New Orleans Republican. [volume] (New Orleans, La) 1867-1878, 1871-06-24

unless this matter is taken in hand in q
\ different style hereafter, widespread
dissatisfaction will implant itself in the
bosom of the entire Church, and that this
dissatisfaction will so effectually chill the
confidence of the membership that it will
take years to re-establish the power of
the Church to effect the good which be-
longs to it to accomplish. Our interest
in the general cause of sound morality
and pure religion warrants us in protest
ing against the litigation which is now
progressing before the New York courts
to the great scandal of the Book Concern
in its financial management.
An agent of the Methodist Book Con-
Germ, DR.. Lanahan, some months ago re-
ported that its affairs were mismanaged,
and specified particular matters wherein
the purchases of material were made i'm
properly. Instead of investigating the
wrong committee was appointed to try
DIR. Lanahan for SANDER. The proceed
ing was so clumsily conducted that no
result was arrived at, and as the public
had come to take large interest in the
unravelment of the charge, the General
Conference of the Methodist Episcopal
Church took hold of the matter and APP
pointed committee to investigate the
frauds. DR.. Lanahan was appointed on
this committee, but the other members of
the committee refuse to recognize him as
one of their number. They refuse to
allow him to examine the books and ac-
counts, and in other respects seem to
have plan of their own for doing the
business which DR.. Lanahan evidently
knows all about He offers to point out
the errors and to show the erasures and
changes that have been made by the pur-
chasing agent, but his advice and informa-
ton was studiously refused to be listened
to or accepted. He has dragged the
matter into court, and is now seeking to
enforce by mandamus those rights which
the investigating committee should have
Deeu prompt 10 cOnceQe.
AS the committee represents the Con-
ference, it will be seen that every suspi-
cious circumstance connected with this
Investigation must fall upon the entire |
body of the Church. For this reason we
protest that the refusal of Mr.. Carlton and |
his associates to allow DIR. Lanahan to 90 |
into full exposition of all the transac-
lions of the Concern is detrimental to the |
Church, because it allows the public to
suspect greater errors than really exist. |
The charges are too explicit and positive
20 be cleared up in any other way than by |
. full revelation of all matters connected
herewith, and every attempt to cover up
he speculation or to suppress the truth
will do more harm than a full revelation
If the most reprehensible irregularities.
70 expose such frauds as exist
n the Concern will simply have
he effect to discredit and disgrace GER
ain individuals who abused a great re-
igious trust; to cover up these specula-
ions, if they exist as the public now be-
ieves, will be to put upon the General
Conference, and through it upon the whole
Jhurch, the stigma of having assumed
nd Endorsed the offenses of the specu-
ators. The Methodist Church can not
10 this thing without suffering incalcu-
able evil, and it should protest at once
gainst the effort of Mr.. Carlton to SNUG
lie the investigation through without al
owing fair and full investigation of the
looks by the only man who seems to
now anything about the specific frauds
hat have been mentioned to the public
10 far as we have heard the members ex-
ress an opinion they demand full ex-
osure rather than whitewashing report
he exposure will only criminate individu-
Is, while the whitewashing will discolor
be entire religious community.