The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1892-10-23
THE CONFERENCE CLOSED
Friends Finish the Labors of an I'M
usually Eyentful Session.
Plan for the Publishing House William
NicholsOn's Paper-Ths Peacs
Conference Follows.

The Friends conference held its last ses-
SION yesterday morning Emma Malone
and others offered prayer. The committee
on foreign mission board was named as fol-
lows Calvin Pritehard. Indiana: Maha-
lah Jay, Kansas: Hannah Sleeper. BaltI-
more; Anna Il. Thomas, New York; Augus-
tus Taber. WilmiEgto Elizabeth Larkins.
Ohio; Jacob Baker, Iowa; Elmer i. Deem,
North Carolina; Joseph Potts and others.
The committee for that purpose intro
dueed the conclusions of the conference
that the conference is fully committed to
the support of ministers and pastors.
So soon as seven yearly meetings
shall join, the enterprise Of q pub
clearinghouse and one paper for all
the families of the Friends will
be entered upon. The history OF the So
cIety and the preservation of its records
was enjoined on the different yearly meet
ings. Next conference win be held in 1897.
An appropriate committee was appointed
to provide for that The conference IN
dorsed the Christian Endeavor movem ent.
and an encouraging minute was placed up
on the records for that most efficient branch
OF the church work.
Isom +. Wooton echoed the sentiments
or thanks to the different officers of the
conference. including the Chair. secretaries
and committees, and especially the COM
mlttee on arrangements In the city, ana
also TO the reporters for the press for their
Iabors IN behalf of the conference. Mr..
Wright. of Indianapolis. William l.. Pyle
and Levi Rees spoke fitting words In re-
Spouse. The chair then announced that
the time for separation had arrived. The
clerk read a minute adjournlng the confer
enee until 1897, and a period of profound
devotion followed. DIR. Henry Hartehorn.
of Philadelphia, spoke fitting words of
thankfulness at being allowed TO sit In the
sessions of this favored body. This session
closed with prayers from James G. Thomas,
Laurie Tatum, David Hadley. John Henry
Douglass, Nathan Frame and others. in
terspersed with appropriate remarks by
Frances Thomas, Esther Prichard. Isom
Wooton, Elwood Scott Mary Woody and
others
The Radical Advance Made.
One of the surprises of the Frlends' con-
ference which is just closing was the paper
read by Dr.. William Nicholson, of Kansas.
He was expected to maintain the conserva-
tism for which + riends have been notsd,
especially in regard to what Fox termed the
'shireling ministry" But he has for many
years lived in Kansas. and has imbibed the
spirit of progress. His written paper.
Indicating well-considered conclusions,
was strong argument for the
paetorate system, which of course
Involves stated compensation "a
the pastor. The spirit which tolerates
this radical advance has appeared only
within the past score of years. Friends
found il necessary to adopt the essential
factor of all progress. organization, and
this led irresistibly to the pastorate sys-
tenn, which is now in general use in the
West. The East is still conservative How
far the new system interferes with the old
knowing Of the-spirit" idea, remains yet to
be seen.
One of the most erudite of the Friends
present is William i. Pearson, who holds q
chair in the faculty of Penn College. Iowa.
He took the bachelors degree in literature
and arts at Earlham, and then went to
Princeton where he captured $500 scholar
ship, which gave him entree to the Berlin
University. at which he studied several
years. When speaking during the week
about the pastorate step taken by the con-
ference, he said:
I'VE have only recorded ct the confer.
ence the advancement already made. The
churches of Western Friends nearly oil
have pastors"
The progressive step carries with Ii nec-
essarily special training OF ministers.
Earlham College has established such q
department.. and yearly graduates O num-
Der OF Quaker theologists.