The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-05-21

dnaDcial condition OF the claimant, leaving
the specially necessitious cases 70 be pro-
vided for by special funds
The proposition found some advocates on
the floor OF the conference, but the prevail
Ing sentiment seemed TO be against IT, The
which every preacher Is familiar. but Just
how 70 deal with these fairly was the diff
6cult question The unwisdom OF pensioning
on the church a man whose home comforts
were greater than the majority OF tnose
who were expected to contribute 10 the fund
and who In many cases was quite as able to
laboring man was manifest The so-callei
approximation being the result OF mental
weaKness more tnan OF physical inability TO
work, making the man so united for the
pulpit that no charge would have him. ne
was unloaded on the superannuated fund.
That feature Of the report which sought TO
into the calculation was generally approved.
while tie service pension as a whole met
with little favor. The report was recomu1if-
but chiefy to have it made TO meet the
views expressed.
A STORY WITH A MORAL.
The unseemiy contest for the office OF
bishop, with several other relics Of former
generation. has emphasized the contention
that much Of the machinery OF our church IS
out Of harmony with the demands of to-
day and that nothing but thorough recon-
strsiction OF the system viii meet the case.
The average Methodist finds himself about
IN the fix OF the miller of a quarter of
century ago whose old burrs had turned out
nrst-class -four. He could not see why they
should be discarded now just to suit the
demand for roller made -four, so he held on
to MS old burrs until his business had de-
parted from him. or he patched his machin-
cry here or there TO conform in part at
least to the demands of the time. until in
sheer desperation. IL not disgust. he literally
gutted his own MILL or insured Ii heavily
ana get II On fire, and thus introduced a
70 Keep up with the procession. Wiser mill
ets; however, caught on TO the suggestion
vnscn the new process made and at once ana
tnorougniy adapted their machinery to the
new conditions and kept abreast the times.
Inc mere question Of episcopal residences
slone suggests what must come With only
twenty Dlsnops there are more than a hun
oired unfortunate demands for episcopal res
licences now before the committee on episco-
pacy. with twice as many equally deserving
from. because they know IL is impossible to
spread twenty men over all the land. Here
ana there. there Is an old miller Methodist
who, TOR the life OF him. cannot see Why a
system that did 30 well o hundred years ago
should be discarded now 10 make room for
the new processes OF the era of electricity
and steam. and he insists on grinding away
with his ole burrs and letting those who do
not IKE the output go 10 the Episcopal
Cnurcn With its diocesan episcopacy,. or TO
semi-conservative Is willing TO put In a new
piece OF machinery here and there but the
OLD burrs must be saved at any sacrifice OF
success; there are. however. many loyal
Metnodists. real Ultra Episcopal Methodists,
who want 10 save the magnificent structure
with Its historic prestige. and its wonderful
power, and who are ready TO take out every
bit o. machinery that Is distinctively burr In
Its application and introduce the modern
plant, whose object Is the most good Hour out
OF the least wheat: the greatest good from the
least expenditure OF time and money. letting
such election scenes as these go forever and
providing episcopal residences and episcopal
oversight to meet the demands OF the times.
That time VIII come and this General Con-
ference Is unconsciously providing for It,.
en7sce eS rassd ana sne s t in iTr
cations that our machinery needs reconstruc-
ton paper was read yesterday before the
EPISCOPAL committee calling attention 70 tne
ing churches for pecuniary consideration
and not otherwise which had facts enough
behind II to give II point, and which shows
that there is unrest In more directions than
one as TO the episcopacy-
Unseemly as the voting for bishop may
thing TO criticise. there is less to complain of
than Is generally known. There has not
been the least shadow Of combination or un-
due influence. The unusual scene of from
forty TO fifty continuing 70 vote for those
who got only one or two votes Is easily ex-
planned, without duplicating any one in any
terssted in some o o man more than any
other one and. having voted for him, they
vote for some worthy man. who is not likely
TO thereby get ahead Of his special friend
sThls gives that long list of ones and twos
and Indicates no unworthy motive.
The matter Of officially recognising evan
adopted in shape that Will put the work
Of an evangelist hereafter more under the
eontro! of the church than ssI = a nn
easily md Employment In the Methodist
the Discipline the chapter on amusements
came to a vote this morning, and the chapter
vas retained by nearly unanimous vote
The bishop election having been settled
the election Of book agents came TO the front.
Il was easy to designate the late assistant
- the proper man to remain, but when 1t
enfertsnied that in each house a layman
might succeed to the vacancy, as In each
case Z iayman of unusual fitness was avail
ablo-uen long acquainted with the details
Of the business. but two to one in the MEM
bership was toe many for them and ministers
were elected 1t Will not always be thus.
When the time came TO nominate candi-
dates for the missionary secretary II seemed
that every member had one or more names
g s sas to close the
TEMPERANCE COMMITTEE REPORT.
The following Is the modified report Of the
temperance committee referred to in former
dispatches:
.ssMalntaining the high position In respect
70 temperance and prohibition that the Meth
odfst Episcopal Church has so long occu-
pied we emphasize as indicating our atti-
fude as a chruch the following declaration
-ffrst-That total abstinence from intox-
eating beverages Is the duty of every midi
s.Second-That the liquor trafiic is BUSH
meas at once Injurious. immoral and antag-
onistic to every interest OF the churcn OF
God.
- r<x~r< .f.&- Z
the legal protection OF an immoral trafnc.
"Forth-In accepting money for such a
purpose the government, whether national,
Stafe county or municipal, becomes part
ner In a business justly declared to be an
enemy OF God and man.
s'Fifth-Thaf the Christians only proper
attitude toward the liquor traffic Is that or
OF the Methodist Episcopal Church who en-
10Y the elective franchise should so use that
solemn trust as to promote the rescue OF our
country from the guilt and dishonor wnich
has been brought upon IL by a criminal COM
pffcity WITH the liquor traffic
The Saloon and Civic righteousness
Civic righteousness. which now claims and
fion demands the extirpation OF traffic
30 fruitful OF corruption in every department
OF civil government.
The time has come when all good citizens
should unite for harmonious and aggressive
action. to the end that all legislation relat-
ing 10 this subject-whether municipal. state
or national-should advance steadily and
l1rmly toward the utter determination OF the
Eve adopt the declaration of the General
Assembly OF the Presbyterian Church that
sthe nronourced and stupendous need OF