The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-05-09
The WAR CLAIM
ooKS AS IF METHODISTS WILL
KEEP THE MONEY.
BOOK AGENTS ENUMERATED.
ruE REPORT APPEARS TO MEET
WITH FAVOR.

7siterates and Emphasizes the Ex-
oueratiOn of Barbee q Smith and
u. StahIman of Nearly -Four
vears Ago and Recommends That
the subject BE Dropped Forever.
GaveI Made From wood of the
wesley Oak at ThunderbOIt Pre-
.epted to the COnVe ntiOn-Tennes-
see MemOriaIizes Conference.
Dallas, Tex, May S.-The second
laws session of the Methodist Episco-
nsI Church Conference opened prompt
" at o'clock this morning. The fea-
nre Of the day was the report of the
pook Committee and the statement of
he book agents, Messrs. Barbee &
smith of Nashville, Tenn. on the war
clain" matter. This report embraced
several thousand words, and was read
nv Or. Collins Denny. The report re-
iterates and emphasizes the exonera-
lion of Messrs. Barbee & Smith and
= B. Stahlman that was made by the
committee nearly four years ago. Cen
eral applause greeted the reading of
the report and it is thought that a ma
iority of the delegates agree with the
Book Committee that the subject has
already been discussed beyond it's mer-
its and should be dropped forever.
The entire matter is now in the
hands of the Committee on Publishing
House Interests, which will probably
report week after next.
When the conference settled to work
to-day there was an immense volume
of business before the delegates. Bish-
on Wilson announced the committees
on rules and credentials. Mr.. Adams
Of the South Georgia Conference pre-
sented the conference with a gavel
made of the wood of the Wesley oak -
under which John Wesley is said 20
have preached.
A resolution by Secretary Tigert to
fix the number of the general confer
ence in accordance to the court de-
cision and declaring this to be the
fourteenth the church has held, was
defeated Memorials were presented
from the Tennessee Conference to in
sttute the Order of Deaconnesses, pro-
yided the appointments are made by
the bishops; on the pastoral time limit,
10 extend it definitely under certain
conditions, where special mission work
is to be done; to establish a system of
hospitals. correctional in their scope,
and the memorial of 1899 authorizing
the return of the war claim to the
government. All were referred.
The look Committees Report.
The lengthy report of the Book Com
mttee is summed up and closed as
follows:
If it had failed to secure the fund
when it had power to do so, it would
have been guilty of neglecting a plain
duty for which any court of equity
might have held it liable.
The fund having been placed in its
hands it was not at liberty to permit
it to pass out of its possession or be-
yond its control; and if it had done so
every member asserting to such a pro-
ceeding would have been, and justly,
held personally responsible.
Such are the doctrines held and an
nounced by courts of equity in all civ
lized countries.
Even if there had been doubt on
lis part as 20 whether or not the mon
ey should be returned, the committee
would and could not have arrogated
to itself the right to decide. Being
satisfied that this money was properly
received in payment of just debt 1T
had no more power to restore it to the
treasury OF the government than it
had to give away to any person or cor
poration any other part of the trust
fund in its hands. without mourning
personal liability for its return.
These are the actions of your COM
mittee and the reasons thereof.
Your committee has, in the midst of
most difficult conditions tried to do its
best to meet the great responsibilities
committed to its charge in the fear
of God and with an eye to the welfare
of our beloved church"
The session adjourned until to-mor-
row.