New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1900-05-15
METHODIST BOOK CONCERNS
CHARGES IN CHICAGO GENERAL con-
FERENCE THAT FUNDS ARE I'M
PROPERLY DIVERTED.
rpy TELEGRAPH To THE TRIBUNE.l


20, nv the introduction of a resolution
.,a-eins Book Concern officials with misdirection
20 the funds Of the concerns The matter was
chr "a the consideration of the body by
~ r Rich of the Erie Conference, In the
<--n of resolutions ending With suggestion
that an injunction be secured preventing the
Book Concern officers from disbursng the profits
for other purposes than those established by the
founders OF the Church. The mover of the r-so-
luton stated that much of the profits Of the
publishing concerns goes toward supporting sub
sidized papers and General Conferences. He de-
clared that many periodicals were maintained
at a loss and that money which should go for
the support Of superannuated preachers and the
widows and children of deceased itinerants went
toward supporting such publications. DR.. Rich
charged that loans have been made by the book
concerns to General Conferences which had
never been repaid.
This aroused the delegates. and DIR. Lewis
Curtis Western book agent, took the floor to
reply He denied emphatically that loans had
not been paid. He admitted that such looms
had been made, but they had been paid some
time ago. DR.. Curtis said that many sub
sidized papers have be supported for the
good Of the Church Over $4,000 is expended
annually for maintaining such publications ard
they are considered a great drawback finan-
cally TO the Church. The fact that The ex-
penses of General Conferences had been partly
paid out Of the book fund attracted much at
tention. 1t is stated that this is in direct OPP
position TO the rules of the Church, and all such
sums which have been thus devoted were IS
appropriated. For the present General Con-
ference $4,000 has been raised to defrav the
expenses. hut il is estimated that 100000 has
already been expended. DR.. Curtis explained
that much Of the borrowed money had been paid
back' ana that under the constitution the ex-
penses only Of ministerial delegates could be
paid.
NOT READY To HEAR ALL CANDIDATES.
Dr. ". H. Wilder, of Central Illinois. said the
Conference did not have time TO hear all the
S2ok agents and candidates for the book
agency" which evoked cries Of No, Mo-" He
moved TO refer the resolution to the Committee
on Temporal Economy. An amendment was Of
fered 10 refer TO the Committee on the Book
Concern. DR.. Buckley thereupon moved 90 lay
all this the table and Immediately obtained
the floor DR.. Buckley explained, in reply to Dr.
Curtis. that it should not be asserted without
legal decision that the constitution did not allow
the payment Of the General Conference expenses
IF lay delegates. The following is the paragraph
In the constitution dwelling on the subject:
The General Conference shall not appropriate
the product of the Book Concern. of the
chartered fund, 10 any purpose other than for
the benefit of the travelling. supernumerary and
superannuated preachers their wives, widows
and children
The Rev. William Gorst, of the North Ne
braska Conference. said the Book Concerns were
not conducted simply to support supernatural
ministers. but TO distribute literature 20 lead
men 10 live Cody lives. He said that because
of the advertising they gave the Book Concerns
and the benefit they to the Church the
weak periodicals should receive subsidies The
previous question ordered. and, after some
discussion relative to dividing the question it
moved 20 lay the entire subject on the
table and by a rising vote this was ordered.
The-upon motion take up the order Of the
day prevailed The organic law once more was
considered, and Article Y, which had been
reached when the discussion was ended Satur-
day, read.
TWO-THIRDS VOTE FOR BISHOPS.
Other subjects OF discussion were the re-
mander of the report of the Commissi in On
Revision of the Constitution, and the report Ire-
sented Saturday by the Committee on Rules Cor
the General Conference elections The latter
report adopted, including the rule making
q two-thirds vote Of the delegates niece: cary
TO elect a Bishop except the section providing
for the selection of editors. This was recon-
mtted TO the Book Committee. the intention he
ing 10 discontinue some Of the papers on the list
of those for which editors to DE chosen.
Thus the object sought in the anti-subsidy reso-
luton may be gained.
As predicted last week. after the executive
session Of the Episcopacy Committee none of
the effective Bishops to be retired The time
Of the session extended hear Chairman
buckley present report No. > Of the Committee
On the Effectiveness Of the Board of General
Superintendent, and the list he read of those
who should be continued in effective relation
contained the name Of every Bishop at present
effective. The charges of going to sleep acting
if he in his dotage ETC. made against
certain Bishops and presented before the COM
mittee in secret session, came being repeat
ed on the Conference floor when a delegate
moved TO recommit the report. A motion for
the previous question prevailed. and the report
adopted
The Book Committee through Governor L. NJ
SHAW. the chairman, made partial report to-
day. but consideration of il set for to-mor-
row after the recess. 1t advised, in answer to
memorials from several annual conferences that
The Northern Christian Advocate published
al Syracuse. N Y, be continued If responsible
persons guarantee against loss in doing
This may kill a paper which has lost
money continuously.
CHANCE TO CHANGE DOCTRINES.
Dr.. Jesse Bowman Young, Editor of The
Central Christian Advocate" Of ST Louis, moved
that the words contrary to our existing sand
ards be added in the following:
Section /. The General Conference shall not
revoke alter nor change our articles of religion,
nor establish any new standards Jules Of doc
rne-" This would allow change in the doc
tr1ne DR.. Buckley moved that the article be re-
ferred the committee appointed to consider
all articles in the constitution which when
brought up were challenged and the motion
was passed.
When this had been disposed of ii was moved
TO consider Section 3 of Article V, so as to pro-
VIDE for choosing lay well as nlinist ariaI
delegates 10 a General Conference called in
case Of emergency. The matter deferred to
Ule same