The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-04-13

Purchase Of n Magnificent BuiId,uu nv t,. nT.-
thodist Book Concern aud the Missionary
SOctety-DcscriptiOu of the EdfTce, with a.
Cost and Prospects-Histo of tbe IiooIs T,on
Germ since its Organization.
The "MethOdist Book Concern" as Il Is
technically known, now grown venerable 10
years, is, without exception, the most exten.
sive publishing house in the world. having its
main establishment in New York, and its
branches In several other leading cities OF
the United States. 1t is regularly In
corporated institution, with an immense
capital, and Is owned aud directed by
the General Conference Of the Methodist
Episcopal Church North. II Is devoted TO
the publication and dissemination Of books,
magazines, tracts, and newspapers, illustra
tive chiefly OF the doctrines peculiar to Me-
thodism, and OF these millions OF pages are
annually passed from its great presses into
the hands of the people Of every quarter OF
= the globe. OF late years, its operations have
1 grown to such gigantic proportions that 1t was
Melt to be necessary that more ample accom-
modatiops for its business requirements should
! be furnished. The buildings Of the parent
Institution, which cover five lots OF ground on
Mulberry street and one on Mott street, in
New York, have long since become far too
small for the purposes Of the Concern, aud the
! procuring Of more eligible and commodious
quarters has been greatly desired.
The committee appointed at the last Gene
raj Conference to secure another building,
after frequent consultations, resolved to pur-
|chase the large iron building now in process Of
c0nstruotion and nearly completed on Broad
5way, at the corner of Eleventh street. The
edifice was originally intended for the use of
Messrs. Lake & McCreery, dry goods dealers,
who sold IL, with the ground on which 1t
Stands, to the Book Concern for the sum Of
$780, 900. The Missionary Society of the
Methodist Church joined in the purchase of
the property TO the extent of one-fourth, and
for the purpose Of paying for its interest in
the building the society is taking collections
In all the churches. The price though large,
Is considered by competent judges not to be
above its fair value, while it is 100000 less
than the sum authorized for the purchase by
the conference. 1t is thought that
the stores on the ground floor
will produce an annual rental of at least
$50, 900. The lot has q front on Broadway
of feet inches; on Eleventh street, 0f22l feet
inches, and the rear, or west side Is 103 feet
3 inches. A massive building, five stories above
the basement, with iron fronts, and of supe-
rior architectural design, covers the entire lot.
The ceilings are lofty, 80 much so that the edi-
flee is nearly an entire story higher than the
surrounding five-story buildings. The extern
esive area of each floor is without interior walls,
The ceilings being supported by numerous iron
columns. This will render 1t convenient to
Nsreot partitions at pleasure. The basement
room extends nineteen feet and eleven inches
under Eleventh street. This contains an area
of 70, ia square feet; the frat two floors above
Is, ,666 square feet each, and the remaining three
floors 10, ,959 square feet each, making total
area of "a 42l square feet, space nearly equal
to two acres. The basement floor covers nearly
one-half-acre.
The basement will be devoted to printing
The remainder Of the building will be occu-
pied by the Concern, together with the Mis-
sionary Society, Tract Society, and Sunday
School Union. The title of the establishment
has not yet been decided upon, but 1t is
thought that it will be called "The Methodist
House," instead OF the "Book Concern" its
present name.
The institution is now more than eighty
years old, having been created in the year
1859. It was started under the agency of
Rev. John Dickips, in the city Of Philadsl-
pbia, with capital Of only 5000, and that was
borrowed for the purpose. In 1899 Mr..
Dickins died, and Rev. Ezekiel Cooper was
removed to the city OF New York, and Rev.
John Wilson was appointed Assistant Eiitor
and Book Steward. Four years later Mr..
Cooper resigned, leaving the Concern worth
about al, 900, the net earnings of nineteen
years.
Mr.. Wilson succeeded him, with Rev. Daniel
Hit as assistant. In that year the agents were
1rst released from the responsibilities of the
bastorate, and left to give their entire atten-
lion to the business, preaching only as they
might feel disposed. Mr.. Wilson is said to
have been an sstimable man, faithful minis-
ter, and a skilful agent. He conducted the
business faithfully until 1910, when he also
died. leaving the concern in the hands of Mr..
Hit. The General Conference of 1872 ap-
pointed him principal, and Thomas Ware
assistant; but the business failed to succeed
ks Il had done, not for the want of fidelity in
the agents, SO much as skill and harmony.
In 1916 both were left out, and Joshua Soule
and Thomas Mason succeeded them, and by
wise management and indomitable energy
saved the Concern from sinking under
Its embarrassments Four years after Mr..
Soule was elected Bishop, and Rev. Nathan
Bangs was appointed TO succeed him, with
Rev. Thomas Mason as assistant. The Concern
was still heavily in debt. Ii books were scat
tered through the country, in the hands OF
presiding elders and preachers under oom-
Aission arrangement adopted by the General
conference some years before, and the returns
were slow and uncertain. The agents saw tina,
somsthing must be done to vitalize the whole
system, and Immediately brought out several
works for which there was loud call, embra
|cing Bepson's Commentary and new revision
Sof the Hymn Book. Both bsing reelected IL
1880, they, two years after, rented the basement
of the Wesleyan Seminary in Crosby street
Nm this city, and commenced doing their Owl
bidnipg. This proved so great convenience
that Mr.. Bangs and his assistant, Rev. John
Emory. who succeeded Mr.. Mason in 1924
purchased the Seminary Building, and com
menced doing their own printing in Septem
ber of that year. IL was during this admin
strstion that DIR. Clarke's Commentary
was issued, end the unfortunate system o