New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1870-06-09
THE METHODIST BOOK CONCERN.
THE BOOK COMMITTEES LAST MEETING-A LET
TER FROM DIR. NADAL.

TER FROM DIR. NADAL.
TO the Editor Of The Tribune.
SIR: Though the writer of this article has
felt a deep interest in the controversy between the
Methodist Book Committee and the Junior Book Agent,
the Rev. DR.. Lanahan, he has heretofore said nothing
about il in the newspapers His reason for silence was
that lie had not the data upon which to base trust
worthy Judgment The conclusions of the two former
meetings OF the Committee practically annuled each
other and when looked for the facts in the case that
we might Judge for ourselves, found formal state
ment proceeding from minority of the Committee, but
from the majority, only their conclusions without the
facts The result that felt and St feel that tho
public cannot reach just determination of the dispute at
present. must first have the facts.
The third and last meeting of the Book Committee,
however has opened new field Of controversy. 1t has
called from the questions of Closes and mismanage
ment in the Book Concern and given us the entirely new
question Of putting DR.. Lanahan trial. charges Of
which the public know nothing Here the demand for
retcence no longer holds and speech appears to be
duty. The who stands UP against infinite Odds and
with conceivable bad motive TO protect the purity OF
the Church. must allowed, while the public judg
ment the unsettled to be hung before
the world as possible felOn guilty of crimes of which
We understand very well the consequences of such
interference this in quarrel Of worldwide re-
pute and passionate interest. To differ in opinion
G@ay certain e MR Rd and S 9e to th
Concern" The present writer is a well resolved
ne Kip ds owl oTed and ID
form Of Christianity and only as such Her purely
secaran and ecceslastical interests are 70 De suDor
naed and. II need be- sacrificed to the doctrines and
morality Of Christianity; with this important qualifca
ton the writer is loyal MethOdi-veTy. In the same
way is the friend Of the Methodist Book Concern and
the phrase is loyal to that great church interest
Quoted from its foundation, as general thing, with I'M
Improbable honesty; but now that charges and sus-
t 'i an idol, but remember that it is only SO
much merchandise, which in order to be genuine help
to the church, must be honestly and openly managed.
Instead of sapposng that the church has any interest
antagonistc TO that Of the community any interest that
requires her friends to hush conceal facts must
probe the alleged evil to the BOTTOM remembering that
ferreedout and punished wrong is dlslRfeetant WINE
Is rot In the very center of he We are loyal TO the
in behalf of Christianity. Nor these remarks in
tended at all to confirm the statements of the Junior
Agent but simply to insist that business is not placed
beyond responsibility to the public merely by belonging
to the church Property devoted to sacred uses may
happen TO fall into feeble or even dishonest hands.
Without assailing in any sense, the motives OF the
Book Committee hold that their last session involves
them In several serious errors and lnict upon Dr. Ian
ahan the grOssest injustice Coming together by private
correspondence to receive charges against him,
him with copy Of the charges, they sit in secret hear
his accuers and pass series Of resolutions stating that
grave charges have been received and entertained by
them against Dr. Lanahan and that the charges not
ble" But the strangest part Of the procedure follows
After passing these resolutions after refusing ito ex'
''fndiug themselves surrounded by many and great
barrassents" after resolving to let these charges lie
upon Dr. Laanan 1Of uNe nlontns 10 cOe, Incy auoPo
the extraordinary policy of publishing their resolutions
to the world. We doubt such procedure was ever be-
fore known in judicial history Church They do
not suspend the accused they simply discuss the charges
IN secret session, in his absence and then docare
before all men, by their own act, through
the newsp pers that "respOnsbl5 c,nplnnans," have
presented grave charges" against Dr. Lanahan, which
they hereby give bis reputation ae benefit Of for hve
long months. Let be rememD re- that this postpone
mcn is not yet with view TO tia Even In that case,
where trial would have had to follow suspension, five
months delay would have been just But here before
suspension is determined on and IN al likelihood will
take place at al, when The crlts of the charges
are left ia abeyauce and their initial examination
put of for five months they spread before the world
the dana gng statement contained In their resolutions.
We impute no bad motives y tJmit but we ask can
most thoughts such act thai OF the majority OF the
Committee In the pulca Oh VI their last action.
Think Of the five months OF pubity given 10 charges
declared by publishers To be grave" authentl-
and which, after doing their work toward blasting the
good name the Junior Book Agent, will perhaps Dc
heard Of again only To be Withdrawn.
In conclusion, one thing more seems needfu TO be
said and that that the Book Committee, present
constituted has complicated itself i'll dealing with the
difficulties of the bookroOm as 10 he no longer fitting
tribunal for the settlement OF the great controversy
Their int gritty cannot be doubted, and their general
business competency need not be denied but the
become involved confused, melted up with
their feelings that their true wisdom TO lie In ut
tery ignoring all the questions OF the present contro,
Versy and resolving TO let them wait until the General
Conference. Meantime il would be the unwisest thing
possible to think of removing Dr. Lanahan III the evils
which he charges real he is the man 10 remain and
watch against their recurrence and II the Book Com
luitnee should remove him. suspicion OF unfair dealing
already rife deep, and vide spread would only be deep
ened By that act On the other hand the General Con-
ference the proper court for this whole affair, and will
Justice 10 the church ana 10 all the parties involved
MADISON n. j., June o, 1870. B H. NADAL-