The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-15
MEETING OF CHURCH PEOPLE
The Sixtieth Annual Session Of the In
dianapOlis Baptist Association.
Reports of Officers and manifestation of
the Association in the Case of Rev.
3. IT. Buchanan, of Acton.

The sixtieth annual meeting of the Indianapo
lis Baptist Association began yesterday morning
in the new Southstrcet Baptist Church. In the
absence OF the moderator. the clerk NJ A. Pot
ter, of the First Baptist Church, called the asso
citation to order and conducted a brief devotional
exercise. Rev. T. J. Conner was elected moder
ator pro tenn. The churches represented are
Acton, Brookfeld, Crooked Creek Cumberland
East Union, Franklin. Friendship. Good Will,
Greenfield, Greenwood, Hurricane, Indianapolis,
Lawrence, Lebanon. Liberty, Missionary Union,
Mount Pleasant New Bethel. North Union,
Pleasant View Southport, Sugar Creek and
West Union. The membership of these churches
numbers $1,000 Among those present were Rev.
W. 7. Stott, D. D., president of Franklin Col
lege; Rev. Edward Ellis, of Detroit, district Sec
rotary of the American Baptist Home Mission
Society; Rev. o. T. Conger D. D., correspond
ing secretary of the Indiana Baptist State Con-
vention; Rev. N. Carr, financial secretary Frank
lin College; s. ii. Huffman, State Sunday school
missionary for Indiana; Rev. Fl. Woodsmall,
missionary of the Home Mission Society. Among
the colored people of the South present are Rev.
A. Oele, pastor at Franklin; Rev. s. NJ. Stinson
d. D., of Terre Haute. district secretary of the
American Baptist Missionary Union.
The annual sermon was preached by Rev. F.
A. LIGHT, of the German Baptist Church, this
city. His text was Zechariah viii. %, 1--WE will
go with you, for we have heard that God is with
you" Prayer was offered by Rev. g. II. Een.
The presiding officer announced the following
committees: On arrangements-C. ii. Mcdowell
A. M. Chaille and A. Shallenberger. On NOM
inations-G. c. Thompson, John Gramas G. NJ.
Randall, George C. Webster and Fl. Ferris.
After singing, "Wash Me and Shall be
Whittier Than Snow" letters from the various
congregations were called for. The reading was
proceeded with until 11:45 o'clock A. NJ. when
President Stott. of Franklin College, made few
ton, now close at hand. Rev. Edward Ellis. of
Detroit the new district secretary of the Home
Mission Society. then spoke, and the morning
session closed with prayer by Rev. Harry Smith,
of Columbus.
The afternoon session opened with prayer by
Rev r. n. Harvey, after which the reading of
letters was resumed. The nominating commit
tee reported, nominating Rev. G. II. Mcdowell,
moderator, and J. j. W. Bilincsley, clerk The
report was adopted. Dr. Nyeth, OF Cincinnati,
offered prayer.
Mrs. E. c. Atkins, of Indianapolis, president
of the Women's Mission Society, called for
ports from the several organizations of that so
ciety Mrs. Carr road a number OF reports.
Mrs. Williams and Mrs. Neighbor spoke of the
work of the mission circles Mrs. F. II. Lever
ing sung with exquisite pathos tho hymn "Oh,
to be Nothing, Nothing" A brief paper on
missions was read by Mrs. Elgin. Mrs Mary
Atkins read paper on Baptist missionary work
among the Indians Miss May Williams read a
paper on 1.-THE Necessity of Prayer" Rev. Ed
ward Ellis, of Detroit, spoke on home missions,
and Rev. Fl. Woodsmall of the missions among
the colored people of the South.
DR.. Reuben Jefery reported in reference 20
the case of Rev. f. NJ. Buchanan, of Acton, eX
cuded. Mr.. Buchanan. in 1879, procured di-
vorce from his wife for "inhuman treatment"
and married again. His divorced wife had also
married some time after his second marriage.
In reviewing the case the committee ask: H.
Assuming the facts to be as alleged. was Mr.
Buchanan justified by the teaching of Scripture
in obtaining legal separation for any other
cause than adultery2 81 Would it be agreeable
to the teaching of the Scripture for a Baptist
church to recognize Mr.. Buchanan as a minister
after his divorce. even If he had not married an
other womanY 81 In marrying another woman,
are he and she living in adultery as defined by
the Scripture So a. Is the divorced wife in
volved in such condemnation, or is she innocent
or account of the so-called prior marriage of Mr..
Buchanans The following resolutions were re-
ported by the committee:
Whereas, The church of Acton has not shown any
regard to the recommendations of this association,
adopted in September, 1884, advising il to call
council to consider the of F. NJ. Buchanan
his divorced wife and the present alleged wife.
Resolved. a. That tins association appoint com.
mttee of five brethren with structions correspond
with and urge the Baptist Church of Acton to cali g.
large and representative council consider and adj
wise them as to their duty towards the parties afore
ana tnat Sdiu cOuncl. De the enSu-
ing three months. ~ That if the church refuses
to accede the overtures of the committee that the
committee is hereby instructed to call council for
the purpose of formulating statement of the bear
ngs and teachings of the New Testament the ques-
tons raised by the action of F. NJ Buchanan. 49,
That the committee also seek Co obtain the advice of
said council to the duty of this association in the
premises "a That no member of the churches in.
volved in the controversy be put upon this committee
This report was signed by r. Jeffery, j. j. W.
Billingsley, John W. Thompson, It. j. McCol-
lum and E. II. Stanley, and was unanimously
adopted.
Last evening the session of the association was
taken up with sermon, purely doctrinal, by