Smyrna times., 1860-09-13

revert immediately into The hands OF the Parent
Tract Society of the Methodist Episcopal
Church. Are these things agreeable to the
statement of f. w. H. b. Is this Depository |
just as much private as the other establish.
ment! Did they originate with Board of
Managers, themselves originally appointed by |
the Phila. AnBoal Conference Are they 10 |
anywise controlled by such Board! Upon their |
dissolution, are their funds the property of the
Church? Are they not strictly and purely pri- |
vate enterprises! Yet in the very face of
familiar facts, we have this declaration of
"W. III. b." We ask-the whole Church
must ask" how can these things be %
In conjunction with the above, we have what,
for similar reasons, must appear equally ground
less and absurd. " 1t (lbe DEPOSITORY has no
official connection with the Church whatever"
Whatever, let it be observed, qualities this dec
laration. Now, it must be evident, from what
has already been shown, that its official is its
oGly connection with the Church that il has
40 other That this is precisely that feature
in which II differs from all those other estsb-
lishments. Their connection s the mere ac-
csdens of business that of this Depository is
the officers, the agent and the Board of Mana
gers Of the Philadelphia Conference Tract So.
cteiy. Indeed, this o6icial connection is so
intimate and vital, that should these officers
cease 10 exist, the Depository mast Immediately
be dissolved. In the annual report of the
Agent of the Society, who il appointed by she
Conference, the accounts of this Depository
are invariably included. From year TO year
these accounts are examined aud approved by
the CONFERENCE.-The Conference hereby recog-
nizing and the Depository to be lite public and
official endorsement. The last Annual Confer.
ence passed the following resolution: That
having carefully examined the doings of the
4 Philadelphia Conference Tract Society, during
the past year, we have entire confidence in the
Integrity. pieiy. talent and devotedness of the
brethren TO whom It's management is intrusted."
Here The "dofngs" and "yaanag emeRt OF
these brethren--tbe Mauagers--snd fully en-
dorsed by the Conference. Is there then no
connection and if a connection, is not that
connection purely official OF what strange
Perversity 10 the human mind susceptible !.
The late DR.. Bond, of venerated memory,
when editor of tho Christian Advocate and
: Journal, bore Testimony quite the reverse Of
/" w. II. B." He says:
/" We would call particular attention to The
advertisement of the Phla. Conf Tract Depos-
itory. II rs managed by some ofour best Phil
adelphia lay brethren, as part of the Confer
ence Tract operations. All its profits, after
deducting expenses, 60 to the Tract cause
|
School books--can be had there. 1t is the pro.
perry of the Church, let US take care of it,
J How, then, has it no official connection with
the Church aohatepera Dr. Bond, the able cd.
itor, the astute reasoner. the venerable defen-
der OF our faith, in grossest error-a dolt,--au
. ignoramus,-upon point so palpable, and on
I which he proposes to give bis elaborate opIn.
ion. But suppose we receive the testimony oil
both the dead and the living--what then L.
Why, the Phila. Conf. Tract Depository i:
0 I" managed by our best Phila. lay brethren--Iis
0 q part of the Conference Tract operations-.i.
the property Of the Charck," aud " has no Off
cial connection with the Church whatever.
: How far these view are reconclsble, and whict
OF the two 10 entitled to more veneration, we
o submit 20 the intelligent to determine.
b But, assuming this Depository to be merely
a" private" establishment; that it " has ~
official connection with the Church sohateuer''
waving all inquiry as TO how il came into exis
j. lance, or how that esisance has been perpetua
/; ted-we como Immediately TO the practica
n, question: what is it's present relation, or ha
/. IL any relation Dhafeper 10 the Church!
y that relation the same as these a. others !'--
J. I" w. H. b." relieves our embarrassment. HI
Il says: sit is kept by the Managers of th'
70 Phla. Conf Tract Society, for their own con
yenience." HORRIBLE dictug For their owl
: convenience. Bad men must these Manager
y bel Something ought to be done at tho nex
u Annual Conference, forsooth, to arrest the fur
Of Their progress of this mischief Strange thi
was never thought of before r But who ar
: these Managers who keep this Depository 70
= SO culpable purpose We answer Pres
8 dent of the Society, Bishop Baker. eE o6icio
(? Vice Presidents, Rev. Francis f. Hodgson,
i. d., Rev. Anthony Atwocd-lay, c. Heiskel
r. 4. Tasker, ST., Esqs. Corresponding Sec
= rotary and Conference Agent, Rev. Andres
70 Msnship; Treasurer, Robert Boon, Esq. Rec
e. Secretary, Samuel Sappiug,on, Esq. I'll
ID Managers proper, equally lay aud mnisteria
are twenty-fyein number. We give some {
. the more prominent among the ministerial, be
cause these are more generally known by you
ir readers: Rev. ID. Barline, ID. d., Rev. Josep
Il. Mason. Rev. Alfred Goodman, A. NJ, Rev.
!. ID. Carrow. Rev. K. j. Way. Rev. Taos. Jefel
son Thompson. And the crime charged again
these men is, that they keep this Deposition
RS for their own convenience" Let us imagin
", what is the farce of shs allegation i--whst
Z. meant by keeping ID for their own convenience
!. Merely as place Of resort were they ma
enjoy the luxury % ola cigar or social fsi
be s.tstss Or 10 IL for intellectual improvement
20. az simpy reading rooms where they ma
ID. nave ss their nd large and varied L
Il brarg La ih's the meaning of "W. II. b
- If not. there 10 but one other conceigeable.-
70 II 10 IN Silt 10 kept by the Managers ofil
ID. Phila. Coaierence Tract Society foe purpos
pertaining To, and 10 the legitimate exerc
ass of. their Official functions. as the mos, udco
and eiiecsusl mode ofcarrying forward the gre
~ interests of the Tract cause. which interes
ny were, and are, confded 10 them by the COME
es- eace.
3D. THIS 10 deliberately set forth 10 the Repor.
ma 1856. by Rev. E.. Miller. then Corresponds
Is Secretary for the Society.
n. Here, then, 10 the " head and front OF The
Tending" Thisis the cnly sense IN which u
est Depository can be said TO be kept Cor the &C
ate venience Of the Managers of the Phiia. Co
or Tract Society simply as Managers for purI
Ill sss purely pfudsnzal--just As hospital kee
fla dspensary, or 4 druggist lsbratory.s A
IVY it argues not sgsinst this Depos'tory to !
bat that 'slhis Society was organised for = pur'
L.. a. -