Nashville union and American. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1868-1875, 1874-05-14
BIG Trade.
The Methodist Conference Consents to
the transfer OF the ST. Louis Book
Coscern-H 10 viii Affect the
nashville Publishing House.

C0i1cern-HoW 10 Will AHect the
Nashville Publishing House.
In the report of Tuesdays proceedings OF
the Methodist General Conference, as pub
lisIled yesterday by the Louisville Col6ieT-
Journal, we find the following in relation
to a matter which is of interest to Nash
vile readers; 49,, ~n.s-ses (.
aW. c.. Johnson, Chairman of the Com
mittee on Books and Periodicals, presented
report No. 2, of said committee, which was
read as follows:
Your committee to whom was recommit-
ted report No. 2, concerning the communi-
cation of Logan ID. Cameron, proposing
negotiations f., the. transfer of the property
of the Southwestern Book and Publishing
Company, at Sta Louis, TO the Southern
Methodist Publishing House, have again
duly considered their report, and with il
they have also considered the amendment
referred to them, offered by c. |. Vande.
venter and A. II. Redfofd in these words:
provided, that the Book Agent and
Book Committee take no further steps to-
ward efiecting the proposed transfer of the
property without the consent of the patron
izlng Conferences"
In view ofthe fact that TIE property be-
Ing owned by stockholders can oe tfahsfei-
red without the consent Of '.the patronizing
Conferences" your committee do not 'h'- No.
tnat the above proYlso should be accepted
by them, or adopted by the General Con-
Tour committee perfectly understand
thatsthe financial condition of the Publish
ing House at this time would not warrant
the purchase of the property at st. Louis;
but this difficulty, perhaps, may be olivia
ted br future eseiiis, and particularly by the
terms OF tee transfer.
The following resolution Is offered again
for adot.ior By The General Conference, viz
Resolved, that the book agent, with Il e
Book Committee, be authorized TO neSc-
tate for the transfer of the property OF the
Southwestern Book and Publishing Com
pany, at st. Louis, to the Southern Metho-
dist Publishing House, if such transfer can
be effected without damage to the publish.
ing interests oftbe Church; provided, that
the transfer shall-riot be siiade " the debts
aud liabilities OF our Publishing House
shall thereby be increased.
Respectfully submitted,
w. c. JOHNSON, Chairman.
DR.. Scott said that he was not prepared
to offer a minority report, but would ciler
the following substitute for the report of the
majority.
Resolved, That the book agent and book
committee bs instructed to avoid all in
crease of the present liabilities of the Pub
fishing House except such as are indis-
pensabIe to the completion of the Publish
ing House and the proper carrying on Of its
regular business.
DR.. Green said he wished to be heard on
this question,
1. If this General Conference say they
may do this thing il is taeit expression in
favor Of Geina it.
2. The Publishing House owes a large
debt. The creditors understand the condi-
ton bf the bouse perfectly. They were
satisfied that they would be no losers by il.
He thought it unfortunate 10 do anything
here to lead the creditors 10 believe that we
were enlarging our liabilities or oompli-
eating ourselves in the least and involve
their hope of receiving what is due them.
He thought the result would be unfaYOrable.
Nothing should be done to lessen the credit
of the Publishing House.
DR.. McFerrin said that he had some views
on this question which might create a stir.
He was 4 correctional man. The great
Methodist Episcopal Church, South, knew
no locality. lie thought that. if st. Louis,
with all her great, rich and liberal people
were to offer this establishment TO the
Church, With an endowment OF two bun
dred and fifty or three hundred thousand
uoiiars, they should like to receive it. He
did not think they ought to be restrained in
their donations.
DIR. Bedford said that he had examined
the report Of the committee with good
deal Of care, as also the paper of Br. Scott.
He did not thjne eoiicurrenCs with the re-
port Mouldembarrass the Publishing House
at all. The debt was rapidly being liqui-
dated at the rate Of five thousand dollars a
and be did not think another Gen.
eral Conference would see it in debt at all.
They were protected, and he himself was
personally Responsible for half the aiiiount.
He did not presume that Mr.. Dameron ex-
pected them to buy him out, but only that
II in the course of events they found that
transfer of property could be made in the
interest of the Church, the report would
give them authority to negotiate. He in
initely preferred the report to the substi-
.uts.
DR.. Rnsh said that within the next four
years an exigency might arise in which the
Southwestern Book and Publishing COM
Dany should desire to close business. The
substitute would cut off the Methodist
Church from taking advantage Of any OPP
to possess the property.
II. F. johnson said that after listening
20 DIS. Green and Redford he had not
thought that there was any idea Of increas-
ng the expenditures of the Publishing
House, but after what DR.. Rush had said
t seems it was likely that there would be
IN increase of liabilities if the transfer was
made. Tic satfie reasoning would apply
o the purchase of Harper 4 Bro, A. 5.
Barnes & Co., or any other house; but this
vas not the object Of the Publishing House
lit was intended to print books, and not
o purchase other establishments. Ii was
Ilready largely involved, but he was glad
o hear DIR. Redfoui say what he had done
n regRri 70 the liquidation ofthe debt. IL
Ne accomplished what he proposed, he would
e the greatest financier on the American
ointment.
A. T. Goodwin said the Southwestern
Book and Publishing Company had failed.
tIr. Dameron had taken it in. hand for a
hort period, but the fact is il would have
o close out, and if the Methodist Church
ould make anything out of it he saw no
bjectiOn to purchase it.
II. T. Johnson and G. G.. Andrews offered |
he following amendment:
Provided that the transfer shall not be |
made if the debts and liabilities of our
publishing House shall thereby be in
reased.
DR.. Rush asked if that meant that the
'ublishing House would increase its liza |
ilities by purchasing press if it was
aeded?
DR.. Hamilton suggested caution. II was
Ot the first time that the General Confer |
nee had instructed agents to carry out |
that had greatly involved them.
lie was glad TO hear DR.. BEDFORD speak so |
heerfully, but he thought the liabilities of |
be house should not be increased.
The amendment was agreed TO and the |
eport as amended was adopted.
THE TEXAS PACIFIC.