The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1900-12-25
AN a,,,sSpE HONORABLE.

| Not long after the adjournment of the
| recent Methodist Conference in Norfolk
| the editor of The Times was Informed
! that the Rev. James Cannon felt ng-
| .1Tievei by the reports which had been
made OF the proceedings 50 far as they
re.ated to himself and desired that The
| Times would investigate the matter.
! This inve<tts cftion has been made and
mas taken more time than expected.
that tile headline in the paper of Novem-
Der Dist, ''Distrust of the Rev. James
Cannon" '.Chssncello1, Smith admits that
there is ground for it, was 4 paipable
error and certainly did the Rev. james
Cannon an injustice. Wliiat Nr. Smith
stated wa.s that whae d:strust existed.
there MAS no ground for it, and thi. sip-
peared in the body OF Inc report lin Ine
Times. although the news editor III haste
and entirely unintentionally, read the
copy wrong and made this erroneous
headline y correction of this error was
made in Tine next -ssue OF The Times
Chancellor Smith further states that he
d.d not say that the dist1ust was part
eIlariy Of Mr.. Cannon. but that distrust
existed between the members of the con-
ference and that Mr.. Cannon was not
especially singled out
The Times also reported that Chancellor
Smith charged that DR. Cannon Ind sent
out one hundred and fifty cards of solicit
tation On connection with the twentieth
century find) Chancellor Smith says that
he did not say that the Rev. James Can
non had sent cut one hundred and fifty
cards. but that the Rev Joshua Hunter
had sent Them out, Dut had withdrawn
them when his attention vas called to
the departure from the rules involved
and that TO his knowledge the Rev James
Cannon sent no cards outside of his dis
trict. Chancellor Smith a.so states that
the report i'm The Tines that he had said
that The disti'ust of the Rev James |
Cannon ami some others associated with
Inn was eating the heart and life ont nf |
the church is erroneous. Chancellor |
Smith declares that he said 10 such ono |
sided thing. He said that the mutual d.s-
"a - u minister's OK oPIPoSltc sides of
questions il the conference was workin. |
great harm, and that as a l..y,nan had |
just shown low & number of sl,ppos,,a
cases OF wrong doing were not such, he |
appealed TO all alike, mentioned no
names. 10 dismiss unworthy u,,clrlritabe
ind unjust suspicious Of each other
We have in this matter accepted fully
the statements of Chancellor Smith be-
cause We desire 10 put the case of the
Rev. James Cannon as those who are
friendly to him have seen it, and believ-
ing thai Chancellor Smith would be more
apt TO know at least the tenor of his own
than a reporter
We further think that in its conference
reports the Rev. Mr.. Canuon.s name was
givea an undue prominence, and that
there IS ground for his complaint.
II as a cardinal principle with The Times
10 DO no man wrong. and to repair any
wrong that It may have done.
ana II desires to treat the Rev. Mr.. Can
non with perfect justice and considera-
ton. 1t greatly regrets that its renort
of the conference should have been such
as to give him any just grounds for COM
plaant, and it would gladly obliterate
from rs reports all statements which
could be construed as REFLECTOR NJ, 1.t,af