The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1898-11-24

what they think is a just and proper
amount to be paid the attorney for his
work in the collection of the claim.
Subtract that amount from the amount
actually paid. Let the church. collect
that difference and pay it to the Pub
fishing House, $50 that the desire of the
Senate will be accomplished.
He spoke in palliation of the book
agents and did not want them censured
because of their long and honorable ser
vice in the church. Rev. ID. Atkins re-
nlied.
I'VE are not settling with the Senate.
he said. 1T is a question between us
and ourselves. We ask the money re-
turned not because it is due the Senate,
hut because it is tainted. We are after
our good name. No church has ever had
such a chance to show an example of
Christian integrity"
The speech of the day-I may truly
say the speech of the Conference-was
made by Hon. Frank G. Robbins, of
Lexington He riddled DR.. Atkins, and
though he was defeated in the final vote,
and the Atkins substitute was adopted.
it made profound impression. He said
in part:
believing this to be the most import
ant question with has been before our
church since its origin, ] beg your indul-
gence. SO good a speech to completely
miss the mark | never heard, He en-
deavors i'll his speech to get this dignifi-
ed body to enter into negotiations with
the Senate of the United States.
Il want to say that Stahlman is not
ii lawyer and thus free the bar from any
charge that he is. And | want to say
that no legal bar in any one of these
forty-seven State would allow him to
remain within its bound twenty-four
hours after his conduct in this matter.
NO, sir; Brother Stahlman, as he is
called over there in McKendree church.
Nashville, could not remain in legal as
ISOLATION and [ wish some one would
bear him this message.
You may say what you please but
the Senate is nothing but Il political
body, but | tell YOU many of the menu
bers of that body are as honorable as
these before me ut this time And as
long as we refrain from condemning
the action of the book agents we are
particep scriminis in the matter. The
gentlemen this morning tried. TO explain
away the fact that Mr.. Barbee tried to
mislead the Senate, when | have DR..
Denny, the chairman of the book com
mittee, OH my side, and even DIR. Hoss.
who has been tenderfooted OH the whole
matter from the first, does not oppose
me.
THE question is this: If the agents of
the Southern Methodist Church secured
this money under false pretencc, by de-
ception, are we going to keep it and are
we going to condone them in itT
In cold. technical law the money is
ours. but | did not know and never want
to know that the kingdom of Jesus must
have its affairs settled in the spirit of
cold, technical law.
Did you know that both DIR. Barbec
and Mr. Smith stated TO Il Senator that
no large fee was to be paid to their lob
byist in the matter?
we have hesitated and dallied with
the temptation, in my Judgment, as long
as we dare to do. | have very strong
convictions on this matter | am not
going to leave the Methodist church,
but | am going to stay here, and if you
will take this falsehood into your bosom
| am going to fight it until we shell it
out. But / don't believe the members
of the Western North Carolina Confer
enc are going to take this poison into
their midst and suffer the loss OF influ-
ence which must necessarily follow. If
we don't condemn these agents and re-
turn this money we have taken = --"op
ourselves, upon our cOnsciences. Money
is nothing when a vital, moral principle
is involved. | have acquitted my con-
science. brethren, acquit yours"
Frank Robbins always measures up to
the occasion. and in that speech he sur
passed himself The Conference voted
down his censure of the book agents,
and yet voted to return the money I'M
der certain conditions. Obtained by the
deceptive and false kilograms of Smith
and Barbee, it is as the good Bishop
said, tainted money" and would burn
the treasures of the church. Though the
Conference did not censure Smith and
Barbee, the feeling is very strong that
they ought voluntarily to withdraw from
the position of trust in which they have
been discredited, and it is believed that
they cannot long stand against the out
ragged sentiment of the great body of
the church.
STATISTICAL REPORT.
- NJ IN