The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1889-10-06
METHODIST CoNNECTIoNALIsM

The action of the Cincinnati nj. E.
Conference in resolving not to admit
any transferred man into that conference
who is owe fifty years of age continues
to be a subject of discussionin Methodist
circles, and especially among the lay
men. The suggestion that it is to avoid
the additional burden on the benevolent
funds of the conference is without
foundation, because the late General
Conference provided for pooling all
such funds and dividing to all alike
without regard to conference relation.
If hat be the motive it must be con-
strued into a purpose to abandon the
scheme of Il common fund, which is at
present in allegiance because of some de-
feet in the machinery of the new or
ganizatiOn. The undisguised fact is, it
is intended as a blow at the connection
alism Of the Methodist Episcopal
Church, hitherto regarded, both by it's
W people and outsiders, as its strong
est ecclesiastical arm. 1t has been the
theory of that church that every pulpit
in the land was open to every men,
Der of the travelling connection, and
that every pastor was available for every
pulpit, the episcopal authority being
the recognized Judge of the fitness and
the propriety of the assignment. Its
most significant indication is the widen
ing chasm between the pulpit and the
pew of that church. The people, adher-
ing to "old-fashioned Methodism," rec
ognize the connectionalism of the church.
The time has never been when any con-
gregation has not been at liberty to sig
Nifty it's preference for this preacher or
that, always Loyalty subject to the judg-
ment of the ~episcopacy, which in theory
and in practice has a common interest in
the whole church. and is presumed to
have an eye to the common good, and
the episcopacy never has disregarded
those wishes, except when a class of
facts existed with which they were bet
ter acquainted than the local church was,
and which they were bound to respect.
The truth is, the action of the Cincln-
natl Conference is but a feeble imitation
of that taken several years ago by
the Southeast Indiana Conference,
and which died in its birth,
except hat the Cincinnati action lacks
the manliness of the Southeast Indiana
conferences brutem fulmen, by attempt
ing to hide behind the pretext that it is
to avoid al accumulation of superannu-
ates. By it they would deprive their
churches of the best services of the best
preachers. Very few men of good health
reach their zenith even at fifty. With
only two OF three exceptions, that church
has elected bishops over fifty years of
age, and every year the age of election
advances. But the Journal does not
propose to enter into the controversy
which this action provOkes. 1t alludes
to it merely as a matter of current news,
that its readers may keep posted in what
is going on i'm the ecclesiastical as we'll
as in the political world, suggesting very
de~ferentially that the Cincinnati resolu-
ton will be buried in the same grave
which contains the remains of its near
of kin-the Southeast Indiana Conference
resolutions-for while it was yet gasping,
DIR. Keen, at whom it was aimed, was
transferred to the Cincinnati Conference,
and last week DIR. Vananda was trans
feTred to the Southeast Indiana, as a
dozen had been before him since the
adoption of its prOhibitOry resolutions.