Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-08-06
HAD A FINE MEETING.
RICHMOND DISTRICT CONFERENCE
IN KING AND QUEEN.
RESOLUTIONS ON BOOK SCANDAL.
The Body Adopts n Paper Review
ing the Facts and Endorsing the
course OF the Dfshopx-Ffne Re-
ports from Richmond Churches.

The thirty-first session OF the Richmond
District Conference. Methodist Episcopal
| Churcf, South, convened at Shackleford's
church, East King and Queen Circuit,
wednesday morning. continuing in ses-
sion. with stated periods of adjournment,
until yesterday afternoon. Rev. DR.. A.
| @. Brown, presiding elder Of the district
! otciated as president OF the conference
and Rev. r. t. Beadles acted as secretary.
The attendance OF both clerical and lay
delegates was gratifyingly good. and much
business looking to the welfare OF the
churches in the district was transacted.
The reports Of the various pastors. which
| consumed the first days session, were all
of an encouraging character, and showed
many OF the churches TO be in an excep-
uonally-prosperous condition.
In certain sense the reports from
Broad-Sreet and st. James, Richmond,
! attracted the greater interest The former
| church reported the acquisition Of a par
sonage, the gift Of Miss Jenkins while
| Rev. NJ. Beauchamp, Of ST. James, sur
prised some Of his most intimate friends
| with the announcement that Mrs. Bos-
| well, a member Of his charge. had just
| transferred 10 the church, by deed to be
| recorded in a few days, a brick house
on Marshall, near Twenty-eighth street,
this city. 10 be used as a parsonage.
At the second days session much bust
ness OF a routine character was transact
ed. Rev. c. L. Balm read a report on mis-
| sion work, and after some discussion a
| resolution was adopted petitioning the
annual conference TO employ mission
| airy 10 work in certain sections of Rich
| mOnd.
Rev. w. b. Beauchamp made an address
on league work
A resolution rendering sympathy for
Rev DR.. Starr in his illness and express
ing regret at his absence from the con-
| ference was adopted by rising vote.
| A communication was read from Mrs
| Bishop Hargrove In reference 10 the
| Woman's Parsonage and Home Mission
airy Society. showing a prosperous condi-
| tion of affairs.
THE BOOK SCANDAL
The following preamble and resolution,
| offered by Revs. J. T. Mastin and w. w.
Lear were unanimously adopted:
| Whereas, on the 9Th day of June, 1898
the Senate of the United States adopted
| the following resolution:
Resolved That the Committee on
| Claims be directed to inquire and report
claim of the Methodist Episcopal Church,
| South and also as to all the circum-
! stances connected with the passage Of
the bill providing for the payment Of said
claim, and with the subsequent. payment
, of the money under said act of Congress-;
| and.
Whereas. It has been ascertained that
the sum Of $2SS, 600 was paid by the United
! States Government TO Barbee & Smith
ar hn NfathOntGf E'niEQnnQl
| Church. South. March Is. 1895 and that
! on the next day the said agents paid to
! T.. y. Stahlman S100S00. or 30 per cent. OF
! the whole. for services rendered in the
! passage of the bill for the payment Of
! said claim; and,
! Whereas. it has been alleged by GER
! tain Senators and Representatives in the
] lower house Of Congress that the said
! bill would not have been passed without
/ an amendment prohibiting the beneficial
| ries from a wastefu and improper use of
| the fund If they (the said Senators and
| Representatives had not been deceived
| and misled by certain letters and tele-
| grams from Messrs. Barbee q Smith. book
| agents Of the Methodist Episcopal Church.
South, in whom they reposed implicit con-
| fidence: and,
Whereas, after looking into this grave
| allegation, the Book Committee adopted
! the following resolution:
Resolved. That we do not believe that
our book agents have. either III fact or in
tention, made any statement contrary TO
the exact truth
Whereupon, they appealed to their
brethren 10 suspend judgment until, in
the fuller light Of official facts. they
should make good their denial of any
wrong doing by the book agents; and,
Whereas, having patiently waited for
the fuller light" and having carefully
weighed the official facts submitted by
the Book Committee In their lengthy
and able paper on the painful subject.
we deeply regret to observe that they
virtually admit the fact Of the alleged
deception, and only attempt TO show that
the said deception was perpetrated by
Messrs. Barbee & Smith without intend
ing to do 80. which falls far short of
their promised Vindication, is to us as
disappointing as it must be humiliating
and distressing TO every member Of the
Methodist Episcopal Church, South; and
Whereas under these distressing condi-
tions, the College of Bishops has given
the Church the following assurance;
while reaflirming the business OF our
claim payment of which has been sought
! for twenty-five years, we insist that the
| Church cannot afford 10 accept it as a
| gratuity or On conditions that reflect
| upon It's nOnOf. 1ndSmuCn, therefore, as
some senators have affirmed on the floor
! of the Senate that they wera induced to
| support the claim by misleading state
| ments on the part of the representa-
| tves of the Church-statements, how
| ever, which did not affect the merit of
! our claim-we hereby give this assn
! rance: That If the Senate, by affrma-
tive action, declares that the passage of
the bill was due to such misleading state
ments, we will take the proper steps
10 have the entire amount returned to
| the government: therefore
Resolved That this timely and wise
action of the College Of Bishops is high
w gratifying TO us and lifts from the
fair name of the Methodist Episcopal
! Church South, all possible reproach in
! the premises.
Resolved That in their efforts to make
good their assurance the College of
Bishops should have the hearty support
and cooperation of every loyal and loving
| Southern Methodist.
DELEGATES TO CONFERENCE.
DR.. Garrett Anderson, of King and
! Queen; Nj. A. Campbell, OF Manchester;
! l.. NJ. Nance. OF Charles City county,
| and NJ Il. Gary of Richmond, were
| elected lay delegates to the annual con-
ference. which meets in Portsmouth in
| November
The third day was devoted 10 the dis
| cussion of educational interests; the pas
sage of resolutions endorsing Church
| schools colleges and papers; eulogizing