The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-10
STAHLMAN'S FALSEHO0DS
BARBEE AND SMITH OUGHT TO
BE PUNISHED.
METHODIST LAYMAN'S HONEST PROTEST
He Warns his Church that it Cannot Cover
up Great Sin Without Losing
Much of its Spiritual
Power.

received through the mail cir
cular entitled Statement from
the Book Committee" on the Pub
fishing House Claim, and addressed Ito
the Methodist Church, South, sent out,
| presume, by that committee or with
its knowledge and consent. This clrcu-
lar having reached me, | take for grant
ed it is sent out generally over the
church.
Having appeared in print more than
once on the subject of that claim,
had hoped to see this circular noticed
by some one else; but since the commit
tee have sent copy to me and silence
might be construed as acquiescence in
or approval of what they say, | take
occasion to dissent from all ITS impor-
tant points and make some comment
thereon.
Our church press where this ought to
appear, having declined to allow any
answer to this circular or other discus
sion of this subject in their columns, ]
ask the insertion of this article in your
widely-read paper. We ought not to
haye been driven to The secular press
to discuss this subject
After the committees suggestion that
until the next General Conference,
when, if deemed desirable, these
affairs may be passed under re-
view by the legislative body of our
church, the chief source Of power and
influence, all agitation of the subject, es-
pecially of an acrimonious and bitter
spirit, shall come to an end" what is
their purpose i'll sending out this circu-
lar to the church? Do they think it fair
to send forth their opinion and version
Of this matter and wind up with the
suggestion that ''all agitation come to
an end?" Why want agitation stop
ped? Is it because discussion will
reveal the weakness of their position?
Does not the very fact that they depre
cate agitation, imply conscious weak
ness? The truth never gets hurt by
candid and manly discussion. More
over, the General Conference, whatever
it's powers, is only a representative body
and without discussion how are the
conscience and Judgment of the MEM
bership of the church to- be brought to
bear so as to make that conference rep
resentatiye on this subject? Our church
papers having published the contents of
this circular and then closed their col
umns to further discussion, followed by
the committee with this distribution of
the circular, will not the effect--I will
not say purpose-of such action be to
forestall public opinion in the church
and shape and fix it ON their side-tthe
wrong side-of this question? The
words, IF deemed desirable" taken in the
connection in which they appear are
very significant; and from this hint and
the suggestion that all agitation cease,
together with what will appear further
ON, it is evident that this committee
think this whole matter is closed out
and ought to be hushed up If they SO
think, it is sad; and if the church
should finally agree with them, that
viii he sadder, in fact about the sad
dest thing this writer has ever CON
templated.
The committee reiterates their opinion
expressed in their statement of last
year that the Book Agents, in the
communications addressed To Senators
and complained of as deceptive and
misleading had not intended to mslead
the Senate of the United States" |
submit That such an opinion ought not
10 have much, Ii any, weight with
Intelligent men who have examined the
plain evidence OH that point, ENen
their chairman, nr, Denny, VINO heads
the list of slgners ta this circular, when
before the Senate eomnplttee, said In
reference 10 the telegtam to Senator
Bste, II think that the telegram mis-
led them. | do not hesitate to say
that think IL wuuld have misled
anybody. Our committee SAY they do
not believe it was intended to deceive"
was not intended to deceive" and yet
''it would have misled anybody" is
feat in metaphysical legerdemaln very
coming from an intelligent
source. No candid man can examine
the evidence as to the correspondence /,
between Senators and the Book Agents |
and not come to the conclusion the |
Senate committee does, that the replies |
of the Book Agents TO this letter |
Pasco'sl and telegram (Bate'S) make |
1t manifest that the policy of silence |
with reference to- the contract was |
to the end even 70 the ex.
tent of Withholding the truth and mis-
leading and deceiving those who made
an enrnest effort to obtain t.,
The Book committee further say that |
the "anle legitimate conclusion we can |
feauh II that ti~ charge against the
agenta II rca adiudieata,' aud as ene .