Richmond enquirer. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1815-1867, 1851-06-10


Our Methodist friends confident of decision in the
important case before the United States Circuit Court New
York, which will give 10 them their proportion (amounng
to about $3.50 Q0O the church property That property is
invested in the "Book Concerns" Cincinnati New York
and Philadelphia. On this point the New Orleans Pcayune
gives interesting information follows We under
stand the Southern Mehodss will listen TO no compro
mise of the judicial decree They have idea of
union of the two churches thinking better for the inter-
es,s of the two bodies and the safety of the Union of States
that they should remain, now, separate and disnc
In the opening speech of Mr. Lord, counsel for the Me-
thodst Church South in the great trial in New
York he gave sketch of the origin and history of the
Book Concern which is The subject of the suit 1t
sss present. Of houses lots, machinery printing presses
book bindey books cash. debts and other articles Of
perty chiefly in the city Of New York. of the aggregate value
of about hundred and fifty thousand dollars The suit
is brought for the Southern proportion OF mat sum-
lis origin appears have been this In the early establish
men of the church In the United States by John Wesley
books introduced supply the wants of the members
The Mchodisrs became numerous and after the declaration
Of independence great of religious literature was felt
and fund commenced by loan from preacher named
Cooper to supply it, The supplying Of books mp into
great and profitable business and became located in New
York CITY, The buildings DESTROYED by fire in 1886 but
have been rebuilt in very costly manner and the
tab shmen has become immensely valuable we IND sta
ted that the value in $780, was only S4,OOO.
The distribution OF the books has been by church disc
pne the duty of the preachers of the conferences They
took The books supplied them members answerabe
for them, and the profits belonged to the Concern for
tain specified objects. The preachers in fact the
agents. with other individual interest," beyond that of
gous duty than their share in Redistribution OF the profits
These profits were from the earliest period appropriated 10
the single purpose of making the DEFICIENCIES OF salaries
travelling preachersand making provision for superannua
ted preachers and their families and the widows and orphans
deceased preachers 1t is for the sh, of these benecia
ries Of the Methodist Church South 10 their share in this
fund, that the present suit is brought.
In the documents which have been published reference is
often made clause in the articles of church organization
called tie tenth restrictive clause As il has imPor
bearing the argument ii needsa clearer explanation
II appears that the growth of the church made general
meetings of all members conference imurncticabe and
The system delegates introduced in l6OS certain fun
damenal rules adopted restrain the power of the
General Conference The tenth of these was that they
should apply the profits the Book Concern any
other purpose than for the benefit travelling supcrnumera
ry supsrannua,ed, and worn preachers their wives wi
dows and children Another rule was that these resolutions
should be changed without general vote of the church
in its primary assemblies.
The argument Of the North is that this is charity fund
created by preachers in which they have any in
vdual right that this restrictive clause fobids them from
dispong of in any other than charity fund under
The organization of General Conference; and that the
Southern church. seccders from the church. have deprived
themselves of all right or interest in it.