The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1901-12-27
REV. DIR. ATKINS ON THE aDECEP-
TON.

Rev. DIR. d. Atkins writes to thel
Greensboro Christian Advocate con.
corning the Publishing House Claim
End the approaching General Confer-
.ence. He writes like a man Of sense
and integrity. He recognizes the great
Of action for he says "therel
lis a widespread feeling that somethingl
must be done" 1t is clearly the duty of
the General Conference that meets next
May to dispose of this pressing matter
lin a clean, honest. purifying way. Dr.
Atkins say properly that the very best
solution possible must be found "toI
Ielearly vindicats the church and place.
Us in a fair light before the world. Our
bishops are committed to do all in their
Irower to return b money" He QuotesI
the language of the bishops. DR.. Atkinsl
quotes from the United States senateI
Investigating committees report. IL
which they say that the policy of con-
lcealing from Senators all informatiopI
as to the contract was carried out tol
The extent of Withholding the TRUTH
and misleading and deceivlng thosel
who made an earnest effort to obtaiDl
it, Mr.. Stahlman admits that he in-l
Tended that they SHOULD receive the inn
preston from what he said that thereI
was no contract to pay him a fee. They
Nera deceived and mislead. and the del
loeOtion was willful and deliberate onl
Mr. Stahlman's part Two senatorsI
communicated with Messrs. Barbee and
smith-one by letter. the other by tele-l
eram-informing them of a rumor and
,eeking the truth. The book agents.
authorized these senators to deny thel
report. and having absolute c~onfidenceI
In the candor and integrity Of the gen.
tIemen. the senators accepted their tell
serams as frank and honest, and assur-I
ances based on them were made thai
.here was no foundation for the report
Of an agreement to pay a large proper
sion Of the proposed appropriation to al
Iclaim agent or attorney"
We are glad to see that DR.. Atkins
has written and shown that he knows
1ow to dea fairly and positively with al
lncral question involving the characteII
Il a great church and much monev. DR.
Atkins says that 1.-The bishops are IN
der a solemn pledge to the senate toI
AXE the rop steps to return the
money" The general conference will Sc
cure the fullfilment of this promise by
lproper and honest action. No one has
q right to doubt it. Not to do it would
bring a very great scandal on the
Ichurch. The senate was fooled by
Stahlman and Barbee. There would
oave been no money paid if there had
teen no deception practiced. DIR. Al
tins says:
9TH agents and Mr.. Stahlman must,
have SO thought else they WOULD not
have made such risks in their answer
Eor the bishops now to stand on tech
luiCality and say the senate has never
said so would be almost as bad as the
technical subterfuge Of the agents and
their attorneys. 1t is the opinion of
nlanr of our wisest and best men in
Icluding our chief editor that the money
lsnould be returned. DR.. Hoss has
lstood on that platform all the time and
strongly urged it,"
Barbee is said to be an excellent
official but he made a huge moral BLUM
VIC lC pl dSlISCu q SCplio LII. <AI
kins puts it straight in this wise: "If|
lhe did wrong it will not suffice merely
20 leave him out and say nothing.
L here must be condemnation or we arel
all brought into completely with the
wrong" We know one subscriber toI
Tie Nashville Christian Advocate whoI
quit some four years ago and would not
renew because Barbee was in charge.