The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-09-19
FRIENDS YEARLY MEETING.
Opening of the Annual Session at Plainield
Reports and Discussion Thereof.

special U Inc InulduaDOliS JOURNAL.
PLAINFIELD, Sept. 18-The Friends Western
Yearly Meeting opened this morning with devo-
tional exercises, at 8 A. NJ. Rev. Jones, of North
Carolina, oficiated as leader. The meeting was
devoted to Bible readings, songs and prayers.
The business meeting convened at 10 A. M, and
was opened with a song, in which the congrega-
ton joined in singing. Preliminary remarks
were made by jeremiah A. Grinneil, of Ohio.
The congregation was then led in prayer by
Calvin WPritchard, of Chicago, editor of the
Christian Worker. John O. Dorland then gave
a very interesting talk on the unity of churches.
Mr.. Dorland is a member of the Panada Yearly
Meeting, and is a resident of Brooklyn, N. Y.
A roll Of the representatives of the several quar-
terly meetings belonging to this yearly meeting
was then called. A list of the caretakers of the
church was then called. and nineteen were found
to be present and twenty-on absent.
The following members are in attendance from
other yearly meetings.: Jeremiah Grinnell, of
the Ohio Yearly Meeting; Benjamin G.. Hiatt,
Levi Gregory, William P. Soffar. William P.
Sans, a resident of Oregon; T.. N. Smith. of
Iowa Yearly Meeting; Joseph Potts, of New
York Yearly Meeting; Joseph Cosand, of Kansas
Yearly Meeting. Mr.. Cosand is on his way to
the Japan islands as a missionary of the Friends
Church.
The clerk then welcomed those in attendance
from foreign yearly meetings.
The committee Oh printing reported that the
services required of them had been performed.
A committee of the above was then appointed
for the next meeting. A committee was then
appointed in conjunction with a like committee
of the women's meeting to give assistance to
ministers from other yearly meetings in
arranging appropriate times and places for such
meetings as they desire, and to see to the proper
distribution of the ministry at their yearly
meetings.
A communication from 7. j. Charlton, super
intendent of the Indiana Reform School, inviting
members to visit his school and to conduct
services there, was read by the clerk. The
meeting then adjourned to meet again at 2 P. M.
The yearly meeting in joint session
of men and women Friends this afternoon for the
consideration of the report on Bible schools.
The report was presented by Josiah Morris, gen
eral superintendent of Bible schools. Prayer by
Levi Sharpless. Hiram Hadley was unanimously
chosen clerk by the meeting; His assistants are
Simon Hadley and Isaac B. Woodland.
David 1 Douglass, of New England, arrived
to-day.
The report on Bible schools shows a gain in
the number of schools and in the attendance the
| past year. There is also an increase in the
number of mission schools, which is found to be
an important field for church extension. A
hourishing school has been organized and main
tanned at Mountain Home, Ala. Joseph Morris
was reappointed general superintendent. A
discussion On the ABOVE reports Cnen TOOK place.
Louis /. Hadley said: 1.-THE study of the Bible
is always a source of spiritual prosperity. The
apostles were men of power as long as they
preached Christ The hearing and doing of the
law puts on a solid foundation. The
Bible is a necessity without which we
cannot have proper spiritual life and
growth. The Bible is from God. ANY,
thing that is an expression of God is the word of
God. The Bible is an expression of Gods will
to man; therefore it is the word Of od-the
word of His spirit. Conscience always tells US
to do right. It deals only with motives. 1t
never tells us what is right; Judgment alone
does that; therefore our judgment must be en-
lightened. The Bible, then, is the means Of
showing the right from the wrong. Rejecting
God is rejecting the book that is to justify or
condemn us on the last day."
b. c. Hobbs said: I'VE must ever keep in
mind the distinction between the law and the
eospel-between the moral and ritualistic laws.
Salvation is the same in every age of the world.
The moral law is from the beginning. 1t was
all summed up in the Ten Commandments. Our
Savior said, The great commandments are love
to God and to our neighbors.' Some men think
the Old Testament all speaks of wrath, and has
| no love in it. There never was a greater mis-
take. The old has as much love in it as the
new. There never has beenMpy possible way to
please God without love. The Old Testament
was really saturated with the gospel. Let US
study it in that light, and we shall have a better
understanding of BOTH"
Remarks were also made by David Hadley, E.
Q. Silar, G. w. Pritchard, and David Douglass.
Mr.. Douglass made seine very interesting re-
marks, but we have not space to give them.
Adjourned.