Daily Republican., 1881-04-27
A LYMETHODIST MEETING.
A Man named Price Stirs up the
BreIhren-An Attempt to bribe "a
Reporter.

A Nan named Price StnrS up IN
Breunren-An Attempt to bribe
Reporter,
There were n couple Of eXceedingl.
lively scenes at yesterdays sessions o
the Methodist Preachers Meeting
The first transpired while addresses Ell
logiStic of the late Rev. James Gun
ningham were being delivered. Mr.
Thomas W. Price, in bearing tribute tt
the deceased, said that he was man 0
honest heart "And wish TO God,
said the speaker, "that could
say that Of all of you" The
assembled ministers looked surprised al
this uttcrance, but, rs no one seemed
inclined to reply, Rev. Theodore Stevens
jumped to his feet and, in IL somewhat
excited manner, said; 81 hope we Will
not stultiiy ourselves by having Insults
flung in our faces, and hope if Mr..
Price speaks, he will act as gentle
man.
4 few moments later Mr. Price again
arose to u question of privilege Per
mission being given to speak, he said
"Th're has happened this year piece
of legislation, the like Of which has not
happened anywhere in CllriStendom.
The legislation is the decision that the
reports Of the Missionary Society shall
not be distributed to the contributing
members gratuitously, but chat they
must buy them; that they must buy
the receipts for the money they have
paid, to see that it has not been stolen
and devoted to other purposes. But,
gentlemen, the reason for this action
was to save the cost for printing, us was
alleged. No. but it was II conspiracy
to increas" the profits Of the concern
downstairs. (rhc Methodist Tract So
cicty.) 1t was a preconcerted conSpl-
racy.'
At this moment several managers OF
the above mentioned Tract Society en-
tered the hall Mr. Price looked at them,
and pointing his finger toward them.
he continued sternly: "Thcre they
come, | am glad they have come i'll.
| sent for them that they mighl hear. |
learned, while listening to Methodist
preaching, several things, and | will
quote one of them now, gentlemen:
There ) nothing heard that shall not
be revealed These men, who have
never before this year given so to the
Missionary Society in their lives, want
to save $500 and lose thousands. |
protest against the Missionary Society
being made football for the crooked
concern, which is Il dead-beat inStitu-
tiOn throughout. IT no action is taken
in this matter here, I'll appeal to the
Church at large. I'll reveal the per-
SONS interested.
A sensation was caused by these re-
marks. Then Rev. j. B. Mccullough,
of the Philadelphia Conference Tract
Society, arose and expressed his ccgret
that the subject had come up over the
bones of dead preacher.
"I,s, cNclaimed Mr.. Price, alvanc-
ing in an "Nr!ted manner toward Mr..
McCuiIou-h !; 81 wonder that the bones
of .Iuhu F. Durbn don't come here and
tear your hair out. =
Rev. Mr.. McCullough-We had no
conference about charging for the Mis-
,ionary and Tract Society reports, which
are bound together. Nobody made
any money out Of the transaction.
Mr.. Pricc-DOes the brother mean to
say that the matter was not talked over
at Il meeting Of the Board Of Managers
of the Tract Society and there this
scheme concerted?
Rev. McCullough-I do
Mr.. rrire-'Hh"n repeat | would to
God ali here were as honest MS old Jim
Cries of order.
"My authority was Il Methodist Min
iStcr," intcrjected Mr.. PRICE.
%
throatS.
Mr.. Price refused to comply, and after
Rev. j. W. Sayres said the meeting had
been having what he considered II free
and easy" the subject dropped, and the
brethrcn'S heads bent low while the
bcncdictiOn was pronounced.
Subsequent to the meeting Mr.. Scott,
To the allegations of II rcpor-
ter cOnucrted with an afternoon paper,
him and attempted to brihc
him to omit hiS7ame from II report Of
the proceedings. Mr.. Scott, who is Il
Of car-SpringS and re-
spectacle business man Of thirty years
was seen last night and said
that he had not the slightest notion Of
bribing the reporter. 81 did not want
to see my name in print in connection
with the affair." said Mr.. Scott, and
lsked the reporter to omit it. He said
that he did not see how he
could. said, "Oh, yes, you can; you
must. Here, yon just buy yourself
some cigars and leave my name out. "
| held two trade dollars in my hand
while spoke but did not offer them
to III" reporter, and never dreamed Of
to bribc him"