The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1886-09-21
RELIGIOUS CONFERENCES.
Yesterdays Sessions of Methodist Min
listers and of Indiana Friends.
Reports and Recommendations by the Confer
ence Committees-Annual Meeting Last
j Night of the Education Society.
THE SOUTHEAST CONFERENCE.
The Reports of the Various Committees Pre-
sented and Acted Upon.


The fifth days session of the Southeast Indiana
Conference began yesterday forenoon at Roberts
Park Church. A resolution passed by Roberts
Park Church inviting the bishops to hold their
meeting In May, 1887, in this city and at that
church was presented and Endorsed by the con-
ference. The committee on tobacco Rev. John
Machlan. chairman, reported They came to the
conclusion that the tobacco habit was attended
with evil and only evil, and deplored its preva-
lence and hurt. The report was adopted
It was resolved that a committee of five should
memorabilia the Indiana Conference to arrange
FOR the union of the Southeast Indiana Confer
ence with that body by tho time of the next GEN
eral Conference. The committee on temperance
presented resolutions which were adopted
Among these was one calling for legislative
enactment to provide for teaching in the public
Bchools the deeterious effects of alcohol.
A telegram of greeting was received from the
Methodist Protestant Church Conference, at
Muncie. to which reply was sent. Mrs j. r.
Nichols president of the w. G. T. u, appeared
and spoke on the subject of temperance DR.. E.
Cranston, senior agent of the Western Methodist
Book Concern, represented the interests of that
institution DR.. Hartzell spoke of the work of
the Freedman's Aid Society.
The merits of Shelbyvle, Rushyille, Corners
willie and Edinburg were dwelt upon, as each was
presented, for the place of holding the next an
pual conference. Edinburg was chosen.
Rev. Dashisll, statistical secretary, has Gem
pleted tabulations of reports, showing the
strength of the NJ E. Sunday schools in the dis
krict. The number Of schools, by district, are
Indianapolis, 60; Connersville, 60; Moore's Hill,
20; Jacksonville, so; total, 279, against 269 for
last year; gain of TO- The increase in pupils
has been 724, and the present number is "a, l04
Fhe number of teachers Is $780, an increase Of
1885, the total average attendance is 1873, a
gain of 1.37l; the number of conversions this
year from the Sunday school is $685. an increase
sf 428 In all the Sunday school work nothing
shows q decrease except the school Libraries,
which contain 557 fewer books than formerly.
The afternoon session of the conference
opened with Dr. S. T. Gillett in the chair the
bishop being absent holding cabinet session
Prayer was offered by Rev. S. A. Bright
Various committees submitted reports, anon G
them the committee on the death of Rev. George
+. Haddock, assassinated in Sioux City, Aug. 6,
1886, while prosecuting violators of the liquor
law of Iowa. His murder was characterized as
most foul and instigated and accom- plished by
men in the rum traffic, traffic TO which the res
button pledged itself to warfare of extermina-
lion, approving the offer of 81, 900 made by the
presiding elder In Mr. Haddock's district for the
discovery of the assassins, and rendering to the
beFeaved family of the murdered brother the
eeep sympathy of the conference. The resolu-
ion was adopted. The committee on the
= Roman's Foreign Missionary Society reported,
living high testimony to the work Of that
kiety, and making special mention of Miss Ella
g. Shaw, of Moore's Hill, who has been accepted,
ind is now preparing for a foreign missionary
held.
The committee on church extension reported
resolution heartily complying with the dis
Gplinary rule to preach and present the claims
pf the work in every congregation, and proms-
ing to uss the best endeavors to raise at least
Ehe amount apportioned to their respective
churches
The committee on Sunday schools reported
Ihat it was with regret that they noticed in the
statistics there were so few conversions in the
Sunday schools, and urged greater efortSin the
direction of conversions. 1t was noticed with
pleasure that there had been decrease in the
use of other than their own literature. Ii
= remarked that the missionary spirit should be
cultivated by the organization of school mission
lry societies; also, that the school should be
kanized and conducted according to the plans set
lOrth in the Discipline
Inc SreAcnerS Ala Society Reported GlaG
While the endowment fund is great help to-
ward providing for superannuated preachers,
heir wives and children, and the widows and
orphans OF deceased preachers the necessity of
It's encouragement is seen. 1t was recommend
ID that the members of the conference who are
hct life members should become so. Pastors
we're requested to present the claims of the so.
Giety to the laymen, ard TO obtain contributions
and requests when possible.
The COMMITTEES on popular amusements sub
hitted the following report:
Inasmuch as the tendency Of the times Is toward
lmusements of questionable character. inaugurated
by popular society and demoralizng in their charac-
yer, especially upon youth and, inasnluch
Discipline is emphatic in It's denuncation of all diver
kions which cannot be taken in the of the Lord
t-such as dancing playing at games of chance, at
lending horseraces circuses dancing parties, pat
Fonizing dancing classes taking such other
nents obviously of misleading questionable
moral tendency disobedent to the order and discp
Enc of the church" therefore,
Resolved, That we solemnly people, when
occasion presents ITSELF of the danger menacng
bur Christian efficiency under the wing and sanction
Resolved, That we call attention 20 the disciplinary
law upon the subject and enforce it circumstances
may demand.
The committee on observance of the Sabbath
reported. condemning going on excursions, at
lending games or places OF amusement on the
Sabbath the reading of papers issued on the
Sabbath and absenting ones self from the
kervices OF the sanctuary as dissertations of the
Sabbath The report regarded the proper OBJ
servance of the Sabbath as the great factor in
the perpetuity OF our government and the pros
peTty Of its people; that the growing tendency to
use the day for amusement and self-indulgence
demands of Christians more careful and relhs-
lous observance of the Sabbath. Rev. j. W.
Turner thought the report should make special
reference to the labor demonstration made in
this city on Sunday. Rev. j. ". Duncan re-
marked that this was the proper time to speak
on that subject Objection was made to lnclud-
Ing this suggestion in the report as the case was
sufficiently covered The report was adopted.
The report indorsing the work of the Amer
lean Bible Society adopted, Rev. j. O.
Duncan Directing to the work of the local
branch of the society in this city as not being
what IL should be-
The committee the book concern recon-
snended that the conference instruct agents not
20 credit brethren whose accounts are not an
nually settled, or q satisfactory arrangement
made for the same.