The Indianapolis journal., 1892-03-30
METHODIST AFFAIRS.
Some Topics for Consideration by the Coming
Session of the General Conference.

To the Editor of the Indianapolis Journal;
The next General Conference of the NJ. +.
Church. which cOnvenes at Omaha, May /.
is, on all hands considered to be one of the
most important that has convened in this
country. The rapid growth of the church
has made it apparent that the organic laws
church 90 not fit the great church now.
New demands will be- most persistently
made for changes to meet and subserve the
present conditions. There has been for
years demand for the bishops to be elected
for n term of years. This demand will have
to be complied with. Equal representation
of layman with the ministers in the general
church congress Will have to be included.
AS it Is now. fifteen hundred preachers have
two-thirds of the representatives and two
million laymen one-third. 1t is thought
that the bishops have thus far prevented
this just measure from being adopted, as
they could not so easily control the body if
half of the General Conference were men
whose appointments TO work were not in
their hands. The assignment of bishops TO
certain district is also question that
will demand the attention of the body. and
will no doubt be adopted. This will be re-
only have tine whole country for their
parish, but one or two OF them arc travel
ing around the world at the expense of the
church all the time.
Tho woman question will also come mp
again. The removal of the limit of pas
tors service in any church will, no doubt.
be urged, and most likely adopted, as thcre
seems to be no good reason why preacher.
who Is entirely acceptable to his people.
should be removed at the end OF five years
a m m
changing OF the preachers has been great
hindrance to their development. he has to
spend so much of his time in becoming ac-
quainted with HE members that he has but
little opportunity for pulpit preparation.
and when he has an old barrel of serip ons
that he has been three years In hlllng. he
draws on it the balance of his life. and
little or no growth is the result.
The Epworth League. that has had such
wonderful growth and has been such a
great help in putting new and young blood
INTO the work of the church, will call for q
full and complete recognition as one of the
important factors IN church organization.
The work of tho city evangelists will also
have to be considered carefully, new
methods of reaching the masses IN our
great cities will have to be found, and all
city work will have to be reorganized.
The election of the officers of the church
is always matter of deep concern, and
Will this time command the attention of the
General Conference In an unusual degree.
There will be editors to be chosen for our
church papers. Indiana has men who can
I'LL the places of book agents or editors
faithfully and WELL If any bishops are 10
be chosen there are none better than can
lie found in our State. In the Book Con-
cern at Cincinnati Indiana has never had
anything like a fair representation. Ohio
has had every thing. from top to bottom. in
all the departments of tnat immeIse es-
.ablishment We have but one there-the
able and accom- piished assistant editor of
the Advocate. Rev. DE-. B. 4. Rawlius. He
has brought great honor TO the State by tile
able and efficient manner in which be has
discharged the duties of his position. He
deserves promotion. Indiana ought 10
have one of her men as one of the book
agents and If our delegates will stand to-
gather he can he had. The Methodists of
interest the deliberations and action OF the
General Conference. METHODIST.
GREENsBuRG. Ind, March %.