The Emporia news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1859-1881, 1872-06-28
THE IMPRISONMENT OF HONEST
JOHN LANAHAN.

The opinion which the Weekly
has repeatedly expressed of the es-
sential correctness of DR.. Lanahan's
charges against the administration
of the Methodist Book Concern has
been confirmed by the decision of
the General Conference. What the
rest of the world has plainly seen
for several years is now admitted
by the highest authority in the
Church. A special committee ap-
pointed by the Conference and made
up of some of the best business men
among the delegates, have investi-
gated the case, and reported unani-
mously that the Concern has been
subjected to repeated frauds and
consequent losses. They locate the
frauds chiefly, if not wholly, in the
bIndery, but decide also that ''the
business methods of the depart
ments were such as to afford oppor-
tunities for frauds and populations
by subordinates," and that sit is
reasonable to presume that such
frauds and populations could have
been prevented by the enforcement
of more thorough and business-iike
methods" They adopt the opinion
Va MI AAAA0AOSh1 OAO VI lAAO
that the accounts for former years
show ga great deal of confusion
and careless bookkeeping" As to
the duration of the frauds, they
find that they have been carried on
'sfor a series of years." and as to the
extent of losses, that they were
''very considerable" though the
amount "can not now be ascertain
al nth - ThSo
adopted unanimously by the Con-
ference, without debate.
It seems strange TO the world that
it has required the Church so long
to find out what has been palpable
to disinterested observers. Yet
DR.. Lanahan has for two years been
subjected to indignities for which
there is no excuse, TO prosecutions
which would have intimidated a
less courageous man. The Confer
ence very properly ordered that he
should be reimbursed for his ex-
penses; but it should have thanked
him, in the most conspicuous man
ner, for the services he has render
ed to the cause of truth and relig-
ion. If DIR. Lanahan has been right,
as is now declared, he has done for
his Church the most important
work ACCOMPLISHED by any man
living in it. He has driven out
fraud and wrong which were in
treDched IN the very citadel of
Northumberland so securely
that for long time they have de-
fed his most persistent efforts to
expel them. at length his conduct
is fully indicated, and he is allow.
ed to retire without a word of ap-
pFoVal. This is not the way to en-
courage integrity, and to make. it
honorable in the eyes of the Metho-
dist people. AS the case stands,
honesty in the service of the Church
seems to entail suffering and to
bring very little credit to the suf.
ferer.
1t would be naturally supposed
that DIR. Lanahan had been subjec-
ted to enough indIgnities; but one
more, IL appears, was reserved for
him. On Friday, the 7th Of June,
he was arrested by sheriff's depu-
| ty, on the suit of 5. j. Goodenough.
Treasurer of the Sunday School I'm
MON of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, for SANDER. It being in
the after-part of the day, aud being
refused by the officer permission to
| send q note Or message to his fami.
Fly, and not wishing TO ANNOY his
New Y ork friends with his troab-
lies, DIR. Lanahan declined 10 give
bail until he could have the pres
ence and counsel of his relatives
from Baltimore. He spent that
might and part of the next morning
in the Ludlow Street Jail. The
suit on which he was arrested was
the old one OF GooDEEOUeH .. LAM
4 AHAN, brought as far back as Jantl-
airy, 1870. DR.. L,anahan being
Iabout to visit Baltimore for few
days, leaving his family and hIs
business behind him, 1t wss pre-
! tended that be was likely to get out
\ Of the iurisdietion of the court, and
so evade tsaal. He has shoWn at
all tiHses the utmost anxiety to meet