Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1871-06-26
MONDAY. JUNE 60, 1871.


For considerable time past, the New York
papers, and the Geographic dispatches from that
city. have discussed the Methodist Book-Con-
Germ, Il has been represented that the concern
harbored swindlers who had defrauded it of
large sums of money; that there were efforts TO
"coyer up" this swindling; and that Rev. DR..
Iauahan, the assistant agent was struggling
CALAMITY to bring all this deviltry to light.
There has, heretofore, been no clear statement
of the facts in any of the publications to which
we refer, which, to q large extent, have come
from DR.. Lanahan, or from those who had taken
pains to hear all he had to say on the subject.
Not many people have really sought to under
stand the case, and most Of those who have
mentioned il have assumed that DIR. Lanahan's
representations are correct.
After reading what has been published, and
following the reports Of the recent proceedings
in New York, we are fully persuaded that there
have been no frauds in the Methodist book con-
Germ, and that the great noise on the subject is
due chiefly to DIR. Lanahan's peculiarities of tenn
per and character. He seems to be one Of those
men who quarrel easily with all Others around
them, who have a natural tendency to domineer,
and who are strongly disposed 10 "break things
when not allowed to have their own way.
When appointed assistant book agent, he ap-
pears to have resolved that his advent to Office
should be signalized by some important demon
stratiou, and his activity was soon devoted TO a
hunt for frauds in the previous management
Of the concern. He found some things which
he did not understand, because he would not
seek to have them explained, and which he
himself, with little experience in the business,
could have explained easily. Immediately, he
raised an cutlery of "fraud" and "swindling,"
and this outcry swiftly found its way into the
newspapers. A cloud came over the reputation
of the great Methodist publishing house, which,
for many years, had been managed with admir-
able integrity and success.
When the general conference is not in session,
the power above the agent is the "book COM
mittee." DIR. Lanahan's outery led this COM
mittee to undertake an investigation. He ap-
peared before it and was asked to prove his
charges. He stated his case and furnished what
he called bis proof; and then came the satisfac-
tory explanations which he might have had at
any time, for the asking. Ii was made clear that
there had been no frauds, and that DIR Lana
han really had nothing but suspicion of fraud
for which the only possible excuse was his igno-
rance of the method of keeping the books of
such business The committee dismissed his
charges, and lett the concern to go on
as before under the management of its long
tried and trusted chief agent Rev. DR.. Carleton.
This should have ended the public agitation,
and if DR.. Lanahan was not satisfied, he could
have reserved his case for an appeal to the gen
eral conference. This was the only legitimate
course open to him. He could not possibly suS-
pect the book committee of desiring to protect
swiDdlers, for they could have no motive for
doing SO. Their interest, as well as their integ-
rity and honor forbade it. He should have
respected this fact, and waited for the general
conference.
But DR.. Lanahan's peculiar temper did not
allow him to be quiet and wait for another legit-
innate opportunity. He continued the agitation
with surprising pertinacity. Soon the news
papers began to intimate that the book commit
tee and all Others concerned, save DIR. Lanahan
himself, were endeayoring to conceal fraud and
shelter the swindlers from just Judgment. He
assumed that his power and authority in the
concern were quite equal to those of the chief
agent, and undertook to act on this assumption.
Having been allowed control of the books for
ten weeks, in order to search for frauds
with the aid of experts, he seemed dis
posed to use this favor indefinitely. Being
restrained after ten weeks of this kind of work,
he appealed to the courts for a mandamus to
sustain mis- assumed authority over the books.
And now the book committee have taken the
case in hand once more, with view to his re-
moval from Office. The examination has been
concluded, and we shall soon hear the decision.
Meanwhile, the court has refused the mandamus,
and decided that his claim to equal authority
with DR.. Carleton, is entirely unwarranted. He
will probably be removed from office; and then
he will again have an opportunity to prove his
charges.