The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1888-05-31
TIE M%ETHODISTS.
The General Conference Devotes Itself to
Business and Settles Important Points.

New YORK. May 30.-whsn the General
Methodist Conference was called to order by
Bishop Fowler this morning there was not .
quorum present, and when the devotional exsr-
cises. led by colored delegate from Texas
named Lee, were over. barely 3l2 members,
necessary for the transaction Of business, were
in their seats. After the journal was read and
adopted, the on revisals presented .
report referring to the admission Of probation
ers into the church. After . brief debate the
report was tabled. Bishop Andrews then asked
the Conference to interpret the recently enacted
law touching the pastoral term of five years. so
that il might be made clear for administration
during the next quadrennium. To this end DR..
Wheeler, OF Erie, presented the following reso-
luton which, passed. The new rule of pastoral
service shall De applied as follows:
the session of any annual conferences next
following this General Conference q preacher
may be appointed to a charge which he has not
served for the three years preceding, and be
continued thereafter in said charge for FIVE
years, and q pastor now serving q charge which
he has not served for three years preceding his
present pastorate, may be continued through .
full term Of Ave years. In all other cases the
rule OF Eve years in ten shall be strictly ap-
plieds
A discussion appropriated by a report from
the committee on temporal economy providing
for the better care OF supersnnuated ministers.
This report recommended the creation Of .
board of conference claimants consisting Of
twelve members and twelve laymen, appointed
by the General Conferences, with q correspond
ing secretary nominated by the board of bishors,
who shall travel through the annual conferences
and secure pledges and make collections for q
permanent and a disbursinR fund. Many held
that the present plan of caring for superannu-
49, - 49,. I-l~.ol 49, -
much could not be done for the men who had
made Methodism what il il 1t was finally de-
cidec to have the matter 60 over to the next Gen.
eral Conference.
considered. and Ora. Kynstr, Buckley and 9TH
ers made stirring appeals for the adoption of
the report. Little by little the conference
seemed to wake up to the importance of the
matter of perfecting . plan to better provide for
men worn ont in the service of the church, and,
after listening to q pointed address from Chair
man Craig, of the committee on temporal econo-
my, the report was lmost unanimously adopted.
Il was moved that St. Louis be named a. the
place where the new board of conference claim
ants should make its headquarters. Chicago
was also named as the best place to locate the
board, and when Chaplain McCabe said he hoped
Chicago would be chosen, as the thing would be
pushed through in Chicago. for they push every
thing through there, the conferences voted to 90
distinguish the Lake City.
By unanimous consent the Rev. DR.. d. p.
Kidder was made honorary secretary of the
board Of education.
ments for the next General Conference reports d
in favor Of Omaha. This decision resulted from
promises made by Omaha to furnish . place of
meeting and to care for delegates free Of cost
mission Of seven be appointed TO confer with
the Omaha churches as to railroad rates, ETC.,
and IL Omaha should fail to keep promises
made, the commission should have the power TO
select another place. The report Was adopted
The next report was from the committee on
the state Of the church, and referred to the ad
mission of women ~ delegates to the General
Conference. Tbs report recommended that dur
ing the months Of tOctobsr or November. 10
1890, an election be held at every place of pub
lie worship Of the Methodist Episcopal Church
in the United States. and that every member oil
the church over twenty-one years Of age be given
a vote relative to his or her desire to ADMIT
women as lay delegates to electoral or genera
conferences. The result of this election 10 to be
sent 70 annual conferences in 1891. which con
ferences could then take the necessary Legal
action in the matter. The report was adopted
without debate.
The remainder Of the session was taken up BY
q discussion 90 . report offered to bring about
q uniformity OF public worship The report
presented was attacked article by article. clause
by clause, and word by word, and according "a
DR.. Buckley, l27 different forms Of worship
could be had uader its adoption. All sorts Of
substitutes and amendments were suggested,
and after much debate, one calling for the fol
lowing order Of service was adopted In place Of
the report presented:
F~irst-Singing from Methodist hymn-book, eongrs
| CATION standing.
s~econd-Prayer. minister and congregation knesl.
ing.
~Third-Lessons from Old and New Tsstamsnt.
Fo~urth-Hymn, standing.
Eifth-Presching.
all kneeling.
Eighth-Benediction.
AZ this point the time WAS extended to permit
OF other reports being handed h, which. beini
unimportant. provoked no discussion and were
passed
The chair then announced a. . committee on
board Of confsrencso claimants: W. H. Craig. @
q. Truesdal and Arthur Edwards, after which
the conference adjourned.
Drowned I'm . Kansas stream.
HKSDLEy. Neb., May 30.-Yesterday after
noon. while . Mr. Album. a resident Of North
county. Kansas. was out riding with his famil,
and some friends. thirteen IN number, IN an or
binary farm wagon, he attempted TO cross Sap
4 - - - H....- ~-.- NA---l- ~.