being realized.
At II o'clock the order of The day
having arrived, business was suspend
ed to hear an address from DIR. Young
]. Allen, foreign missionary in charge OF
the China station, on the subject OF
China and Our Relations Thereto"
Dr. Allen said in part: "China has
been made willing to accept the Chris
tian civilization and to qualify for adj
mission into the comfy of nations. The
Chinese system OF government is based
on the civil-service plan. The country is
divided up into counties or districts.
| Each of these districts contain
| colleges, through which candi-
dates must take course OF
study and pass an examination before
| they can hold any office. Examina
| tons are held every year, and vacan'
ces in Office are filled from the gradu-
ates of these schools who have obtain.
ed the highest efficiency. The Emper-
or has now required that the forms OF
| study in these colleges shall be the same
| as the system Of Europe and America. "
The remainder of the days session
was taken up with reading the report
of the committee on conference report
announcements aud appointments for
filling the pulpits of local churches
Sunday.
Last night Bishop ]. c. CRANBERRY
deliy cred his semi-centenial sermon be-
fore an immense congregation.
The controversy between DR.. Paul
Whitehead, presiding elder Of the West
Richmond District, and Rev. Joseph
Cannon, jr., editor of the Methodist
Recorder, is giving the preachers of the
conference much concern. The con-
troversy arose Immediately after the
conference a yesr ago, occasiOned by 90
attack made by Mr.. Cannon in his pa
per on the report OF the Virginia Con
ference, written by DR.. Whitehead.
Mr.. Cannon, in one of his editorials, al
legged that Dr. Whitehead was unworthy
of belief, and incapable of telling the
truth about any matter CD which bis
I mind was biased. Mr.. Cannon claims
justification for this statement on &C
count of certain alleged inaccuracies in
DR.. Whitehead's report Of the vote on q
resolution, which had been introduced
by Mr.. Cannon, relating to the term in
which a preacher should serve con.
tinuously as presiding elder. When
much bitterness had been introduced
into the discussion, it is said that DR.
Whitehead's friends induced him &c
drop the matter for the time, and to
bring itup again at this conference, in
the form of charges and specifications
for SANDER. 1t is now understood on
reliable authority that the friends Of
both parties hope to settle it outside Of
the conference.