Green-Mountain freeman. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1844-1884, 1872-05-15

The METHODIST Book CoNcERN.-The New
York Post is not pleased with the manner IN
which the investigation Of the affairs of the
Methodist Book Concern are carried on before
the General Conference now in session. 1t
says in relation TO it;
The old saying Of Saint Luke, that - the
children of this world are in their generation
wiser than the children of light, has re-
ceived a new illustration in the way IN which
our Methodist Episcopal brethren treat their
Book Concern - Irregularities. 1t was hop
ed by every friend Of the Church, that when
the question was brought before the General
/ Conference 1t would be met in a prompt and
satisfactory manner but up TO the present
/ time the members OF the Conference have
shown simply foolish hesitation IN making
settlement of the matter, for which 1t Is
/ hard to account.
Various reports have been submitted to
/ the Conference in relation to the manage
kment of the Book Concern. all indicating
/ gross carelessness, and perhaps something
worse The report of MIR. kubTeth. an ex-
Vert. gives no proof of Intentional fraud,
/ although it asserts that some OF the
DEPARTMENTS have been very badly managed,
notably the blndery. The relations OF Mr..
James F. Porter, as paper buyer for the
Z -
/ the least The report OF the minority OF the
] Committee Of Investigation shows that a
+ % bad state of things has existed IN the Book
( Concern for years. This assertion Is con
firmed by a statement IN detail from Dr..
/ I.anahan. Goods were bought which were
never used books were given away for
which no account was made salaries were
swollen enormously by means OF perqulsItes,
and IN other similar ways the legitimate
profits of the establishment were diminished.
Among all business men such gross Irregu-
+ laritIes, TO use mild term. would be
investigated and corrected at once.
We do not desire 70 take part in any
eccles iasticaI differences. But this is not "a
question OF church government, but of
common honesty. Ii has been "a scandal to
the Methodist Episcopal Church Tor about
TWO years, and the dilatOry a. withdrawing
manner in which IL has been handled thus
tar by the supreme council OF the Church ls
daily making 1t more dlsgrace.ul and hurttul
Ia such matter individuals are OF no
account The Church must preserve Its
own reputation for common business pru-
dence and honesty at all hazards.
The Pos. evidently speaks from a one-sided
view OF the question and 1t IS quite safe
to assume that body composed of men en-
inent alike for financial ability well as in
telectual superiority as is this General Con
ference might be competent TO manage theiE
own concerns in their own way.
At the Methodist Conference in Brooklyn
Saturday, addresses were made by Rev Drs
Sutherland of Canada and Rev Henry Pope
of Eastern British America The former
expressed the hope that such "a calamity rs "a
collision between England and America
would always be prevented by the Christian
sentiment of America. and the latter said he
would rejoice if the Dominion and the United
States were incorporated as one nation. Rev.
Mr. Wheat, a delegate from the Methodist
Protestant General Conference made an adj
dress expressing the hope of reunion Of the
two bodies at no distant dav.
The Committee on the Book Concern in
vcstigation embraces Mr.. Moore. of Cal
Judge McAlmott OF Pennsylvania, De PAW
OF Ind, ian eminent banker,) Rev. Mr. Mat
4 lack Of New Orleans, Judge Goodrich of HI
Mr. Bonner OF st. Louis the President of the
Board OF Trade in that city, and \. Shinkle,
4 Esq, a banker also, from Ky