The Portland daily press., 1869-09-29

The announcements of irregularities IN INC
management of the Methodist Book Conoe.n'
took the whole country By surprise
cline to the opinion that tie first accoun''
somewhat exaggerated. There mas oe." nv
defalcatiop and it is said now that many D"ns-
$3.50 .nn.rentlv irregular and improper,
will be cleared.
We since RELY hope that such May be the case.
M. ,oroerp is a stupendous power for good
ond illustrates the indomitable energy and |
restless enterprise of the large and influential |
denomination in The interests of which it is
carried on. We append full account of its
history, &C., from the columns of the New
York Times:
IT'S AGE AND ORIGIN.
The institution is now more than eighty |
years old having been created in the year 1889 |
1t was started under the agency of the fev.
John Dickens, in the city of Phlladelpllla1,
with capital of only $500 that Was oorro JieJ
for the purpose. In 1893 MIR. Dicsehs oieu,
and Rev. Ezekiai Cooper was appointed agent
in his plaza. In 1904 il was removed 10 the
city OF New York, aud Rev. John wilson was
appointed assistant editor AID BOOK steward. |
-Four wears later Mr.. Cooper resigned, leav- |
ing the Concern worth about $4,000, the net |
earnings OF nineteen years. Mr.. Wilson sue
ceeded, with Rev. Daniel Hit as assistant. In
that year the agents were first released of the
responsibilities of the pastorate, and left TO
give their entire attention to the busin ess
preaching only as they felt disposed Mr.
Wilson is said to have been an estmable m an
faithful minister, and skillful agent He
conducted the business faithfully until 1910,
when he also died, leaving the Concern in the |
HANGS OF Mr.. Hit The general conference OF
1872 appointed him principal, and Thomas |
Ware, assistant; but the business failed to sue
coed as il had DONE not for the want Of fideli- |
ty in the agents, SO much as skill and harmo- |
ny. In 1876 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 en-
barrssments. 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
Its books were scattered through the conn
try in the hands of presiding elders and
preachers, under commission arrange
ment adopted by the General Confer
ence some years before, and the returns wers
slow and uncertain. The agents saw that
something must be done to vitalize the whole
whole system, and Immediately brought out
several works tor which there was loud call
embracing Benson's Commentary and new
revision Of the Hymn Book. Both being re-
elected in 1920 they, two years after, rented
the basement of the Wesleyan Seminary, in
Crosby Street. in this city, and commenced do
a convenience that Mr.. Bangs and his assist
ant, Rev. John Emory, who succeeded Mr.
Mason in 1924, purchased the Seminary build
ing and commenced
DOING THEIR OWN PRINTING
in Septemte of that year. It was during this
administration that DIR. Clarke's "Comment-
airy" was issued, and the unfortunate system
OF sending out books on commission was abol-
lshed. This was great relief to the Concern.
and gave new life to the business On the 9th
or September, 1926, the first number of the
Christian ADVOCATE made its appearance. and
became rfpro tn ho
The General Conference OF 1929 appointed Mr..
Bangs its editor, and editor of Sunday-scbool
books, which had become necessity; Rev.
John Emery principal editor and book accent
with Beverly Waugh, his assistant. IL was
during this term that Wesley's and Fletcher's
works were published, and the magazine in
stalled as the Methodist Magazine & Quarterly
me0sew. Inc business SO increased that no
more was needed, and five lots were purchased
on mulberry Street. and buildings commenced
where the concern is now located Mr.. Emory
having been elected bishop in 1882, Mr. Waugh
was appointed principal agent; Rev. I. Mason,
assistant; Mr.. Bangs, editor of the Magazine
and quarterly Reuieoc, and of general books;
Rev. John L. Durbin, editor Of the Christian
Advocdte, and Sunday books and tracts,
ana hey Ilmothy Merritt, his assistant In
Septemoer 1883, the front building on Mulberry
street was completed and the whole business
removed TO It's present quarters Eyeytbino
went on prosperously until Feb. IS, 1886, when
involving loss of $250,0O0. This was heavy
blow, little part of the insurance being collect
able, the companies being insolvent occasioped
by recent heavy fire in the lower part-of tie
CITY But 1t excited much sympathy.
Meetings Were held on this account in yari.
Gus places, and contributions were made to the
amount of SS9,99f SO. This sum, with what
was due to the concern, and the amount re-
ceiVed from the insurance companies enabled
the agents to commence anew with cani,aI
all told, OF S2Sl $50 "a. This business has pros.
rered with little Interruption, except in con-
nectlon with the Southern secession in 1874.
from which it has happily recovered Tt shonid
be recorded to the honor of all concerned that
not dollar has ever been lost by the defal-
cations OF its managers from the commence
ment OF the business. The concern has at
present four repositories, for which the agents
are responsible; one in Boston, Mas. one in
Buffalo, N. Y. one in Pittsburg. Penn. and
one in San Francisco, Cal, all doing a good
bus'sess. Ii has valuable store in San Fran
fS,seo, iree rom debt, which accommodates its
business, and that of the California Christian
Ad1ocdte, with ample grounds TOR enlargement.
ana also q fine building, fully paid for in
Fitts6urg. 1t publishes large number of
oo9h embracing bibles, commentaries, by mn
ana music BOOKS, with over l, 800 bound books
lor sunday school libraries, besides catechisn,s.
ques ION books, and numerous other requisites
embracing nearly one thousand tracts. It
pE9oi.snes aiso SIX periodicals. namely, the
Ghrsstadn Advocate, Quarterly Reuie,o Sundau
iSchoos Advocate, Sunday School Journal. Good
News, and the Northern Christian Adrocate
az Auburn, New York. The Western Book
E =, 1ooa was commenced at Cincinnati, Ohio,
IN loz9, as branch OF the parent establish,
menu, under the immediate agency of Rev.
mart'n huter This was necessitated bv the
expense and siowness of transportation, and
.ne state OF inc currency: From mere de-
posltory and branch this establishment has
grown INTO regular publishing house, having
us branches or repositories at Chicago, St
Louis, and Detroit and publishing three
weekly papers in English and one in German;
sunday School Bell in German, ali having
large, circulation. They also published a
considerable list of books in English and other
rang uages. Its business is nearly equal to that
VI t1e parent concern, and will probably ex-
ceea 1t in a few years. as the population of the
Great West Shall increase,
IT OWNS REAL ESTATE
Az cincinnati Chicago and ST. Louis equal
It's necessities, estimated at $3.50 OOO does its
own stereotyping, printing, and binding, and
reports net capital of over half a million of
dollars The agents of the Cincinnati Concern
are Messrs Hitchcock and Walden. In adj
dlt!on to those publishing houses and deposi.
tories, There are several other establishments
located at central points and conducted on mi.
vate account which keep a general snnnlp Of
the Concern, furnishing ample facilities for
their purchase in all parts fthe country Then
.n eo General Conference publishes three other
n neehy papers by Committees, namely: the
rdcyac Chrsstian Aduocate at Portland Oregon.
tne Cd!yernaa Christian ADVOCATE, at San Fan,
cisco Col, and the Pitts5ufy Christian 1dro-
cate, at Pittsburg, Pa, The iast-ramed has
Deen self sustaining for many years: the 9th.
sfs are improving in circulation, and viii no
aOuPt bee. become 50. All Of them are doing a
s ana mE[k LOT the country and the church.
respectable aud useful paper, published At
boston. Mass, is not owned by the General
conference, yet it is at least cemi official. that
noHy having authorized the Bishops to an
point travelling preacher to edit it. 1t was
issued two years before the Christian Advocate.
when there was no official paper; was offered
70 t9e General Conference in is48, when in the
Six annual conferences. Its nrofts are rS-
garaed by the association publishing it as their