New Cannonade

Twice in the past five months has Bishop James Cannon Jr. of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South withstood the bombardment of public investigation of his widespread activities--once by the Methodist General Conference (TIME, May 26 et seq.) and once by a Senate committee (TIME, April 28 et seq.). Neither inquisition seemed to injure the Bishop's position or prestige within his church.

Last week, while he was engaged upon church work and a honeymoon in Brazil, came news that a third, more elaborate Cannonade was being prepared. Four traveling elders of the Methodist Episcopal Church, South had sent recommendations to Bishop William Newman Ainsworth, chairman of the College of Bishops, that their colleague be put on the mat once more.

Although the text of the charges was not made public, it was understood that not only would Bishop Cannon's political and financial operations be reviewed, but also his private life. Following the death of his first wife in 1928, he married in London a Mrs. Helen Hawley McCallum of Manhattan (TIME, July 28), who had traveled with him as his secretary last year on the trip to the Holy Land awarded him by the Christian Herald for "distinguished religious service" in 1928.

Upon receipt of the charges filed by the traveling elders, it becomes the duty of Bishop Ainsworth to assemble a committee of not less than twelve traveling elders. Should two-thirds of the committee find that the unpublished accusations have sufficient basis to require explanation, they will immediately refer the matter to the next General Conference, suspend Bishop Cannon until the conference convenes. That will be in 1934.

Bishop Cannon last week cut short his honeymoon and episcopal work in Brazil, secretly embarked for the U. S.

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