The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-12-18

WGl5hl. DIONOhb
than President Carlisle. Judge Stokes said,
"Undoubtedly the hand of God was in the separ-
alton. and it was an act of love. We couldn't see
it at the time, but it resulted in the emanclpa-
ton of the slaves. When He desires it we shall
be reunited. In our mission work we ought to
ioin hands at once. | should like to attend a
union conference, and l think it DIR. McFerrln
were to attend such a gathering the Lord
wouldn't let him live another day, but would
take MIN to heaven in a chariot OF glory. My
conviction is that the colored race, which divided
us, will in some way be the bridge by which we
shall come together again. But before the
churches can be united the solid South must be
broken. l don't believe in a solid South any
more than in a solid North. | want to see some
of the Southern States go Republican and some
of the Northern Democratic
My last interview was With Lle"utenant-GoVer-
nor Stands, of Mississippi, who a few days
ago presided over the conference with such
marked ability. The Governor was very cordial,
and inclined to indulge in "reminiscences. He
recalled the fact that just twenty years ago he
was engaged in a battle under Hampton. against
Warren. Eyes" l suggested, 'Methodists fight
ing Methodists, and now you are sitting side by
side" Exactly" said MIR. Stands, land L was
wondering yesterday, as we all sat in the confer
enceroom, how many of the delegates from the
M. E. Chur oh voted for our man-Cleveland.'
'Probably not one" | ventured to remark.
"Yes there was one, at least, and a grand man
he is-Governor Pattison, of Pennsylvania
Finally we came to the point, and Mr.. Stands
remarked: Il like the idea DR.. Ridgaway ad
vanced at our last General Conference, to which
he came as fraternal delegate from the other
church-the idea of the ripe apple of organic
union. You might knock it off with a pole, or
shake the tree till it fell, but still it would be
sour, whereas if you wait till it comes down of
itself it will be sweet, because ripe, We can't
have union yet; there is too much of the old
Adam on both side of the Ohio at present l
don't think it will come in twenty-five years.
When it does come, it will be brought about, in
my Judgment, through the necessity for co oper-
alton in our mission fields.
The Governors attention being called to the
opinion expressed by Judge Stokes, that the
negro would be the bridge over which the two
churches would come together, he said, well, if
Judge Stokes said that, you may be sure he has
carefully thought about it, and that he has what
to his judicial mind seem like good reasons for
the conviction"
Before dismissing this question of union, it is
worth noting that the Canada Methodists have
already pooled their issues in a common church.
There were wide disagreements among them,
but each party made concessions, and they
are now one both III spirit and form, the United
Church numbering nearly three quarters Of a
million of adhererts, which is about one seventh
of the entire population, and considerably more
than any other Protestant church has in that
country. There is also a movement on foot to
bring together the two largest branches OF the
eolored Methodists of the United States. which
very likely will succeed before long, and which
is another straw indicating how the wind is
blowing. l may add in this connection that the
0DOI u SGb tlt IlEtStub CbilltIbuC6 L ll4lOI6t
the project of a Common Hymnal did not pre-
vail, the opinion being that twas amatter which
must be left to the legislative bodies of the sew
eral churches interested.
The next grand reunion of the Methodist fam
tiles of America will occur three years hence, at
the Second Ecumenical Conference, when, how
ever, the American brethren will be Joined by
an equal numbef of Methodist dignitaries from
abroad.
QUESTIONS OF THE FUTURE.
Amid the iuhilations which the conferance has
called forth with reference to the past triumphs
If Methodism, two questions relating to the flu
ture have clamored for notice, and have been
discussed more or less at every session. The
first is "What perils lie before us}n and the sec
ond is, GLOW may we fulfill our divinely imposed
mission in the evangelization of the masseslo
On the former of the two DR.. J. Il. Bayliss, of
the M. e. Church, thought that Methodists
would be in great peril if they gave up the
mourners' bench and the old-fashioned, thorough
going revival. The millions of the church's
members, he observed, had been brought in by
these methods, DR.. Eaton and DR.. Lemon, Of
the same church. thought insuficiently a1cred
tied and lnadequately equipped evangelists a
threatening danger to Methodism. 1t was get
ting to be largely now a matter of 'raise your
hand and go to glory" with those who entered
the church. DR.. Tanner, a colored man, OBJ
served that nearly all the Methodists of his race
N6It SdNGu III IeNlNdlS, anu lldI IL LHG GluTCl
Outgrew these old and well methods he
didn't know what would become of the colored
people. DR.. Marshall, of the church South.
deprecated the modern tendency to turn the
Sunday school into a literary institution, and
saw great peril to the church in this fact. DR..
Wheeler thought a mistake was being made in
30 prominently announcing themselves as the
church of the poor. The rich needed the Gospel
rs much as the opposite class. and if Methodism
noped to be the church of the future, she must
bear this fact in mind and act accordingly. DR..
Parks, of Georgia. remarked to a few friends at
She close of this debate. Il never wanted TO make
a speech so badly in my life. If they wanted to
now the dangers to future Methodism l can tell
them. The greatest danger is in the fact that
few Methodists now have family prayer, and
Mat so many Of them, instead, have card play
ing and dancing parties in their houses
This was one of the many speeches brought
out by the proceedings, which are delivered in
soto voce, which the great audience does not
near, and which, as they are usually uttered in
confidence, with no temptations % gloss over the
naked facts, and no seeming likelihood of being
S'stood upon paper" are more likely than some
others to express the speakers honest convictions,
and to point out the true lines along which dan
ger and possible shipwreck may lie.
While many have spoken on the various top
les. a still larger number have remained silent,
and have manifested no desire to speak. 1 met
one of these to-day. "Haven't heard from you
get, Doctor | remarked. No said he, TN
an absorbant." "Not a sponge, though, / trust"
Eyes, if you like, a s~ponge-Tm taking it all in. "
This gentleman, | am glad to say, is one of a
large number. Having attended a good many
great conferences, Providence has permitted me
TO see a great many absorbants, and not a few
g~as-pipes and wind mills. and I'm prepared every
time to throw up my hat for the former. Hur-
rah for the spongesl
Still, somebody has to talk, and certainly the
talking here has been of a very high order of
merit. And a singular thing about it, too, is
that it has been so largely maintained by South
ern men. The delegates of the Church South
rave had the floor much more frequently than
1arkies-well, it has been a field day for them,
truly, for, while the proportion Of colored to
white delegates has been only about one in four.
the proportion of speeches from the dark skinned
brethren has certainly been, at IA rough estimate,
not less than one in two.