The Methodist Book Concern.
The investigation relative to the management of the Methodist Book Concern has at length terminated in the complete vindication of Dr. Lanahan, who brought the charges against it. The following we take from the Methodist:— The confidence we have always expressed that Dr. Lanahan would receive an ample vindication has been justified. On Thursday, May 30, the Special Committee on the Book Concern made a report embracing the following points: (1) That repeated frauds have been practiced upon the Book Concern. (2) That these frauds are found in the manufacturing department, and are located chiefly, if not wholly, in the bindery. (3) That these frauds were perpetrated for a series of years, and that the losses sustained thereby have been very considerable. (4) That the business methods of this department were formerly such as to afford opportunities for frauds and peculations by subordinates. (5) That there has been in former years a great lack of system in the business transactions of the House, and a great deal of confusion and careless bookkeeping. (6) That the purchasing of paper through Mr. J. F. Porter was a decided business impropriety. (7) That the transaction of the Book Concern with Brown, Brothers & Co., was an unauthorized use of its credit. The Committee also state that there is no evidence to show that any agent or assistant agent has been interested in the frauds, and that they had no evidence before them tending to show that the “exhibits” made to the General Conference should be different from what they are. This report was on Friday, May 31, unanimously adopted. On the same day, Dr. Lanahan declining a re-election, Rev. Dr. Nelson, of the Wyoming Conference, and J. M. Phillips, a layman of Cincinnati, were elected Agents. On Saturday, June 1, a resolution was adopted by the Conference re-imbursing Dr. Lanahan for the expenses incurred by him in making his investigations. Thus the end which we have confidently anticipated has been reached, but what a fearful price it has cost! For maintaining the positions which the General Conference has affirmed, Dr. Lanahan has endured an amount of persecution which would have crushed a man of less firmness. He has been suspended and nearly driven from office; he has been arraigned as a slanderer of the Church and the Book Concern, but to-day he stands before the world as having rendered a most signal service to Methodism, by rescuing its good name from reproach. Fraud and dishonesty are bad enough; but the covering up of fraud and dishonesty by the Church authorities would have been fatal to the moral power of Methodism in all future time. Not the Book Concern only, the Church itself was on its trial before the world. That we have safely passed this trial has been due largely to the invincible courage of Dr. Lanahan. Though suffering to a degree which can hardly be described, he has persevered, and his perseverance has at last been crowned with triumph. The case had grown to be one of more than denominational importance. It involved the question of the management of religious trusts. All the churches have become interested auditors of the debate which had been carried on without intermission for nearly three years. The secular press demanded justice with a unanimity which proved the general sense that a great wrong had been suffered to go unredressed. That a Christian Church should seem to cover up iniquity and crush honesty was felt to be so contrary to the precepts of Christ that the sensibilities of the whole American people were touched. Most happily the Church has been relieved of such an imputation and cleared of reproach. Its highest judiciary has decided without fear or favor, and has emphatically declared its estimate of the value of the labors of its faithful servant. It is cheering to think that the heroic spirit has not yet died out of Methodism. John Lanahan would have gone to the stake for his convictions, and would have been burned rather than surrender a single one of them. As it was, he was almost made a martyr. Thanks to God, the trial is past, and the right has triumphed. From this day forth, the Methodist Book Concern will recognize its amenability to the public conscience, and will make haste to give answer whenever its conduct is challenged.3 WHAT a pity there is not a tax upon words! What an income the Queen would get from it! But, alas! talking pays no toll. And if lies paid double, the government might pay off the National Debt; but who could collect the money? Common fame is a common liar. Hearsay is half lies! A tale never loses in telling. As a snow-ball grows by rolling, so does a story. They who talk much lie much. If men only said what was true, what a peaceful world we should see! Silence seldom makes mischief, but talking is a plague to the parish. Silence is wisdom, and, by this rule, wise men and women are scarce. Still waters are the deepest; but the shallowest brooks brawl the most; this shows how plentiful fools must be. An open mouth shows an empty head. If the chest had gold or silver in it, it would not always stand wide open. Talking comes by nature, but it needs a good deal of training to learn to be quiet; yet regard for truth should put a bit in every honest man's mouth, and a bridle upon every good woman's tongue. If we must talk, at least let us be free from slander, let us not blister our tongues with backbiting. Slander may be sport to tale-bearers, but it is death to those whom they abuse. We can commit murder with the tongue as well as with the hand. The worst evil you can do a man is to injure his character; as a Quaker said to his dog, “I'll not beat thee, nor abuse thee, but I'll give thee an ill name.” All are not thieves that dogs bark at, but they are generally treated as if they were; for the most part believe that where there is smoke there is fire, and what everybody says must be true. Let us then be careful that we do not hurt our neighbor in so tender a point as his character, for it is hard to get dirt off if it is once thrown on; and when a man is once in people's bad books, he is hardly ever quite out of them. If we would be sure not to speak amiss, it might be as well to speak as little as possible; for if all men's sins were divided into two bundles, half of them would be sins of the tongue. “If any man offend not in word, the same is a perfect man, and able also to bridle the whole body.” Gossips of both genders, give up the shameful trade of tale-bearing; don't be the devil's bellows any longer, to blow up the fire of strife. Leave off setting people by the ears. If you do not cut a bit off your tongues, at least season them with the salt of grace. Praise God more and blame neighbors less. Any goose can cackle, any fly can find out a sore place, any empty barrel can give forth sounds, any briar can tear a man's flesh. No flies go down your throat if you keep your mouth shut, and no evil speaking will come up. Think much, but say little; be quick at work and slow at talk; and, above all, ask the great Lord to set a watch over your lips.—John Ploughman.