The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-24
rHE AFRIcAN AussIoNARY pIsHop.


The selection of William Taylor, the world
wide evangelist as missionary bishop TO Africa,
pointed in the same direction. The purpose
came on the conference unawares, They had
voted to elect missionary bishop to Africa,
that is a bishop unlike the general superintend-
ents, in that his jurisdiction should be confined
to that continent In fifteen minutes the thought
turned on this remarkable man. and as the con-
secration of the other bishops-elect was to take
place on the following day, it was determined to
hold an extra session, and over twothirds of
the votes cast were for William Taylor, 'locaF
or non 'itinerant' preacher, The proceeding
was remarkable every way, but there was a
universal feeling that it was providential
Rev. William Taylor was born Maya, 1921
in Rockbridge, Virginia He united with the
Methodist Episcopal Church in 1S4l, and two
years later joined the old Baltimore Conference
In 1919 he went as a missionary to California
and organized the first Methodist church In San
Francisco. In 1856 he engaged in evangelistic
work, and spent five years in the Eastern States
and Canada. In 1862 he left America for Aus
tralia spending several months in
England and Ireland and visiting
Palestine. He commenced his work
in Australia in the summer of 1868 and labored
there for two years and eight months, perform
ing a most remarkable work in Australia, las
mania and Ceylon. The official reports OF the
work show very large increase in the member
ship 4 second visit was made a few years
later during which time large numbers were
added to the church. From Australia he went
to Africa and preached in Cape Colony, Kaffraria
and Natal, where large additions were reported,
both among the colonists and natives; then he
visited England, spending eleven months IN
London, in sixteen different chapels. In 1870 he
visited India and labored a year and a half IN
Ceyion and southern India with the missionaries
of different denominations The following year
markable in it's character in that it was self
supporting from the very first, and
laid the foundation for the South
India, Conference. which was given the
privilege, few days ago, to divide itself into two
self-supporting conferences. Returning to the
United States he preached extensively in behalf
of the work in India, securing means to send out
additional missionaries in the character OF teach
ers to that country. During this time he came
in contact with some of the bishops OF the
church, who questioned the modus operandi OF
his work, and it is reported that one of them
rather peremptorily informed him that, as pre-
siding bishop of his conference, he would order
him back to the South India Conference 10
this Rev. Taylor replied, Bishop, have just
heard from your Master and he says l am to go
to South America He went. and for the past
six years, has been working in Chill, Peru, and
other countries in South America and in Mexico,
in all of which work he has been independent.
The bishops would not recognize his work nor
his missionaries. and he came up to this General
Conference to secure recognition.
CONSERVATISM OF THE CHURCH
As an instance Of the remarkable conservatism
of Methodist legislation, it may be observed
that, though three weeks of the session have
passed, and the conference has almost unlimited
power to change the laws of the church, but one
amendment to the Discipline has been adopted,
ard that an Insignificant item in the Sunday
school constitution. OF course, for the next
week several proposed changes will be discussed,
but there are none of distinctive impoI lance.
The committee on revisals will propose modif-
cation in the manner of transferring members
from one church to another. The committee on
temporal economy suggest that a circuit may
elect thirteen stewards, instead of nine as here
tofore The committee itinerancy viii recon-
mend no change in reference to the term of an
individual pastor. The limit will remain at
three years, though strong minority believe
that the time might be four years, with some
carefully guarded restrictions.
1t has been apparent all along that the work of
this conference was administrative rather than
legislative. Hence the intense interest in the
election for the episcopaey and all minor offices.
Personal claims have sunk into insignifeance
compared with the pressing eXigeneies of the
work. Chaplain McCabe has been thus called
from the church extension to the general mis-
sionaPy field. The problem of the church among
the colored people of the South is one of the
most important before the body. An effort has
been made to modify the policy of the Book Con
eern, and we may look for important changes in
the future, but not now.
1t is proposed to recognize the Womans For
eign Missionary Society not simply as valuable
auxiliary to the church, as heretofore, but as an
integral part of the great machinery. Similar
plans are foot in regard to the younger organi-
cation the Woman's Home Missionary Society,
which proposes to assist in the main
tenanee and education of the unfortu-
nate and Hnedueated females of both coloPs
in this country. Mrs. ex-PFesident K. b. Hayes
presided at a monster meeting of the society in
APch-street Church on Tuesday evening, when
Bishops Warren and Wiley and others spoke.
On the following day Mrs. Hayes sat in the gal
cry. behind the platform, and on adjournment
:onversed freely with the delegates in that grace
1f manner for which she was so distinguished
in the White House.
The report of the committee on temperance
and legal prohibition of Intoxicating drinks
reached an amusing denouement The report
itself was quite lengthy aud it was believed that
some had prepared themselves to the brim with
platform eloquence. No sooner had the report
been read and motion made for its adoption
than p G. Gillett sprang TO his feet, was reeog-
nized by the chair and he called for the previous
question. which was promptly taken. The
disappointment and chagrin of few who had
prepared for pyrotechnics may we'll be imagined:
butt was worse than carrying Goals to Newcastle
TO make Temperance speeches to body OF Meth
odist preachers. The paragraph in the Diseip-
line expresses the sentiment of the church far
more happily than the report and in about one
twentieth of the words.
Hon. W. c. DePauw was seen on the floor of
the conference last Wednesday. Mr.. DePauw's
liberalty has reached Philadelphia as well as
Greencastle, and other places. He has given
$50 900 to the loan fund of the Church Extension,
with headquarters here. He would like an
episcopal residence to be established at Green
castle. but the committee have selected Buffalo,
Denver, and New Orleans as the additional
sites.
Rev R. n. MeKaig and his wife, nee Beswick,
formerly of Greeneastle, are visitors.
Rev. G. d. Watson, formerly pastor of Merid-
ian-street Church, is holding series of evan
gelistic meetings in one Of the churches of the
city.
Revs. J. X Pye, S. Beck. J. W. Welch. and
r. NJ Pavey have preached in the Baltimore