The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-02-21
METHODISTS IN A WRANGLE.
ATLANTA MINISTER'S ASK BARBEE
AND SMITH TO RESIGN.

Nashville Publishing House Claim
Brings on Warm Discussion.
Fakes Declared the Agents Were
Victims of the Church-TOId to Get
the Money as Best They Could.
Cnused stir by Charging Church
Win Il Part in the War.
Albania. Feb 20-The Methodist minis
ters OF Atlanta had a not time this morn
ing over the Old sore growing out of the
Nashville Publishing House, claiming It
was preciptated by a report from Senator
Sieve Clay reviewing The condition of this
matter with the United States Senate.
some of the ministers thought this re-
port left the church in bad light before
the world and accordingly they were af-
ter shifting the burden. The upshot of
the discussion was the passage of reso-
lutlons calling for the resignation of Bar
bee and Smith, the agents of the book
committee.
incidentally Maj. e. B. Stahlman was
roasted TO a turn by Prof. Mcintosh Of
oxford. Rev. J. T. Dawes offered the
resolutions calling down Barbee and
Smith. He declared nine-tenths of the
church wanted them to vacate. His reso-
luton read:
Wanted Their designations.
whereas, the discussion and resolu-
ton of many of our strongest annual
conferences and the expressed opinion of
the great bulk of our loyal membership
seem to have had little weight in settle
ing the vexed question concerning the pay
ment of our publishing house claim, be it
resolved, by the Atlanta Methodist Epis-
copal preachers meeting. that we feel
that this matter can never be settled I'M
til it is settled rightly.
Secondly, That if the church as such
is not free itself from the stain of pFac
teal deception, 1t canot stand or remain
free from rebuke by the world itself.
Thirdly, That it is our firm conviction
that the least that can be done is for the
book committee to demand the resigna-
ton of Barbee and Smith.
Fourthly, That a copy of these resolu-
tions be forwarded to the chairman of the
book committee and the secretary of the
college of bishops"
victims of the Church.
The reading of the resolutions provoked
an excited discussion as to whether they
should be amended by incorporating
resolution asking for the resignation of
the entire book committee.
Rev. Frank Fakes undertook to defend
the book agents a little.
"They are victims of the church, he
said They are victims of the greed of
the church. The church told these agents
that 1t must have this money due it from
the United States for damages done the
Nashville Publishing House during the
war. They were instructed to get this
money by any means whatsoever, so that
they did not bring dishonor to the church.
They simply were doing what the church
told them to do.
THE shame is" continued Rev Mr..
Fakes. that the church should have ask
ed for a dime of this appropriation. That
is how the disgrace came Barbee and
Smith only acted by the direction of the
church.
Caused Considerable Stir.
Mr.. Fakes went further and said that
fn his opinion, from all he had read con-
corning the war, the Methodist Episcopal
Church had much to do in bringing about
that struggle. which statement caused
decided ruhle in the meeting.
The gist of the Methodist claim is IA
miliar to the public. During last year
an appropriation from the Senate was
asked upon the basis of the damages done
the publishing house during the war,
amounting. to nearly $4,000.
Stahlman's Big Fee.
f. B. Stahlman of Nashville was en-
ployed as attorney i'm the matter, and was
offered 35 per cent of the funds as a fee.
When the Senate learned of his large fee
they hesitated about making the appropri-
alton. kilograms were sent to Nashville,
asking if the lobbyist was TO receive 20
per cent, as the Senate had learned. Bar
bee and Smith replied that Mr.. Sahlman
was not to receive 40 per cent
Upon this understanding the money was
appropriated; and upon these kilograms
sent by Barbee and Smith rests their al
legged guilt, as well as the incrimina ton
of Stahlman. The Senate only found out
after the appropriation was made that the
attorney was to receive a fee