The central Presbyterian. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1856-1908, 1877-05-17
THE CHRISTIAN OBSERVER" AND THE
COMMITTEE OF PUBLICATION.

The Christian Observer seems to be labor
ing under some kind of chronic affection
when it comes in contact with the Commit
tee of Publication. We fear it is incurable
Whether this malady is only in general q
part of the "Original corruption" Of the hu
man family, whereby they are utterly in
disposed, disabled, and made opposite to al
good, and wholly inclined to all evil" OIL
whether its "actual transgressiOns in this
particular line are owing to something spe
cial and peculiar, We do not stop to deter
mine. In another column will be found, a
a matter of public intelligence, some very EN-
phatic action which the Presbytery of Brazoi
has been felt called upon TO take in repelIng
what it calls " the abusive and slanderOus
epithets of the Observer (such as dscep
tion" and ''fraud') which it applied direcsl!
or by implication to the members of the Syn
cd of Texas. How far such proceeding BY
whoIe Pres5ytery casts light upon the points
here to be noticed, others can judge as vel
as ourselves.
It became an imperative duty last Fall tc
apply stringent corrective to its wansOr
and gross accusation against the Committee
in the matter of the explanatory state
ment accompanying their publication Of
the Book of Church Order. But it never
had the fairness to correct its misrepresenta
ton.
In the Observer Of the "a inst. the recent
troubles in the affairs of che Committee are
taken up, and statements made or insinuated
which its becomes again public duty to ex
pose.
Speaking Of the Rev. E. 7. Baird, D. d.
late Secretary of Publication, it is said-"He
was managing a job printing Office, and, as
Secretary, made contracts with himself, as
printer, for the printing of the Publication
Committee.
This same charge, if We remember, has
been in the columns of the Observer before,
and has been publicly conradicted. If ii
had any foundation in tTuth-Of which ii
has not a particle-it would manifestly i'm
pEeate the whole Committee in an utterly
shameful transaction, not only under their
eye, but also absolutely under their control.
Such transaction, as the Secretary making
his own contracts with himself, could not
take place without the knowledge and con-
nivanoe of the whole Committee.
In another part Of this paper We publish
from the Minutes kept by the Committee,
the entire papers relasiDg to this natter
Whatever views may be entertained as to the
wisdom Of tho arrangement, considered as q
general policy, or in view Of Dr.. Baird's
special relation to it, The following remarks
may be proper.
a. The circumstances in regard to the
want of facilities for car work in Richmond
in 1867, we're such as to suggest the measure.
a. The Committee had nothing to do
with the purchase of the Office, nor owned
any part Of it-nOg was its purchase approved
by them further than IS indicated by the fact
that they considered the arrangements offered,
highly advantageous, and availed themselves
of them. It was simply " d business trans
action, just as if it had been made with any
other establishment.
g. DR.. Baird never fixed the prices of bis
work the prices in New York and Philadel-
phia were looked to as the general guide, and
an auditing committee for time, and the
Business Agent subsequently, determined the
prices in sl instances. This appears on the
face of the paper referred to.
When therefore the Christian Observer
comes before the public again with such an
imputatiOn as it casts upon the Committee,
(nOt to speak Of its injustice to tho late Sec
retary) in asserting that ".ho Secretary made
contracts with himself as printer for the
printing of the Publication Committee" (all