The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1884-05-09
METHODISTS AND BAPTISTS.
Proposal to Limit the Term Of the Bish-
Opric in the Methodist Church.
Fighting Alleged Wrongs in the African NJ.
T. Conference at Baltimore-The South
ern Baptist Convention.
THE METHODIST CONFERENCE.
A Proposal to Limit the Term of Service Of
the bishops,

a Proposal to Limit the Term of Service of
the Bishops.
PHILADELPHIA, May s-The General Confer
ence of the Methodist Church reassembled this
morning with Bishop Hurst in the chair.
Rev. William Taylor, of South India Confer
ence conducted devotional exercises
1'he report of the committee episeopaey
recommending Thursday, May 10, at 10 o'clock,
for election of bishops, was adopted.
The report of the committee memorials Of
deceased members recommending the memorial
services for such members be held on Tuesday
morning next, was adopted
The committee on fraternal delegates was
granted permission to withdraw its report rea-
tive to reception Of delegates from the South
and from Canada, for the reason that Arch
street Church is engaged for the evening of
May l5.
Rev. DR.. c. Crawford, of New York offered a
resolution thatthe committee on itnerancy be in
structed to consider the expediency of amending
the Discipline by striking out the clause author
ling the appointment of missionaries to neglect
ed portions of the city. He did not favor remov
al of the time limit The resolution referred
to the committee on itinerancy.
| Rev. DR.. King of New York, offered resolu-
ton, which was referred to the committee on
state of the church, that the committee be IN
| structed to consider the matter Of protest
| against the assaults of Romanism on civil and
| religious liberty in the different States.
Rev. King also offered resolution, which
was adopted, that it is the judgment of the con
ference that the committees have right only to
act and report as to the subjects referred to
| them by the conference.
| Judge Sibley, of Ohio, moved that the COM
mittee on episcopacy be requested to consider
and report upon the limitation OF time for bish-
| ops hereafter elected, and whether twelve years
should not be the proper time Referred to the
| committee on episcopacy
Rev. William Swindels, of Philadelphia, moved
that delegates be authorized to add to their
penses the amount paid for meals when their
time is so occupied with business of the confer
ence and its committees as to be unable to reach
their homes in the city.
| Rev. DR.. Daniel Curry, of New York. moved
an amendment that the amount shall not exceed
| 90 cents.
The resolution was adopted, with what the
bishop called the fitty~cent amendment.
Morris r. Locke, of Southern Illinois, moved a
reference to the committee on revsal of the
matter of the use of the Methodist Hymnal.
Amendments were offered relative to its refer
ence to committees itinerancy and Sunday
school.
Rev. c. c. McCabe of New York, said: 1.-THE
people will sing such hymns as they please, no
matter what the conference says"
A delegate suggested the placing of the Metho-
dist Hymnal in the pews
Rev. DIR. McCabe said number of books of
his Hymns of the Heart consisting of extracts
| from the Methodist Hymnal, had been placed in
Association Hail. and all but five had disap-
peared
Rev DR.. Lanahan, of Baltimore said he found
one of the books in his seat, and supposed it was
a present
Rev. VIM. Swindell, of Philadelphia, said
there would be no surer way of breaking down
the Book of Discipline than by putting in it laws
| that cannot be executed.
| The resolution on the Methodist Hymnal was
| referred to the committee on itinerancy.
The committee on reception Of fraternal dele
gates reported that they had succeeded in secur-
| ing the evening first selected. VIZ, Thursday
| evening, May Is, for reception, at Arch street
| Church, of the delegates from the churches of
the South and the delegates from the churches
in Canada The report was adopted.
A resolution offered by Rev. Graham of Troy,
relative to licensing evangelists by annual con-
ferences was referred to the committee on
intinerancy.
Rev. H. w Key. of Tennessee offered reso-
luton protesting against the change of name of
the Freedman's Aid Society. He said that to do
so would prove detrimental to the very object
for which the society was organized. The society
| is historical, and the name is known far and
| near. Why should it be changed1 No delegates
coming from the South ask for the change. The
| freedmens schools open to every one, the
freedmen are in the church to stay, and do not
intend being driven out. They have Southern
hotels in the South, Southern railroads and
Southern ku-klux. They did not want any
! Southern freedmans aid society. He stated that
there are schools built with the money of the
Freedman's Aid Society to which freedmen are
not admitted. The matter was referred to the
committee ON the state of the church
A resolution was offered that Mr.. Homer G.
| Meacham, lay delegate from South Kansas Con
! ference, be excused from further attendance, as
he called home to attend to important law
| business.
Rev. DR.. j. NJ Buckley, of New York. opposed
excusing Meacham, unless he stated that he was
counsel for some murderer or in some other i'm
portant case. 1t was Meaehams duty to remain
| and transact the business of the church.
A vote being taken, Meacham was not excused.
A resolution of sympathy with Rev. Denny
Osborne and wife, of South India in their be-
reavement in the loss Of daughter, was adopted
by rising vote.
fered resolution for the removal of the third
| restrictive rule which states that the jurs-
diction of the missionary bishops shall be linn
| tied to their respective missions. lie thought
| bishop in one country should be bishop all
over the world--"Once a bishop always a
| bishop"
The resolution was referred to the committee
ON Judiciary.
olution that the board of bishops be requested to
inform the conference how many new bishops
are requisite to carry ON the work of the church.
Adopted, and the conference adjourned.
The committee on missions decided to recon-
mend the appointment of an episcopal residence
in India. A motion locating bishop in Europe
was also adopted At the meeting of the com
mittee on the Freedmens Aid Society, a general
discussion of the race issue and color line in the
name of the society to "Freedmen's Aid and
Southern Educational Society" After long
debate, the committee adjourned without action.