The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-17
Rev. DIR. H. A. Battz in the Lead on
the Eighth Ballot, with Chaplain
McCabe q Close second.
'PARsON"GOODWIN's REVIEW
CHANGE THAT SHOWS THE CHURCH
IS NOW PROGRESSIVE.
Pen Picture OF DIR. Lannahnn, to Whom
the Now York Book Concern.
special TO the IndlanapolIs journal.

| Special to the indianapolis Journal.
CLEVELAND. o., May 1e.-Eight ballots
have been taken by the Methodist Episcopal
General Conference, but no bishop has yet
been elected. Rev. II. A. Buttz was in the
lead on the seventh ballot with 2S3 votes.
Earl Cranston came next, with 26S. while
| Chaplain McCabe had go. Rev. j. w. HAM
ilton 210 and DIR. j. W.. Z. Bowen, the coll
ored candidate. who led part of the time
yesterday, dropped to As. On the eighth
Buttz. McCabe and Cranston were the lead
ing candidates. and it Is possible that
| two Of them may be elected Monday. The
feature Of the proceedings. aside from the
baIloting. was the appearance of William
Mckinley on the stage. He was given an
ovation.
One of the most important changes in the
Discipline yet made, though not in any sense
revolution. is a mark of progress that
few are as well prepared as your corre-
spondent to appreciate. 1t relates TO the lit
erary attainments of candidates for MEM
bership in the annual conference. 1t seems
almost incredible to the present generation
that recruits to the ministry within the
memory of many yet living were so made
almost entirely from the uneducated that
examination of candidate in grammar and
necessary investigation into his fitness for
| the plan. The writer well remembers one,
almost typical case. who was admitted on
| trial in Indianapolis in 1S4o. who had never
looked into grammar or geography before
| his conversion. less than six months earlier.
| and who moved through ali the preparatory
| condition between July and October, having
| never at the time of his admission read
| one-half the Bible. He had to begin his
| literary and theological education together.
| He was a jealous youth and, as preachers
| were measured at that time, he was not
a failure entirely. OF course, on his admis-
sion two years later into full membership
| it was necessary to examine him as to his
proficiency in grammar and other branches
of education. as well as to attachments in
theology. But the same process was re-
quired of college graduates, and often by
men but poorly qualified for the task Thus
at the same conference was admitted the
first college graduate ever admitted into the
Indiana Conference. In neither case was
any examination required at the beginning.
but they were received on supposed spiritual
qualifications.
SCOPE oF@THE EXAMINATIONS.
When, therefore. two years later, the first
examination of qualification was made the
college graduate was put through the same
grade of examination that was instituted
for the man who had never spent six months
at school, and it ran about thus: Every ex-
aminer took his man into quiet corner Of
the old frame church N Centerville and put
him through by himself alone. When the
college graduates turn came the examiner
began: what Is geography What Is
a zone?" How many zones are there?"
A.
island?" "A cape?" and so on through all
the elementary questions OF geography. He
then tackled the young man on grammar
in the same way, beginning with What is
grammar "Iow many parts OF speech are
there?" Name them" Parse the sentence
The horse pulls load up the hll;'" con-
tinuing the examination at least half hour
about in this style. 1t was the same. Of
course, with the brother who had never
studied grammar until he got onto cir
cult.
Though of late years most of the young
ministers are from colleges, yet until now
they have all to pass through such an ex-
animation on the most elementary studies.
though not In the same primitive style.
The General Conference has so changed the
rule that in future a diploma or other satis-
factory certificate that the applicant for adj
mission has passed examination on such
subjects In one Of our schools or colleges
shall render an examination on these sub
jects unnecessary. That such rule was
not adopted fifty years ago is one of the
evidences that the Methodist Church holds
onto old notions long after the demand for
them has ceased.
A GENUINE REFORMER.
About half way back in the middle row of
seats sits man who would attract notice in
almost any company of men. He is slightly
above medium size, with a full head of IRON
gray hair. He Is wide awake to everything
that goes on and very easily gains the rec
ognition of the Chair when he wants to
speak or offer resolution, which is not
extensively frequent. He cannot be less than
seventy-eight years of age. for he has been
a preacher hfty-eight years, yet no one
would take him for more than sixty from
his appearance and activity. He has a his
tory. Twenty-eight years ago he was elected
assistant book agent at New York on ac-
count of his acknowledged business ability,
but partly because the Baltimore Confer
ence wished to be represented in that de-
nominational establishment, which had been
chiefly administered by preachers from the
New York conferences 1t was not accord
ing to the wishes of those who had come TO
regard the concern" somewhat New
York institution. When he reported for
duty he was surprised to find no special
duty assigned to the assistant agent. His in
tuitiye sense of business at once suggested
that that was not wise business economy
but what could he do? He was only an ''as-
sistant' at best and an entire stranger TO
the details of business in the house. In the
absence OF anything else TO do he began to
saunter around through the building in a
semi-official way to see what was to be seen
ana to learn something OF the way the busi-
mes was going He was not long in dis
corning that there was really no official
head giving general direction to the several
departments. and he was not slow
TO suspect that the whole business
was loosely transacted. He discovered
no overt frauds, unless the .mpositions which
the several heads of departments were prac-
ticing upon the unsuspecting agents. might
be ciassed as such.
A FORE,MAN'S PERQUISITES
His attention was early called to a waste
in the bindery in the simple matter os
sweeping. When much gold leaf was used
there must. inevitably. be some waste, but
from what he noticed he was led to the con-
clusion that the waste was not the minimum.
and he was confirmed In this when he
1oar rad hat