The Washington times., 1929-07-25
PREACHE R
REVEALS
RECORD
tcontinued from FIRST pagel

Continued from First Pagel
bad desired the success Of the Re
publican party and the election Of
Hoover it would still have been inn
proper to use this fund either by
loan or by gift for the accomplish
.ment of such purposes, Tor the peo-
pie do not submit to the levies OF
the general conference for political
purposes.
'.Inasmuch as . large number OF
the members OF the church did
not desire the success OF the Re.
snt1bIicail party or the election Of
Mr.. Hoover the lending OF their
money for these purposes was a
violation Of their inherent and
sinalienable rights.
Admitted BY Cannon
'The fact that the money was
thus lent has been admitted to the
writer by Bishop James Cannon,
ir., chairman Of the board, ana the
charge against the board here made
-is based on the theory that the fact
admitted by the chairman OF rhe
board il known to the board and
that the board has approved the
same. II the secretary OF the
board, DR.. e. L. Crawford. ana
Bishop Cannon have not Informed
the board OF this fact the chief
blame must rest upon them, put
the board cannot escape its re-
.aponsibility for negligence in TINS
matter.
'aThe following has appeared
recently in the general organ sand
In several OF the conference organs:
".At the annual meeting Of the
Board OF Temperance ana Sociai
Service Of the Methodist Eplscopal
Church, South, held at Lake Juna-
matter OF numerous attacks in many
recent newspaper statements upon
the president, Of the board, Bishop
James Cannon, jr., was taken up.
Laid To Enemies
"sAfter consideration Of documents
relevant to the matter and written
statements to Bishop Cannon, and
questioning Of Bishop Cannon by
members Of the board SO that the
facts were brought out, ana after
full consideration the, telegraphlc
correspondence Of the fail Of 1878,
which correspondence had already
been given to the press by Bishop
Cannon. the board was fully con-
WINGED that the attack upon Bishop
cannon In which practically the en-.
tire wet press of the nation has
1oined with evident unanimity, had
been instigated by the enemies Of
prohibition with the sole purpose OF
fliscreditinE d great and influential
leader OF the prohibition forces of
the nation.
a'It ,forbear further comment
upon the methods and motives OF
these attacks, and we hereby de.
clare our confidence in the leader.
ship Of Bishop Cannon, and we urge
him TO continue his unrivaled work
for the maintenance, enforcement
and extension Of the wise and
beneficent policy OF prohibition and
for the accomplishment Of the other
objects Of the board and in all such
efforts we pledge him not only our
confidence, gratitude and affection.
but our continued support, syrnpa-.
thy and cooperation.
A. C. MILLER,
President Pro Tenn.
EUGENE L. CRAWFORD,
Secretary
Conduct Questioned
ut appears from this statement
that the board took cugnizaIice of
certain rumors as to speculative
dealings Of Bishop Cannon recently
broadcast through the daily press.
These rumors raised the question
before the church ana the public
as to the propriety Of the conduct
of the bishop in his business life.
The law Of the church sets forth
the procedure to be followed in such
a case and does not name any con-
nectional board as a committee for
the investigation OF rumors affect.
ing the character Of o bishop
whether or not he be the president
Of the board.
The law does not permit q
bishop or preacher under rumors Of
improper conduct himself to select
any committee for investigation. If
the board at its recent meeting on
its own motion went into this mat.
ter It acted In violation both Of
the letter and spirit Of the law of
the church, IL Bishop Cannon asked
ths board to Investigate the matter
and Submitted evidence and docu-
4 uAG1AtG ~ 4be AS AS0 lAG U0OTO 444tO
an illegal and improper inquiry.
''Tlne law Of the church gives to
the general conference alone the
duty of passing upon the character
and the administration of the
bishops and this duty has never
been delegated to one Of the gen.
eral boards Of the church, and
when such q board assumes such
functions it violates the rights Of
the general conference.
Up to Conference
"It IL Of course true that this
action Of the Board of Temperance
and Social Services win not prevent
the consideration Of this matter by
the general conference or by any
committees Of investigation or
trials which may be raised by due
process of law before the next gen.
eral conference meets. At the same
time the action OF the board in
Undertaking to pre-judge this case
is indefensihle.
'HThe question as to whether or
not the dealings OF Bishop Cannon
with the New York bucletshop were
proper Is not here raised at ALL but
lt is highly improper procedure Tor
such rumora to be considered by q
board oE which he Ii the chairman.
such q board has no slightest juris-
diction over such q matter.
The board has in this matter
established q precedent Illegal, un-
wise and possibly perilous both TO
the church and to any bishop who
gn the future may be under rumors
of improper conduct for Il the board
may consider such and pass q