Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-01-21

Ecclesiastical Jury to Sit in
Mt. Vernon Place Church
In Bishops Case.

Charges hanging over Bishop James
Cannon. ir., of the Methodist Episcopal
church South for the past year will
be aired here within the next tvs
weeks by an ecclesiastical jury, sitting
in Mount Vernon Place M. E. Church
South. it became known today.
On the findings of this group will
depend whether Bishop Cannon will be
suspended until 1884, and then brought
To trial before the General Confer
ence, or whether the case will be
dropped,
The exact nature of the charges
against Bishop Cannon have never
been made public, but it has been
assumed that they grew out OF his
activities In the stock market ana In
the presidential campaign of 1928
CHARGES Believed Broader.
Charges relating to the market angle
were brought before the qusdrenntal
conference in Dallas last year, but at
that time Bishop Cannon was cleared,
and the opinion was expressed In rel-
able quarters here today that the pres
ent charges must be of wider scope.
Four travelling elders filed the present
charges. They are DR.. Forrest j,
Prettyman of Baltimore, DR.. J. T.
Masten Of Richmond. DR.. CoSten J.
Harrell Of Richmond and DR., /. r
Martin of Abingdon, Va.
They will be heard before a presiding
board, headed by Bishop w. N. Aims
worth of Birmingham, who has invited
Bishops Edwin Du Bose Mouzon OF
Charlotte and U. v. w. Darlington OF
Huntington, W. Va, 10 sit with him,
and q Jury OF IL elders, whom Bishop
Ainsworth will select.
Bishop AinSworth was presiding
chairman of the College of Bishops
last year when the case came up, and
thus retains his jurisdiction, although
Bishop W. B. Beauchamp of Richmond
now Is presiding chairman under the
revolving rule followed by the bishops.
Not Subject to Argument.
If two-thirds Of the elders decide
there is suficient evidence against
Bishop Cannon they may suspend him
and bring the case before the next
conference.
The case is not subject to argument,
and the burden Of proof is on the
accusers.
While minor charges have often been
brought against bishops of the South
ern Methodist Church. but never sus-
tanned, the case of Bishop Cannon, 1t
was recalled here today. makes the first
time in nearly q century that one OF
the dignitaries of the Southern church
has been involved in a case Of such inn
port, the last being in 1914, when the
controversy over slavery, with Bishop
James Andrew being the central hgure,
resulted in splitting the Methodist
Church into sectional groups.
Married Slave Owner.
At the time, Bishop Andrew. who
had married q woman who owned slaves,
was directed by the general conference,
following complaint, either to reiin-
quiSh his slaves or divest himself OF
ofice
The substance. OF the bishops de-
tense was, it was recalled, that there
vas no Law under which he could de-
clare the slaves free and that he might
as well keep them al sell them, 90 far
as principle was concerned.
The upshot OF the matter was that
In leAS, the Southern Church met at
Petersburg and from then on went On
More recently the Northern Church
haA q notable case, Bishop Anton Best
OF Dsninagk,i being unfrocked under
charges Of misconduct
Wsuld Retire In 1888.
Under ordinary circumstances Bishop
Cannon has until 1898 to serve before
retiring automatically for age.
Meanwhile. Bishop Cannon is facing
attack from another quarter, Repre-
sentative Ttnkham, Republican, OF
Massachusetts,, announcing yesterday
that he plans to renew before the SEN
etc Campaign Funds COMMITTEES his night
to compel Bishop Cannon to explain
how he spent S65 800 In the 1928 presi-
dential election.
Ttnkham said he would renew charges
he made before the Senate lobby COM
mittee, Ia q speech In the House and to
the Attorney General.