North Carolina standard. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1850-1852, 1851-06-14
To Messrs. William Baker, ]. Robert Jetfreys, and
Joseph Harris, Commitee.


Our Methodist friends arc confident of decision
in the important case, before the United States Circuit
Court, New York, which will give to them their pro-
portion amounting to about $3.50 OOO of the church
property. The property is invested in the " Book
Concerns at Cincinnati, New York and Phiadel-
phia. On this point, the New Orleans Pcayune gives
some interesting information, follows. We under
stand that the Southern Methodsts will listen
compromise short of the judicial decree. They have
idea of reunion of the two churches thinking
better for the interests of the bodies, and the
safety OF the Union of Siates that they should
main, as now, separate and distinct:
'In the opening speech OF Mr.. Lord, counsel for
the Methodist Church South, in the great case now
on trial in New York. he gave sketch of the origin
and history Of the {" Book Concern which is The
subject OF the suit. 1t consists at present, of hous-
es, lots, machinery, printing presses, bookbndery,
books, cash. debts and other articles of property,
value of about seven hundred and fifty thousand dol
lars. The suit is brought for the Southern proper
lion of that sum.
Its origin appears to have been this In the early
establishment of the church in the United States, by
John Wesley, books were introduced to supply the
wants of the members. The Methodists became nu-
merous, and after the declaration of il dependence
great of religious literature felt, and fund
was commenced, by loan from preacher named
Cooper, to supply il. The supplying OF books grew
up into great and profitable business, and became
located in New York city. The buildings were des-
troyed by fire in 1885, but have since been rebuilt in
very costly manner, and the establishment has be-
come immensely valuable. w find it stated that the
value, in 1899, was only $4,000.
The distribution of the books has been, by church
discipline the duty OF the preachers of the teren
ces. They took the books, supplied them to mem.
beers, answerable for them, and the profits be.
longed the Concern for certain specified objects
The preachers in fact, the agents, with 9th.
individual interest, beyond that of religious duty
than their share in the distribution of the profits
These profits were, from the earliest period, appro
pated to the single purpose Of making up the def
ciencies of salaries TO travelling preachers and
king provision for superannuated preachers and thei
families, and the widows and orphans of deceased
preachers. 1t is for the right of these benefcares
of the Methodist Church South, to their shares in
this fund, that the present suit is brought.
In the documents which have been published, ref
ererce is often made a clause in the articles oil
church organization, called " the tenth restrictive
clause" AS it has an important bearing on the ar
gument, it needs clear explanation. 1t appears tina
when the growth of the church made general meet
ings of all members a conference impracticable
the system of delegates introduced in 1908, Ger
tain Fundamental rules were adopted to restrain tn,
power of the General Conference. The tenth o
these was that they should never apply the profits 0
the Sc Book Concern " to any other purpose than TO
the benefit of travelling, supernumerary, superannua
ted and worn out preachers, their wives widows
children. Another rule was, that these resolutions
should not be changed without general vote of TIT
church in its primary assemblies.
The argument of the North is that this is a CHAIR
ty fund-not created by the preachers, in which
they have any individual right; that this restrictive
clause forbds them from dsposng of it in any othe
way than as charity fund under the organization o
one General Conference; and that the Southern
church, seceders from the church, have dePrive'
themselves of all right interest in it,
| Rican.ond Enqairer.