The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1883-05-25
RELIGIOUS CONVENTIONS.
The Ofcers of the Baptist Missionary
Union Sustained.

SARATOGA, May 24.-At the Baptist Mis-
sionary anniversary this morniI 2, DR.. J. d.
Boardman of Philadelphia presided. The
work was to clear up the charges of dishon-
esty recently made. Rev. f. a. Douglass,
who published the structures, th.ugh in town
did not appear at the meeting. Fifteen hum
dred delegates are present. An interesting
time is expected hen the committee upon the
charges report.
AT the afternoon session Hon. E. G. Fitz'
of Boston spoke in detail, answering questions
and replying to charges against the admistra-
tion of the society HThe charges are: First, bad
faith in payment Of missionaries salaries, and,
second, discrepancies in the accounts of the
treasurer. Mr.. Fitz said that for halt a CEN
tury previous to 1879 it had been the unvary-
ing custom of the Missi nary Union to pay its
missionaries in India their salaries in rupees
at uniform rate of 2-10 rupees to the dollar
and appropriations for salaries had always
been made In rupees. This method of pay
ment was entirely salts zctory to the missona'
ries until about 1874 whea the depreciation OF
silver in India reduced tie purchasing power
of the rupee and the missionaries complained.
After some discussion 1t was decided TO IN
crease the number of rupees to a dollar by 10
per cent, making 42-100 instead of 20-100
the equivalent of dollar. This was satisfac-
tory to the missionaries and the salaries had
been paid on this basis until the present year
when it was decided TO convert the salaries in
to as many rupees as they would purchase and
give all to the missionaries. This method is
accepted as full settlement of the contro-
versy by all parties. In exchanging dollars
for rupees there is net average gain OF per
cent. Has the treasury credited that money?
Reports show completely that not a penny is
missing. For five Toars S427 900 was appro-
priated; an item having gain OF per cent. is
on record. The Union has protected missiona-
ries
Rev. Mr. Downey of India was asked to re-
spond for the Folgra missions. he said:
"This rupee question was settled as was sup
posed for all time three years ago. We were
then and we are now heartily satisfied. Were
the missionaries today, as / am, here they
would pronounce the charge lately published
false, an outrage and disgrace"
Hon. E. G. Fitz said: Find discrepancy
if you can, the books are open, and l will
make up the deficiency g for 81.
Rev. 81. T. Rose of Burmab, who was quot
ed as making the original charge against the
Union, said: 81 have never had a doubt of the
integrity of Mr.. Smith, the ex-treasurer.o
Rex. NJ. Jamison of Burmah said: There
is no dissension among our missionaries. The
charges are wholly unjustihabe and ab-
horrent."
A number of missionaries testified TO satis-
faction with the methods of tie association
The evening session was largely attended.
The report of the committee appointed to ex-
press the sentiment OF the convection upon the
scandal affecting the honor of the executive
officers was as follows:
Whereas after an exhaustive search. satisfac-
Hon. X. G. Fitz, an expert accountant, after
q patient and thorough examination, and his
statement has been confirmed by the auditing
committee and missionaries present therefore
confidence in the integrity and eff
cheney of the executive officers and
late treasurer Freeman A. Smith;
that the anonymous author OF the unfounded
charges receives our emphatic and unqualified
condemnation. No one has appeared TO press
the charges their groundlessness being appar-
Presbyterian General Assembly.
At the session Of the Presbyterian General
Assembly today letter was read from Rev.
Mr.. McKane, asking leave to withdraw his
appea, from the order of suspension decreed
against him for heresy and stating that he
should at once notify the church in Steuben-
vile, Ohio, OF which he has been pastor, OF
his Withdrawal from the ministry OF the Pres
byteran church. Leave to Withdraw was
granted.
The Swedenborgian Convention.
BRocKToN, Mass, May 2f.-The second
day's session of the American Conference OF
New Church ministers began at 10 O'Clock
this morning, Rev. Joseph Pettee Of Arlington
in the chair. The religious services were con-
ducted by Rev. James Reed of Boston. The
resignation of Rev. DR.. Hibbard as President
of the conference was received and accepted,
resolutions of respect being afterward adopted
Remarks upon the work OF repubiishiDg the
writings oil SW6u6uDOfR III tho oliElhoA AS1e'A
were made by Revs. Messrs Aver, Reed, Hay
den, Hinckley and Worcester. The following
resolution, offered by Rev. I. +. Wright was
then adopted by unanimous vote:
Resolved, That the conference would express
its deep interest in and high appreciation o.
the work Of republishiDg the writings oil Swed-
enborg in the original Latin, which Work Il
now going on through the editofship oi hey
S. 81. Worcester and the agency Of the AmeIl-
can Swedenborg Printing and Publishing So
ciety.
AT the afternoon session, Rev. William b
Hayden of Portland, Me-, was elected pTesi
dent and Rev. j. K Smythe Of Boston High
lands secretary and treasury
The Presbyterian Synod.
PITTsBURG, Pa, May 24.-The synod of tht
Reformed Presbyterian Church reconvened TO
day The committee on temperance reported
through Rev. L. u. Rabb Of Linlon, Ia, sc
ries OF resolutions pledging themselves to sc
cnre constitutional prohibition and denouncinl
the use of tobacco ia any form, characterzinl
its effects as weakening to moral forces an'
TINS becomipg a stumbling block in the va,
Of temnerapce reform of all kinds. Minister
and others in church were urged to stop tn
habit as the example set to the young was de
moralizing. The report was tabled.
The cuban Sugar Crop.
NEW YORK, May PA Havana letter .
fLa 19Lh iuat tha end of th2 cane narfes