The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-08-13
THE BETHANY MANAGERS
MINISTER'S IN MEETING ADVISE
THAT A CHANGE BE MADE.
Some of the Grounds for Criticism
Election of Officers Postponed
Reports of Missionaries.

Foreign missionary work was the topic
at Bethany Park yesterday. A large num-
Der of church members who are identified
with the work in the foreign field were in
attendance and an excellent programme
Of addresses by returned missionaries and
others was carried out.
But the most important feature of the
day. perhaps, was a ministerial meeting
which was not down on the programme.
All the ministers on the grounds, some half
a hundred in number, attended the session,
which lasted a good part of the afternoon.
No reporters or outsiders were permitted
to listen to the discussion, but after adj
journment it was learned that the follow
ing resolution was adopted:
Whereas, There is a serious and general
dissatisfaction with the management of
Bethany Assembly, therefore, we advise as
soon as practicable a change in the man.
agement, and we pledge our hearty support
TO the movement looking to such
change"
This action of the ministers is a culmina-
ton of the many evidences Of discomfort
that have been noticeable for the last two
weeks. The assembly has not been as great
a success so far this season as good many
thought it should have been, but the Off
Gals present several plausible excuses to
account for the falling off in attendance.
They say that considering the condition Of
the times, and a mistake that was made
IN calling the assembly at the first instead
OF the latter part of the week, the season
criticise the officials say that there has
not been sufficient aggressivene IS in their
management and that among other things
the proper efforts are not made to induce
the country people to visit the park,f and
that the place is not advertised as 1t should
be.
THE ELECTION POSTPONED.
The board of managers of the assembly
were to have elected officers on Wednesday,,
but owing to the fight made against the
present incumbents action was deferred,
and while the election may be held before
the assembly closes, it is very probable
that the whole matter will go over until the
October meeting of the board.
The day began with the sunrise meeting,
at which prayers were offered for the
foreign missions. At o'clock Dr. w. F.
Moore delivered his usual lecture to preach
ers, this time speaking on the subject OF
The Preacher as d Pastor In the course
or the address Dr. Moore said that the pas
tor should create an atmosphere conducive
to spiritual development wherever he goes.
This should be an atmosphere Of purity, of
sunshine and OF helpfuness. The pastor
should also spend a reasonable portion of
his time in his study. He should not, how
ever subordinate manhood to literature by
that the most important of all books were
those of history. Lastly, the preacher must
be much among his people, although visit
ing should not be perfunctory.
Rev. J. ]. Haley, of Kentucky, delivered
the leading address of the day, on the sub
lect OF Spiritual Power in Missionary
Service" The speaker said that Christ as
ISOLATED this power with the Holy Spirit,
the great energy Of God communicated
from heaven to the human soul. 1t was
the one condition of spiritual life for saliva
ton and of spiritual power for service, and
it excited within the minds of those who
were the subjects of 1t a passion for souls
and an enthusiasm for human service.
The hour oefo ore, noon was given to the
sions' and missions the Glory Of the
Church." discussed by j. V. Updike, of
Fort Wayne, and M. w. Harkins, of An
derSon.
REPORT OF MISSIONARIES
The first hour of the afternoon was allot-
fed to a discussion of missionary work done
in China, Japan, india and Africa, and
charts of these countries were displayed
and returned missionaries gave interesting
accounts of the work being done in each
of them. j. L. Brandt, formerly of Valpa-
raise, spoke on China, c. S. Medbury on
Japan, E. P. Wise ON Africa and Miss Mil
dred Franklin, of Bedford, Ind, a young
lady who for the past year has been in
India, and whose two sisters are now there.
gave vivid account of the customs of the
people, their religion and language, of the
dense population of that country, its sea,
sons, forests, mines and soil, and closed
with a few brief remarks on the terrible
famine She said it was impossible to realize
the awfulness of it; that men, women and
children staggered to the jungle in the last
stages of starvation and were eaten by the
wild animals. She said the primal cause
of the famine was the lack of rainfall
which has marked the last two years, and
that if a system of irrigation and methods
Of Western farming could be introduced
such a famine could not occur again in that
AT o'clock A. NJ. Atkinson, Of Wabash
made a strong appeal in the cause of min
isterial relief. His address was full of
pathos and sound reasoning. In the evening
a lecture on Our Missions and Mission
aries" was given by A Mclean. of Cinctn-
natl, and illustrated with stereopticon views
by Earle Whitley. To-day is State Mission