The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1871-01-12
THE BOOK CONCERN TROUBLES.
DR.. Lanahan 10 be fried To-day for MaIfen-
sance Ia Ofilce-BeRinninR of the End of the
Book Concern Scandals

Dr. IanHhan 10 be Tried To-day for Maifen-
sRnce la Ohlce-BeRinninR of the End of the
Book Concern Scandals.
To-day the trial of the Rev. DR.. Lanahan, Jr.,
agent of the Book Concern of the Methodist
Episcopal Church, will be opened at the pub
fishing house corner of Broadway and Eleventh
street, New York, before a court consisting of
the General Book Committee and such of the
Bishops of the Church as may be able to be pre-
sent.
1t will be remembered that in October last DIR.
Lanahan was suspended from his official func-
tions by the committee, pending his trial, upon
the issue of which will depend his reinstate.
ment or his expulsion from Office, on charges
which, though not affecting in any degree his
personal integrity or honesty of motive, cannot
fail TO prove disastrous to his influence rs a
Christian minister. Other matters will also in-
cidentally be fully ventilated and perhaps de.
cided, in which the general public have for two
years past eyinced no small interest.
The following are the charges in brief
1. Official misconduct and malfeasance.
2. Neglect of official duty.
B. Untruthfulness, irascibility, slanderous
disposition, and other Objectionable personal
characteristics, which unfit him for the position
of assistant book agent
4. Insubordination to his official superiors,
the Book Committee, and violation of his
pledges to them.
5. Want of business qualifications and capa-
city for the discharge of his official duties as
such assistant book agent.
The committee met on May 49, remaining in
the offending agent, pending his trial on the
charges, was entertained and warmly debated;
but no action was taken in the premises other
than to resolve that it was mot deemed eX-
pedient at the present time to consider the
charges"
The Book Committee again met 10 Cincinnati
in October last. AS this was the regular fall
meeting of the committee, 1t was not generally
supposed that the New York Book-room troubles
would come up at that session, and there was
no little astonishment when the telegraph an
nounced that DR.. Lanahan had been suspended
for official misconduct. The time for the trial
was first set for December s, and afterwards
changed to January II.
The. following is the resolution of suspen-
sion;-
In view OF representations made to the Book Com.
mttee at its session in May last and at this present
session, by Rev. II. Il. Pease and others (see dOcu.
nent marked y concerning the official conduct OF
York,
ResOlUed That the said John Lanahan Assistant
Book Agent be and he is hereby suspended from
his omclal relations as such agent
II is understood that all the bishops have been
invited to be present and that all will att end
but one or two who are in bad health. This is
tine only thing which renders DIR. Lanahan's fate
pToblematic. The committee have already
shown their hands, and there is little doubt
that the vote on his expulsion will stand as did
that on his suspension The concurrence of the
bishops present must needs be obtained before
such judgment can take effect, and this, it is
fair to suppose, can only be obtained after a
thorough and impartial Investigation.