The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1899-09-10


senting vote" And yet staring this com
mittee in the face was this further ac-
tion of that conference on the same
day: We feel it our Christian duty
to put upon record a minute concerning
the collection of the Publishing House
claim and the difficulties which have
arisen out Of it. We record our deep
sorrow for the things done by our Book
Agents and condoned by our Book COM
mittee in collecting this money, feeling
that i'll the disputed points they are
wholly indefensible, and we deeply re-
gret that there has been no expression
condemning the same by any official
body before whom the matter has been
considered. We accept the methods to
which the bishops have pledged them
selves for returning the entire sum, and
we pledge our hearty cooperation in car
rying them into effect. But we prefer.
that the money should be returned
without conditions. We believe that the
disciplinary dealing with the brethren
implicated i'll the matter is, just now, a
subordinate question. Their dismissal
or their voluntary withdrawal from Off
cial position will not settle any great
part of the difficulty. The supreme
duty of the church is the return of the
money and the unqualified disavowal of
the wrongs done in collecting it. Inas-
much as our bishops have pledged them
selves to the return of the money, we
leave the whole matter of the details
of that work entirely to their discretion,
with the hope that the matter may be
accomplished at as early time as prac-
ticable." That paper was adopted by
167 ayes to 33 nays Let it be noted
hat Of 1,ga+
was taken after this committee had
published in July of last year its ''de
liberate and unanimous judgment that
the book agents had not intended to
deceive and mislead United States Sen
atOrs," and after the presiding elder
they refer to had made his investigation
Let it be further noted that this Ten
nesSee Conference, according to the
committee, is one of the regularly CON
stituted church tribunals which has
unanimously held that he (DT. Barbeel
has not been guilty of misconduct in
office" Taking the whole action of that
conference together, | would ask this
committee what res is adjudicata? Be
sides striking a blow at this Book com
mttee, that conference says expressly
that the action of the Book Agents is
wholly indefensible' and that ''the SUI
preme duty of the church Is the return
of the money and unqualified disayoval
Of the wrongs done in collecting it.
1t is painful to write about the mis-
conduct of those agents. But their
wrongful acts as officials and agents Of
the church, unless disapproved and dis
owned, involve the fair name and honor
of the church, and in fact when known
and not disavowed they become in every
ethical sense the acts of the church her-
self. 1t is not, therefore, a personal
matter and cannot be treated as such.
If after time for reflection and review
of their conduct, they had ever expressed
any sense of it's wrOngfulness and
compunction for it, the case would be
greatly mitigated so far as they are per-
sonally concerned. But that has not
been DONE We hear something about
the obligation to exercise charity, for
giveness and love- Those are great vir-
tues in their proper place. But it
ought to be remembered that love can
not forgive sin unrepented of. Al
mighty Power and Infinite Love never
undertook that task. If it We're think
2ble that love could forgive sin unrepen-
ted of, then love itself would become
the most hideous monster in the moral
universe.
g Strange as the committees opinion
is in reference to the Book Agents,
their conduct and attitude towards their
agent, Stahlman, are, if possible, more
so. In fact it is matter Of amaZement.
When making the contract With him as
to his fee for collecting the claim, the
committee say in their statement of 1898,
that MIR. Stahlman was explicitly in
structed that nothing should be done in
the prosecution of the claim which
would even in the slightest degree COM
promise the good name OF the church.
and that rather than compromise the
church the Book committee preferred
not to have the claim paid" That was
well said and wisely done. What pity
those instructions We're NOT observed!
So far from it, i'll order to procure the
passage of the bill through the Senate,
Stahlman, agent of this Book committee
and thereby quasi-agent OF the church,
told falsehood upon falsehood to Sena-
tors, as he admits and they swear, thus
proving himself to be an unScrupulous
lobbyist. having no regard for the truth.
And yet neither I'M this circular nor
in their Statement" of 1898 does this
committee utter one single word of CON
itmnation or even the slightest disap-
proval OF his disruptable conduct. Be
cause forSooth the Senate says that no
INJURY has come to the United States"
does this committee seriously think the
church can keep that money SO OBJ
tanned, and that nothing has been done
which even i'm the slightest degree conn
promises the good name of the church?"
Instead of condemning him in unmeas-
ured terms for his disgraceful conduct,
they run off into a long argument to
show the contract was right and his
fee reasonable. Who cares whether
his fee was one cent or S2SS,000 in
the presence OF such a record-brinGing
reproach and shame upon the church, il
not promptly disapproved and condemn
ed. | wish to- be respectful, but the
least that can be said is that such
method of taking care of the honor OF
the church shows the incompetency of
this committee to deal with any Phase
OF this subject.
The committee also enter a some
what warm protest against the Senate's
claim Of right to protect the beneficial
rieS of this FUND, What has that to
do with the vital point in this ease? Ii