The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1883-03-03
THE "METnoDIsr NINE"


N. Y. Christian Advocate (MRrchl.
The East Tennessee Wesleyan Uniyer
sity is located at Athens, Tenn. Like al
our schools and colleges established in th,
South since the war, It has had to strugg!,
hard for existence. It's professors anc
teachers have lived on small salaries ant
not always received all that was due. II
1878 an adventurer and Spectator, nance
Bixby, persuaded DR.. John +. Spence, the
President, that he intended to endow the
University with $1,000 shares Of very yalu
able mining stock. He made DR.. Spence
believe Il; his faith became the evidence O.
things not seen. Professor Caldwell, o.
the institution, went out to the mine and
thought he saw. Concerning his ability t
analyze ore we know nothing. But he
brought back good report. DR.. Spence
had no doubts; he already saw the endow'
ment and grand university, its professors
well supported, its libraries large, its cabi
nets filed with specimens from all paris o.
the world, its philosophical apparatus com
plete, its students numerous, and its use
fulness vast.
Do we say that he was wise in seeking
to endow the institution in this way? We
do not; We say that he was unwise.
But II be believed the prospect certain
and none insinuate that he did not-nc
charge but OF misplaced confidence and a
very serious error OF judgment can be
brought against him. II the enterprise
had proved success his praise would be
in most mems mouths. Yet even then the
discriminating would have doubt.
cd the wisdom Of such meth
DDS OF endowing Christian insti.
tutions. When the "philanthrop.
is" suggested that certain sums were neces.
sary ITO develop this property" one might
think that the cloyen foot Of the bogus
'angel Of light" might have been seen; but
no; the spell was on; so DR.. Spence came
East. lie went straight to "leading
men," told his wonderful tale, enlisted
their sympathy. One expressed doubts,
said that ii another would investigate be
would take some stock so as to help the
University. The other investigated, and
allowed his name to be used. These men
may be charged with want OF discernment;
it may be said that they should have used
their influence to check such an effort to
endow school; but not one OF them can
be charged with dishonesty on the above
facts.
The next act opens by the appearance Of
Dr.. Spence, who lays the matter before the
him that it is sure; the CLEAN OF confidence
is in his eye, the smile OF serene anticipa.
ton upon his lip. 1t has been investigated
stock has been taken by such and such
persons; it Is for the ca,Ie, for our Southern
iOork, for the University. The Editor be.
lieyed, and wrote an editorial in the I'D.
pocdle commencing it, stating who had
taken stock, etc, though DR.. Spence made
no suggestion that an article should be
written.
Do we justify such use OF the columns Of
the Christian advocate to puff a scheme oil
this kind? We'd not. 1t is to be regret.
ted that it was ever done. We infer from
the statement OF DR.. @. Fl. Fowler, pub.
lished last week. that he does not justify It.
But rs he had no financial interest in it, as
he affirms; received no reward for il, direct
or indirect; wrote 1t solely to help the Uni.
versity, under the confident expectation
that 1t would prove absolutely safe, but two
things can lie against him, namely: that,
with many others, he was deceived as to
the security Of the investment, and that,
without considering the subject OF the re.
lation OF Endorsements in q church paper
OF contingent financial enterprises, in his
desire to help this great endowment
along he wrote commentator OF the
schemes. As to these it is a matter OF his
own; the second we cannot justify, but It is
not an act OF dishonesty, but Of indiscre
ton, for which ifthe scheme had succeeded
all who profted by itwould have thanked
him, whileit would still have remained
true that such use OF The Christian Adpo
cate. even TO help good cause is unwise.
It is claimed by him that the scheme was
not denounced atterward in The Christia,
Advocate, because twas not discovered tc
be fraud till all the damage had beer
done, and because he and .ohers were do.
ing all that they could do 10 protect any
who might have been led into the invest.
ment through their influence,
The sum OF the facts then, is that a
swindler deceived Prof. Caldwell and DR.
Spence. Prof. Caldwell was either not 20
competent expert" in ores or was inexper
in detecting swindlers and his repor
after visiting the mine, confirmed the de
ception. The stock alleged 10 be neces
sary to raise money to develop the property
was offered to and taken by two or three
leading men" in the East and by whose
ever would purchase it. But such was the
confidence OF DR.. Spence and Caldwell In
the investment that not one Of the l5,00C
shares given to the College was sold. The
then editor OF The Chriaian Advocate,
believeing in and wishing to help the
cause, but at that time having no financial
interest in 1t, commended 1t In the paper
Having done this, and finding that all had
been deceived, he, with others, tried tc
protect them. Whatevr this is, 1t Is moi
dishonesty.
Ifany man claim to have any evidence
Of dishonesty on the part OF any Heading
man In Methodism" In this matter OF false,
hood, OF being paid for putting the scheme
or Of any other act which implies dishon
esty, lie: him bring forth the evidency
Our system OF government Is admirably
adapted to try ministerial offenders against
morality, however exalted their position
And there is energy enough in the Church
to bring to trial any person occupying ar
important official position against whom
creditable evidence OF dishonesty Is ad
duced. II any man, therefore, has evidence
OF immortality let him speak, not by vague
insinuations, but by direct accusations
with the proof submitted to the proper
person under our form OF government. All
information as TO our discipline can be OBJ
tanned by applying at this Office.
Nervous Debility
When all other remedies fall Dr.. FRAzrER'l
RooT BfTTERs will cure General Debility
| L nnn nf A nnafiiA nuanAnain md all dlanaanI