The New York herald., 1871-06-27
THE METHODIST MUDDLE.
The Bishops NOn-csneur with the Boak Com
mittet's Finding.
DIR. LANAHAN REuNSTATED.
Probable Resignation OF DIR. Carlt0n-His
Answer to DIR. Lanahan's
Latest Charges.

The Methodist Book Concern trouble grows more
and more complicated, owing 10 the ncongruous
elements OF which the Church machinery Is CON-
posed The discipline gives the veto power IN cases
like this trial OF DR.. Lanahan 10 the bishops TWO or
more OF whom are expected 10 concur IN the maj
action OF the committee The irlal opened on the
10th inst. with only Bishops James and Ames pres
ent, and they upon consultation found that tney
would not be likely TO agree, ana at once they tee-
Wraphed To Bisnop Scott TO come on. But ne never
received the telegram and second one was sent
during the progress OF the trial, which brought hi
here in time 10 hear the summing up, bul not the
evidence And although the testimony or portion
OF which related specifically TO The charges against
DR. Lanahan read by the oficia. reporters after
the close OF the trial. still Bishop Scott did not con-
cider himself at liberty 10 take any part In the final
decision. 1t was, therefore, left to the two bishops
who were present throughout 10 decide. They have
been IN secret since the trial. and yester
day notified the committee that
BISHOP JAMES HAD CONQUERED
and Bishop Ames mad not. The decision of both Is
written out at length, and VIII be formally pre-
sented 10 the committee this morning at nine O'Clock.
Bishop Ames holds that DR.. Lanahan had right to
apply TO the civil courts for the books TO which he
had been denied access in the Concern. He also
gives Dr. Bingham, the secretary OF the committee,
a scoring Tor his afidavit accompanying DR.. Carl
toms answer 10 the mandamus proceeding. Bishop
James, for the reasons which have commended them
selves TO the committee, agrees with their action.
The result OF this snarl that Dr. Carlton has writ
ten his resignation and II Is said to-day will hand
1t to the committee But tins body 1t Is understood
decidedly ooect 10 this action OF DR.. Carlton, and
win refuse to accept II unless 1t Is absolutely In
sisted upon. Bu. meantime Dr. Carlton mas given
the committee a detailed answer TO all the alega-
~ fra nj snf ~ nr n
last week. and whien were sent broadcast over the
land without a reply or an explanation.
DR.. Carlton sets out with the Bindery Depart
ment, IN which DR.. Lanahan claimed 10 have shown
loss OF S25 900 In the SINGLE item OF leather and says
that this allegation was thoroughly examined by
the Book Committee at their session held in
February 1870 and the proof Jailed 10 sustain the
allegation. Then, as 10 the differences in the
amounts OF stock and work In 1868 and 1870, the
answer sets forth that the figures given by DR..
Lanahan as representing the amount of stock used
In turning out the work OF the years In question are
FAR FROM BEING ACCURATE.
He appears to have ignored the inventories both at
the commencement and close OF each period This
fact has great weight In determining the force OF
the inference he seeks TO establish when he says
There is no mstakng what these differences
mean," for the amount money value) Of
work turned out depends on The charac-
ter OF the work. For illustration: - The
Imperial Bible was brought out in 1863
uhe first year selected by DR.. Lsnahan for bis COM
parisonl This Is an expensive book, and for the
Euperiine edition the best materials used. In
anticipation OF a large sale abundant material for
binding morocco and boardsl was purchased. The
sales did not meet the expectation. Some oi the
material purchased In SOS is now on hand, and as
DR.. Lanahan only takes notes Of what was pur-
chased during each year. IL Is easy 10 see how the
superintendent or 1870 possesses an undue advan-
tage Ia the showing over the superintendent OF
1865.
Again there was more OF what is termed fine
binding done In IseS than in 1870 and, upon the
plan adopted Of ignoring the inventories, the
superintendent OF 1seS is placed in an unfair re-
lailon. The work o. 1870 was principally what
Is denominated ''smal work. In which much less
expensive material relatively was used. DR..
vlncent's "Berean Series, amounted TO $500 81
IN the whole of the sheet stock for that year.
which was s4e,163 81. DR.. Lanahan alleges Differ
ence In the quantity binders boards used OF nfty
tons. whereas the difference is only 80 725 1000,
verified by The inventories and invoices now file.
The dine renee the character OF the work OF the
years named would account for the difference in the
quantity Of boards used.
Again, as to the relative cost OF material In turn
ing out given vame OF work In two different years,
regar must be had 10 The market value botn OF the
work III rned out and Of the material Of which that
work composed.
The market value OF our books has not changed
sin ce 1868, as an inspection OF the catalogue viii
show. Therefore the superintendent OF 1870 was
allowed precisely the same price for the same book
as was allowed the superintendent for 1865. But
The prices OF material have noticeably declined.
For Instance, paper about twenty-five per cent.
Blue skivers, S1S IS per dozen IL 1906 against SO IS