Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1833-1861, 1853-10-07
ms,h eal., eenlsrsnes.

cause,
Meth eaist Conference.
The n. T.. Indiana Methodist Confer.
snss convened In thIs place on Wednes.
day morning las,i but a. vur paper goes
90 Press at II o'clock on tina, day We
can cay ao,hing o. their dolngs Vol.
amss. however. might be said Of them
by careful physiognomIs,,
Bishop Z. r. Amesis Presldlng. The
Bishop 10 good presiding officer. aud
dispatches business With energy and ra-
pidity. lie has the talents aud dignity
20 sustain the Episcopal chair with cred-
Il to himselfand the Church. While he
10 courteous. aud polished enough for any
society. he has at the same time the fire.
and propslling power OF true itinerant
Methodist Minister. He has what the
church needs--and what II mast have
mov Of. II Il ever fulas its whole mis-
sion--the spirit Of aggressive warfare. -
Too many OF our ministers would rather
rest comfortably In their nests--crying
"Peaes. peace. when there is no peaee''
They are content 10 let every thing pass
on smoothly and calmly rather than the
waters should be troubled by their in.
s,rumsntsli,y. The church Is dying un-
der such pastoral care. Others are
WAITING for the moving Of tho waters,
that they and others RAY 20 down and
be- healed. But we want men who will
rather 70 down and STIR up the pool, and
risk the consequences. We believe n
aggressive Methodism.
The general appearance Of The minis.
tsrs In Attendance is eomnar ding. -
They come not up to Conference look.
Ing &C weary, worn, and ragged as they
did ~ years ago, the fiat time We ever
cav an Indiana Conference. There Ia
however "a evident Improvement, from
year 10 year. In the Intellectual chafac.
Ter Of our ministry. The regular system
Of study which every young minister Is
compelled 10 pefsus, IL having lts lnhu.
snes. There are few OF the Old pio.
nsefs OF MethodIsm w the conference
room, who command the respect and o..
teen Of al.
Dot while we ate proud OF the intelli.
gsnes and dIgnIdsd bearing Of the Con.
ference ss body--an observer is ire.
qusnlly disturbed In the harmony Of he
feelings, BY seeing here and there min.
islsr out Of biz place. We believe IN =
call 10 the ministry, and have no doubt
but all the members VI thls coniefenee
we're truly called. but II IL evident the
Lord never intended lha, some Of them
should go, II ne ealls, no also
quslihss, lie who calls IL never misIa.
ken.
Bat, do We hear one ask "IIow do
you reconcile your position that all this
conference were called, and yet intimate
tina, some Of them are not qualified by
talents. devotion, plely aud eloquenes for
their stationsi"
Wss not Abraham called TO sacrifice
Isasei But II was not Intended he
should sacrifice his son. II was only a
trial u his faith. The faith OF many
need trial IN this day OF ease, luxury aal
wealth Aud 40 are dlspoaed to that
that a few VI this conference were only
called as q trial Of faith--to sec VI they
were willing TO make the sacrifices that
Methodist minister has TO, for his souls
salvation and the glory Of God. And We
know Of 20 greater trial or sacrifice than
TO require Of a man OF talents, industry
and business habits to abandon all hope
OF worldly prosperity--leaye home aud
friends, aud take upon himself the duties
Of an Itinerant minister.
But vedo not deny that all who thus
cay "Thy will be DONE" are useful t.
the church. II a minister has not IN
eloqucnce OF Simpson or Cough. h
may be useful in some capacity in thu
church. Those who are not qualified Z
preach, may be school masters, agents
and booksellers. They are all needed
and should be men fully engaged in tn
work. But when God eells--let not th'
oyersesrs Of His church msdirect lhs Ia.
Dor OF the servants.
DO not misunderstood Us. The Souil
East Indiana Conference will compar
to advantage with any primitive ccclesi
ss,ieal body 10 The United Sta,es-..w
care not what church they come FROM
II is true the General Conferences, A,
semblies. &C., where they are consti,u
tuted by represe natives elected froI
subordinate bodles--may be more talent
ed. This Conference Is know through
sut the United States as possessing
large nmount Of the higher order {
itinerant ministers. And on Wcdnesdu
morning when the Conference met "
were more fully convinced of the CO.
rectness Of the position they hold in III
list Of Conferences.
They will probably remain in sessio
until Monday or Tuesday next.
Prominent among the ministers