The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1885-08-28
RELIGIOUS MATTERS.
A Big Days Work by the Members of t

"A DIE DdyS Work Dy the members Oh tnS
Indiana Nj. Il. Conference at Spencer.
Special 20 the indianapolis Journal.
SPENCER, Aug. 27.-The conference session
was preceded by a sermon last night, delivered
by Rev. 6. +. Gunner, of Odon. His theme
was. THE Attitude of the Ministry to the
World" The sermon was an excellent one, and
produced a fine impression on the large congre-
cation present.
AT s o'clock this morninga preparatory prayer
meeting was conducted by Rev. S. ". Nc
Naughten, after which Bishop W. L. Harris
took the chair. He read the 60th Psalm and
the fourth chapter of First Corinthians. after
which DR.. Martin and S. w. McNaughten
offered prayer. The secretary of the previous
conference called the roll. The deaths of ". V.
Daniel and W. W. Rundell were announced.
Rev. r. A. Kemp was unanimously reelected
secretary. His assistants are William Teller,
J. A. Ward, W. B. Collins, j. ". Payne, c. E.
Asbury and S. O.. Dorsey. Revs. M. P. Gaddis,
of the Cincinnati Conference, and j. S. eleven
ger, pastor of the Baptist Church in Spencer,
were introduced. The announcement of the
transfer of Frost Craft from the North In
diana Conference, and now stationed at Trinity
IN t1ICs oho Ia" &s pAiSA ~ 1's
of the Central Ohio Conference, president-eiect
of DePauw Female College, was made to the
conference.
Committees, consisting of one from each of
the six districts, were appointed to look into the
various interests of the church. There are
twelve of these committees. Among those most
important are education and temperance. AS
these committees were selected with great care,
judieious and able reports may be anticipated.
One layman, elected from each district, was
added tO the hoard of conference stewards.
The twentieth question, relating to the char
acter of effective elders, was taken up. Indian
apolis district was represented by the presiding
elder, w. r. Halstead. This gentleman is, per
haps. the youngest man ever in charge or so
important a district. He presented a we'll
written and exhaustive report of the spiritual
and temporal affairs Of his work. There are
eighteen charges. and six of these are stations.
But one of the pastors has remained three years.
There were about five hundred conversions, and
about the same number Of accesslons to the
church during the year. The missionary and
other benevolent collections have fallen short in
some of the more important charges, yet the
aggregate will not fall below the report of last
year.
Bloomington district. DR.. w. NJ. Hester, P.
E, reported eighteen charges. The report indi-
Gated a fair degree of prosperity during the year.
Mr.. Hester has. perhaps, served the church IN
this capacity longer than any other now in office.
He is very efficient and successful in his work.
Vincennes district, NJ. NJ. G. Hobbs. P. E.;
Evansville district, DR.. j. S. Woods, p. E.:
RockRort district, H.. J. Talbot, P. E., and New
Albany district. j. H. Ketcham, P. E., were
represented, and the character of their effective
elders passed. Space forbids detailed mention
of their work. The reports indicated faithful
ness on the part of all the pastors, as we'll as
praiseworthy devotion to the interests of the
church by the presiding elders.
When the name of one of the preachers was
called it was ascertained that in a former charge.
where he had served three years. he lacked a
large sum of securing his salary. 1t was re-
ported that he sued in the courts for the deficit.
This anomalous procedure necessitated a com
mittee of inquiry. This committee is to inquire
into the merits of this case and report their con-
illusions to the conference. Against one of the
older members of the conference, John Walls.
there came rumors that all had not been right
in his ministerial character. These rumors are
not believed true. yet it is just to him, as we'll
as the church. that they be inquired into. The
committee OF inquiry, it is confidently believed,
will exonerate him in every particular. Your
correspondent learns that mis- quarterly confer
ence unanimously did the same thing.
The amount of work done to-day is unpre-
cedented in the history of this conference.