Smyrna times. [volume] (Smyrna, Del.) 1854-1987, 1860-10-11
COKRESP NDENCE.
The Tract Depository Again.
ReiOinder of HW. III. b."

Mr.. EDITOR Your "Old Friend" seems
anxious to continue this controversy, and yet
wishes, evidently. to drive me off by offensive
personalities. These are diScourteous and IN
gentlemanly, but if not objectional to him on
that account, he ought to know they can be
used against him. And bis errors in spelling,
etymology and syntax give ample opportunity
for personal thrusts, and would enable me to
prove that our youthful Achilles has a vulner.
able heel. But the point at issue is not to be
settled that way.
He pretends 10 find in Webster what ia NO;
there, and leaves the distinction between the
private enterprise ola Company and denomi.
national enterprise untouched.
He says conclude the Tract Society to be
independent because incorporated. This is nc,
true. My conclusion is founded on its charter
and constitution, which prove that it is indo-
pendent of, and beyond The contro of the Con-
ference.
He asks" Why not withhold our millions
from the Missionary Society because it is in
eorporated!" ! reply, if our Mis-. So. was as
wastefnl and extravagant of its means as this
Society, its millions would soon be reduced to
hundreds. | am told the working expenses of
the Miss So. do not 60 over four per cent; but
the Reports of the Tract So. show that it con.
sumes from seventy to eighty per cent. in
working expenses. Verify, these things are
not equal to each other.
He says, conclude this Society is not be-
nevolent because it is commercial. This is
also false. Nothing like this appears in my
article. | did. and do say that the Book De-
posItory is distinct from the Society, because
one was commercial enterprise and the other
purely benevolent institution.
He charges me with lbelng the Book De.
pository. If he wants proof that the supposed
plays of Shakespeare were offered for sale and
sold there, have it at hand.
The. Constitution of the NJ. E. Tract Socie-
ty, drawn up by the General Conference, con-
fines the operations Of the Society to I" the cir
culstion of the publications of the NJ. E. CHI"
and it stands to reason the auxiliary can have
no more power than the principal. If the pa
rent Society cannot go beyond this constltu-
tional limit, the auxiliary certainly cannot
The only tracts and volumes" an auxiliary
Society can lawfully circulate are those pub
lished by the NJ. E. Church. The objects, and
means of operating, have been defined and spe-
Gifted by the General Conference, both with
ties, and to this action of appeal for proof of
my position.
But | have shown, in what respects the
working OF this Society is unconstitutional, on
another arena, and before those able to argue
the question, it they could not defend the So,
and it is not worth my while to open this ques.
tion with your correspondent.
In conclusion let US see where we stand:
1st. Your "Old(O Friend" asserted that this
was denOminalional Bookstore, but has failed
to prove 1t TO be any more 90 than the others
referred to-that is, not at all.
I'd. He made on assertion with regard to the
benevolent use Of the profits of the Store, on
which proof was demanded but none submitted.
Bird. He claims Gin the face of distinct asser.
tioEs Of some Of the Mauagsrs) that this Book
store is connected with the Conference, but
submits no provision of Charter. Article of
Constitution. Resolution of Conference, docu.
menIary evidence, nor anything else which has
the slightest weight as proof.
4th. He does quote an ambiguous Rcsou.
tion of the Conference, which endorses the
"piety, integrity, talents and devotedness" of
the Managers VI the Tract Society, but ne
gives 1t a meaning which the Committee, who
framed it, refused to express even after had
asked them 10 do so.
9th. He charges, under a fictitious sigma.
ture, selfish and sinister motives on some who
differ with him, Qhough he dare not do it 10
their faees,) and when | deny the charge, be
has not the honor TO withdraw or to prove it,
9th. He turns aside from distinct arg uments,
feasts with great gusto OIL typogra phical er-
ror, resorts to dIscourleous personalities, and
generally attempts to frighten me with a silly
Unrest Verify, what are our boys coming to!
W. Ii. B.